Complement a passionate lifestyle with Samsung’s newest in-ear companion -- the Galaxy Buds -- which hits stores today!

Enjoy clear and smart audio powered by acoustic specialists AKG to deliver rich and high-resolution live sound. This results in a crisp user experience without any of the unnecessary background noise. Apart from premium acoustics, the Galaxy Buds make talk time easier through its speech enhancement feature and its Adaptive Dual Microphone technology to switch between inner and outer mics. Its Quick Ambient Mode allows sounds from the environment to stream in without removing the device.



The new Samsung Galaxy Buds are ergonomically designed using advanced and lightweight materials to ensure a comfortable and snug fit all day. It lets users play music for up to six hours and talk on the phone for up to five hours on a single charge. The buds can be charged wirelessly or be powered by a Galaxy S10 smartphone through the Wireless PowerShare technology.

The Galaxy Buds seamlessly connect to any Galaxy device in an instant via Bluetooth. Users can switch between any screen and wearable in a matter of seconds so they don’t miss any of the action. When not in use, its slim and compact design makes it convenient to store in a pocket or bag.



Available in black and white, the new Samsung Galaxy Buds are available starting today with a suggested retail price of PHP 6,990.00. For more information, visit the Samsung Facebook page or log on to samsung.com/ph.

The countdown to summer has begun, is your body bikini-ready?

Blast fat and sculpt a lean lower body with Oracle Korean Aesthetic Clinic.

Oracle Korean Aesthetic Clinic knows that achieving a summer body goal can be a challenge, that is why it offers Body Contouring services straight from Korea, Asia’s beauty capital. 

“Whether it’s just for the season or for one’s total well-being throughout the year, people want to remove extra body fats. At Oracle, we offer safe and painless services such as Mesotherapy, Liposonix and 3-Lipomax to address this concern.”  Said Janyll Palisoc,  Marketing Head.

Mesotherapy uses plant extracts administered to the body through injections and is used for localized or particular body areas such as thighs, arms, among others.  It is done repeatedly until one achieves the maximum result.

Liposonix, on the other hand, is a one-time procedure via a non-invasive high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system, a US-FDA approved technology that permanently destroys unwanted fat tissues without harming the surrounding areas. After the first treatment alone, one may drop a pant size.

One can take the 3-LipoMax Body Contouring route which is also a safe, non-surgical procedure that uses RF (radio frequency) technology dynamic muscle activation that helps tone muscles as you slim down. This is a clinically proven treatment for long-lasting fat and cellulite reduction and for tightening of loose skin of various body parts such as arms, thighs, abdomen, etc. One may need more than one session of the 3-LipoMax to attain preferred results.

“All of Oracle’s body contouring treatment plans are personalized, depending on the client's wants and needs. Doctors closely monitor the progress of the client and recommend adjustments or other treatments that are necessary for best results,” Palisoc explained.

Oracle’s body contouring system will result to a significant reduction in size and improvement in skin laxity, toning of muscles, enhancement of lymphatic drainage, minimizing cellulite, and improvement in blood circulation and oxygenation.

 “Our bodies come in different shapes and sizes, but we have a common goal: to improve, tone, get rid of unwanted and stubborn body fats, or just to feel good about ourselves,” Palisoc concluded.

Oracle is the first franchised clinic in the country from Oracle Skinland, South Korea, the largest networked dermatology, plastic surgery and obesity clinic in Asia-Pacific.

Its founder, Dr. Ro Young Woo, is a multi-awarded dermatologist who pioneered in this field in 2004. Oracle has 80 branches in South Korea, China, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Hongkong, and the Philippines.

It is open from Monday to Saturday, at 10:00AM-8:00PM. The clinic is at the 2F Republic Glass Building, 196 Salcedo Street corner Soria Street, Legaspi Village, Makati.

To know more about Oracle, set an appointment by checking their website: http://oracle-aesthetic.com.ph or follow it on Facebook & Instagram: /oracle.aesthetic. Or call:  +632 801 4131  +63 916 223 8821.

PLDT and Smart Communications superpowered the star-studded launch of the brand-new Netflix original series, ‘The Umbrella Academy’

Leading telco digital services provider PLDT Inc., together with its mobile arm, Smart Communications superpowered the star-studded launch of the brand-new Netflix original series, ‘The Umbrella Academy’. Celebrities and fans enjoyed an immersive super room experience that allowed them to feel like the show’s seven superhero siblings.

As a unique way of introducing the series, PLDT-Smart Netflix insiders Eric Tai, Brent Manalo, Aryanna Epperson joined forces with other celebrities to solve intense and interactive challenges in the especially-themed escape rooms powered by PLDT Home Fibr and Smart LTE.

As a reward to these exhilarating challenges, they all unlocked the launch party at Shooting Gallery in Makati City, graced by subscribers, fans, and other celebrity guests including Erwan Heussaff, Richard Juan, Vince Velasco, Nicole Cordoves, Young JV, and Gino Quillamor. The whole event was streamed on Instagram Live via @pldthome @livesmart.



From comics to live action TV Series

Based on the comic book series created and written by Gerard Way, illustrated by Gabriel Bá, and published by Dark Horse Comics, the story of The Umbrella Academy starts in 1989, when 43 infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven are adopted by a billionaire who creates The Umbrella Academy and prepares his “children” to save the world. Now, the six surviving members with conflicting personalities reunite upon the news of their father’s passing and must work together to solve a mystery surrounding his death, not to mention the imminent threat of a global apocalypse.

The show is produced by Universal Cable Productions for Netflix, with Steve Blackman serving as executive producer and showrunner, and additional EPs Jeff F. King, Mike Richardson, Keith Goldberg, Gerard Way, and Gabriel Bá.

Stream ‘The Umbrella Academy’ on Netflix powered by PLDT Home and Smart

Stream “The Umbrella Academy” and all your favorite shows on Netflix conveniently with your PLDT Home Fibr account. Simply go to www.pldthome.com/Netflix  and register using your myHomeID. Choose your preferred plan to start streaming. You can also enjoy Netflix and tons of entertainment with the TVolution Lite for only P99/ month.

For a convenient way of enjoying Netflix on your smartphone, you may now also charge your monthly subscription to your Smart Postpaid bill.  To do this, simply  go to www.smart.com.ph/pages/Netflix and create a new account; choose the Netflix subscription that suits you; and select SMART as a payment option. You shall then have to enter your Smart Postpaid Number and the one-time PIN sent to your number, and click “Continue” to start watching.

Enjoy Netflix powered by PLDT Home Fibr and Smart LTE, the country’s fastest fixed and mobile networks, respectively, as cited by global internet testing leader Ookla® in its Q3-Q4 2018 report.

Catch the highlights of the epic launch of The Umbrella Academy by following the official Facebook pages of PLDT Home and Smart, and their accounts Twitter and Instagram (@PLDTHome) and (@LiveSmart).

Protect and preserve your prized wooden furniture by using Jardine Distribution, Inc.’s (JDI) Woodshine

For many Filipino families, our wooden furniture at home mean more than just household necessities, as we associate them to longevity and sentimental values. Do you still remember the hearty conversations shared at your family’s wooden dining table? We bet you still keep your lolo and lola’s precious cabinet at home.

Don’t you want these wooden furniture—and the many special moments associated with them—to be part of your lasting memories?

If your answer is ‘yes’, you can protect and preserve your prized wooden furniture by using Jardine Distribution, Inc.’s (JDI) Woodshine Furniture Polish by Solignum.

Woodshine protects wooden benches, tables, chairs, desks and cabinets from dirt, smudges, and light surface scratches, allowing these to remain as fine and delicate as the day you acquired them.
Bearing the heritage of Superbrand-recognized timber expert Solignum, Woodshine is a furniture polish that is formulated to preserve the natural beauty of your furniture. It is a special liquid emulsion with a wax-based formula that has anti-static property. This creates a natural barrier that repels dust particles and grime, prevents smudges and light scratches, and even removes coffee and water stains.

Unlike other brands in the market, Woodshine has no strong and irritating odor—just a pleasant, mild lemon scent.

Woodshine can be applied on all varnished, laminated, and treated wooden furniture like chairs, tables, and cabinets. It can also be used on other common surfaces like leather, vinyl, and stainless tabletops.

Since Woodshine has no anti-termite property, JDI recommends the use of Solignum wood preservative before painting and finishing to protect the timber from the infestation of termites, wood borers, and fungi.

Available in 150mL and 330mL aerosol cans, Woodshine can be purchased at Rustan’s Supermarket, Marketplace, Shopwise, Robinsons Builders, and Wilcon Depot stores nationwide.
For more information, visit www.jardinedistribution.com.ph.

Bayambang Celebrates 405th Town Fiesta with Grand Events

Bayambang, Pangasinan is celebrating its 405th year with grand events happening from April 1 until April 8. Bayambang, located at the southern tip of Pangasinan, was the 5th capital of the Philippines during the 1st Philippine Republic under the revolutionary government of General Emilio Aguinaldo.

The town’s vast territory used to include Bautista town, where the Philippine National Anthem was written by Jose Palma, and Camiling town (now a part of Tarlac), the home of Jose Rizal’s inspiration for Maria Clara, Leonor Rivera, and the birthplace of former UN General Assembly President Carlos P. Romulo.

The town fiesta coincides with the marking of the 400th year foundation of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish (the physical church was built in 1869), and worldwide, the commemoration of the 600th year of the saint’s death. The century-old place of worship enshrines St. Vincent Ferrer, the patron saint of Bayambang, whose feast day is on April 5.

In line with this year’s fiesta theme “Bayang Pinagtibay ng Pagkakaisa at Pananampalataya Laban sa Kahirapan: 400 ng Pagpapala ng Parokya ng San Vicente Ferrer”, the municipal government of Bayambang, led by Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, in cooperation with sponsors, organizers and Hermano and Hermana Mayor Dr. Henry Fernandez and wife Julie, prepared different activities meant to entertain local and foreign tourists and at the same time highlight Bayambanguenos’ significant contribution to the town’s progress.   

The occasion is a fitting opportunity for Bayambang to invite people to witness the ceremony in its latest attempt to make a new record in the Guinness Book of World Records with their bid as having the tallest statue of St. Vincent Ferrer. In 2014, it won the Guinness World Records for the longest barbecue grill.

The soon-to-be iconic monument will stand imposingly in Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park, the first part of the sprawling 67 hectare new town center of Bayambang.


It was the idea of Mayor Cezar’s wife, Niña Jose, to create a statue of their patron saint to whom she is a devotee like her husband. “St. Vincent Ferrer is a significant part in the culture and history of our town. We decided to build a statue in his honor as a thanksgiving for everything that he has done for Bayambang in the past 400 years,” the former actress and now Bayambang First Lady shared. The 51-meter tall St. Vincent Ferrer image has a steel frame and bamboo panels as cladding material.

Everyone will surely enjoy the fiesta kickoff on April 1 starting from the Revelry followed by a Thanksgiving Mass, a Grand Parade, and the Opening Program at the town plaza in the morning and by 4 p.m., a Street Dancing Competition on Bayambang National High School grounds. The day ends with an Inter-Faith Thanksgiving for members of the community belonging to other religious groups.



From April 2 to 6, there will be a Barangay Night to fete the town’s barangay officials; a Farmers’ Day in honor of the hardworking food producers; an Educators’ Night for teachers; a Senior Citizens’ Day; TODA Day for motor tricycle operators and drivers, and a Fiesta Negosyante dedicated to public market vendors.



On April 3, dancing enthusiasts take centerstage in ZumBayambang while local officials who displayed exemplary performance will be honored with Matalunggaring Awards. LGU/Cultural Night, on the other hand, takes place in the evening in honor of local government workers and cultural workers.



Set on April 4 is the Malangsi Cooking Contest to discover budding culinary talents. Also in the line-up are Bayambang Got Talent and Inter-Barangay Sportsfest. Adding color and excitement to the event are Vice Ganda, Kamikazee and December Avenue who are set to perform in the grilling-cum-concert night Kalutan Year 5: Labi’y Liket tan Gayaga on PSU Grounds.



On the Big Day, April 5, the feast day of St. Vincent Ferrer, there will be another Thanksgiving Mass at the church, followed by a traditional Grand Procession with statues of the esteemed patron to be paraded around the town. Then at 6 p.m., the formal opening of the St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park will be held at Barangay Bani. The highlight of the affair is the unveiling of the highly-anticipated statue of St. Vincent Ferrer. Devotees of the saint from all over the world are invited to witness this occasion which has been at least a year in the making. Mayor Cezar once said, “Now we are creating a landmark for people to remember and recognize Bayambang.”

Another big event to be hosted by Bianca Gonzalez is slated on April 6 with the star-studded beauty pageant, which gathers the town’s beautiful ladies to vie for the much-coveted Binibining Bayambang 2019. Actor Dominic Roque will sit in the jury panel.



The town’s alumni from various educational institutions will come together on April 7 for the Alumni Motorcade, Recreational Activities and Alumni Night.


The festivities will be capped off on April 8 with a formal dinner and mini-concert via Balikbayan Night and People’s Grand Ball at the town plaza, with K Brosas as special guest performer.

Mang Inasal celebrates 15th year with FREE Unli Rice on all Paborito Value Meals

Dahil unli rice is life!! Mang Inasal celebrates 15th year with FREE!! unli rice!


Get free unlimited rice servings on all Paborito Value Meals from March 11 to March 28, Mondays thru Thursdays, from 4 to 6 pm only.

The Early Dinner Treat promo is available at all Mang Inasal stores nationwide and valid for dine-in transactions only.



Come celebrate Mang Inasal’s 15th anniversary.  Visit any of  over 500 stores nationwide for your Solb sa Sarap, Solb sa Saya Early Dinner Treat with free unli-rice!

Landlite Philippines presents the key lighting design trends to look forward to this 2019

Do you know that lighting affects our daily emotions? Studies suggests that lighting affects numerous emotional factors and even directly contributes to our mood and productivity.

Have you ever noticed that dimmed light helps us to relax? That's why I always opt for aesthetic lamps with varying lighting. It sets my mood for everything when I am home.

So imagined my excitement when I attended Landlite Philippines Corporation (LPC) event last March 6 at Lux Decor Showroom, BGC with Marc Nelson as their newest ambassador.

Eco-friendliness and sustainability. Multifunctionality. Mobility. Human-centeredness. 

These are the key lighting design trends to look forward to this 2019, as revealed by Landlite Philippines Corporation (LPC), a leading distributor of lighting fixtures and solutions in the country, as it gathered members of the media, industry partners, and their top clients at the sleek LuxDecor showroom in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

“We’re excited to share the latest lighting design trends for this year 2019,” says LPC CEO Jocelyn Li, during Lighting Trends and Designs 2019 where the top lighting distributor shared with key customers and media the latest lighting design and technology innovation.  “We would like to uplift the lighting standards of our market into a new level. We have three main priorities we focus on: Quality and service, evolving trends, design and innovation and product sustainability”.

During the event, LPC also presented its new brand ambassador top host and celebrity Marc Nelson who will appear in the company’s marketing campaigns and share news about LPC products and industry insights.

Below are the key lighting trends for 2019: 

Eco-lighting
As the world becomes more conscious about the environment particularly in the reduction of waste and the promotion of recycling, lighting products are also responding to this call.

The Hook portable eco-lamp for one, designed by OiKo Design Office for Faro Barcelona, has been optimized for all stages of their life cycle, reducing the environmental impact between 30 percent and 70 percent. Free of harmful PVC, a harmful material present in most wires and plugs, the housings of The Hook portable eco-lamp are also made entirely of recycled plastic.

Human-centric
Another lighting trend that is fast gaining traction is human-centric design. Proponents of this movement say that CCT shifting, which refers to the correlated color temperature of LED bulbs, can help regulate circadian rhythms, moods, visual acuity and one’s performance.

Towards this end, Bohman&Folenius created the Inviting Light for home lighting, whose main characteristic is how the light moves to accompany you according to your different needs and moods. The head of the lamp adjusts both in its horizontal and vertical axis, while regulating light intensity, changes in color temperature, and also has a dimmable feature.

Its various versions—table, wall or clip—allow for multiple  locations, such as shelving units, headboards, study and work desks, as well as in the kitchen.

Multi-functional
Consumers of today now also seek out lighting solutions that can replace multiple pieces of equipment, in their desire for value for money as well as space-saving needs especially for those who reside in condominium units.

Thus, the stylish NIKO by Nahtrang—a homage to scientist and inventor Nikolai Tesla—was borne, which is actually two objects in one: a lamp and mobile charger, with a surface on which we can charge our smartphone without cables getting in the way. With its Nordic design with dual functionality, NIKO is perfect for illuminating bedrooms and living rooms, and is a good choice for hotels.

Mobility
Another interesting trend coming to the fore is mobility in lighting products, which is a response to those who are more outdoorsy in nature. The Take Away lamp designed by Nahtrang addresses this need, taking inspiration from lanterns coupled with the versatility of Japanese ceramic bowls: small, light, cable-free, and nomadic—allowing it to be placed anywhere.

Landlite took the opportunity as well to present its other range of lighting solutions: the Le Vita by Nahtrang, delicate and simple in design; the MOY by Nahtrang, a modern round light that provides a uniform illumination ideal for living rooms or busy areas; the Cometa which allows for uniform and high-quality illumination with anti-glare technology; and designer lamps inspired by different world cultures such as the Akane by Pepe Llaudet and the Aladino.

Philippine Airlines offers Asia’s first FREE hi-speed Wi-Fi for long flights!

 Ever take off on a long flight, only to remember an important message or an email you forgot to send? Not to mention the worrying while inflight or apology you’d have to craft for not making your deadline? Here’s some good news – among the many things you’d miss when you go on a trip abroad, connections no longer have to be part of them! Unlock your phone and latch on to myPAL Wi-Fi Hi-Speed, discover why staying online while onboard has never been this fast and convenient.

Leave your loved ones some peace of mind. No more radio silence between your “Hey, I’m already in the plane!” and your “Hi, I just landed!” texts. Access your go-to messaging apps while inflight, sending those awaited updates to the ones who matter the most to you.

Never miss a beat. Worry no more about losing your office momentum – access your emails and your important files in the skies and use that valuable travel time to your advantage. Imagine that: while you’re high up and flying in comfort, you could get work done as well!

Post fun times in real time. Took a funny video as soon as you settled into your seat? Post it on your Stories! Captured a photo of your delightful inflight meal? Load it up on Facebook! Why wait until you land to share your Philippine Airline experience? Make sure your accounts are updated with the cool things you encounter, even while inflight!

Customize your onboard fun further. Sure, your PAL flight already comes with an amazing range of shows to binge on and music selections to sound trip to – but sometimes you just need to browse and search for your specific type of content. Go ahead and surf your go-to websites with internet speeds that rival your regular on-ground connections.

Long flights don’t have to feel long. With myPAL Wi-Fi Hi-Speed’s complimentary 30mb for all passengers and 100mb additional for Business Class, staying connected doesn’t have to stop the moment your flight takes off.

The same goes for when you hit your data cap. Easily renew and top-up an additional 100mb for only USD5, payable onboard by credit card. Fly the way you deserve and surf to your heart’s content with Philippine Airlines – and learn all about this speedy new feature on philippineairlines.com.

For more information on Philippine Airlines, visit ‪www.philippineairlines.com‬, or follow its Facebook page (‪Facebook.com/flyPAL‬), Twitter (@flyPAL) and Instagram (@flyPAL).‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Making Brush Time Hapee Time For Your Kids

Do you ever get that feeling when you take a look at your child, and be amazed by how fast they grow up?

From an incredibly cute and dependent baby to an active, playful, and more independent tween in a blink of an eye, moms can agree that their kids grow up at such a fast pace. To become healthy and happy individuals, moms need to find fun and easy ways for their young ones to develop good habits.

One of these is the proper brushing of their teeth. Some kids, though, find that brushing is unnecessary, tiring, and unenjoyable. To help mommies everywhere in making every brush time a happy time for their kids, here are some creative tips from Hapee Kiddie, one of the leading toothpastes for children’s oral healthcare.

Add Music to the Mix.
Some kids may not like their teeth getting cleaned, especially for infants who are teething with their young gums being tender. To make it more fun, you can sing their favorite tune for while cleaning their small teeth. You can also play their favorite music and invite them to dance to the beat or have them watch their favorite video, while still brushing their teeth. When the song or video stops after two minutes, they should be done.

Playing Dentist with Your Child.
There are kids who think that brushing aggressively for ten seconds, instead of the standard two minutes, is enough. They don’t know that this doesn’t work because they were not taught how to properly brush their teeth.

A creative solution to this is to grab their favorite toy, preferably one with visible plastic teeth. Grab a clean toothbrush, and then pretend that you are bringing this toy to the dentist for the first time. You can pretend to brush its teeth, which you can later give the role of dentist to your child. This will allow them to use that same method for themselves.

Introduce a Reward System.
If you are struggling to get your kids motivated to brush their teeth, you can introduce a simple reward system. Every time that they brush their teeth well for two minutes, you can give them a sticker of a star. You can get creative with your rewards, such as rewarding them to ice cream if they get five stars or even giving them a toy they’ve always wanted after getting 20 stars!

 Have Them Pick their Toothbrush and Toothpaste.
 As they grow older, our kids want to become more independent, such as wanting to feed, bathe, and dress themselves. Use this eagerness for independence by having them pick their own toothbrush, whether it has their favorite characters, their favorite color, or even appealing features such as those that play music or flash lights. Just make sure that the toothbrush they pick has soft bristles. Your preschooler, with their love for sweet flavors and cartoon characters, can now choose and pick, thanks to Hapee Kiddie which is perfect for kids two to five years old. They can choose from seven kid-citing flavors that are sure to appease their mouths and two different packaging that feature their favorite characters from Disney’s Mickey and Friends and Frozen.

Make It a Family Activity
Just like how eating meals together as a family is a must, brushing together can be another ritual that the whole family should do together. By brushing together, it shows the message that brushing is something that Mommy and Daddy do too. A family that brushes together has even more reason to smile.

Chesca and Doug Kramer, oral healthcare advocates of Hapee Kiddie, practice this with their three kids. Before going to bed, Chesca would call her family, not just her kids but Doug too, “Let’s all go together to the bathroom. Let’s all brush our teeth!” She points out to this particular activity being helpful to making their kids enjoy brush time.

Be Sure to Have the Right Toothpaste.
One important thing to consider is their toothpaste. Their toothpaste must not only have the safe fluoride content for the child at their current age, it must also have something that would engage the kid. That is why to make Brush Time Hapee Time for kids of all ages, specific toothpastes were made for kids of all ages.

For children from four to 24 months, Hapee Baby is your infant’s trusted toothgel with its baby-friendly formula that protects your baby’s milk teeth from cavity. You don’t have to worry since Hapee Kiddie toothpastes are formulated with the 1,000 PPM fluoride level recommended by dentists at this age.

For kids ages 6 to 12, their fluoride and mint level get a boost while maintaining that same fruity Kiwi flavor with Hapee Buddy toothpaste. These toothpastes will definitely make brushing more fun and easier for your kid.

Parents don’t have to fret with the challenging of their kids growing up as long as they make the right and proper adjustments. With these techniques, brushing does not have to be boring as long as we make brushing fun and exciting.

No matter what their age is, Hapee Baby, Hapee Kiddie, and Hapee Buddy are your child’s oral care companions in making Brush Time Hapee Time!

To find out more ways on how to make brush time Hapee time, visit
www.facebook.com/HapeeKiddie.

L'Oréal x Shopee Super Brand Day will run from March 6 to 8!

This International Women’s Day, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partners L'Oréal, the world leader in beauty, for Shopee’s first regional Super Brand Day. In celebration of women and sharing beauty for all, Shopee users across seven countries will be treated to an exclusive range of deals from the top three Women’s Internationally Favorite L'Oréal brands from across the world – L'Oréal Paris, Maybelline New York, and Garnier – that serve the need of female shoppers at every age range and beauty profile. Themed Women's Day, Live Your Beauty, the L'Oréal x Shopee Super Brand Day will run from March 6 to 8, and will feature unbeatable L'Oréal offers, giveaways and a limited edition beauty box exclusively available via the L'Oréal Official Store on Shopee Mall.

Chris Feng, Chief Executive Officer of Shopee, said, “Last year, we launched Super Brand Day as an avenue to recognize our key brand partners, and also to offer our users access to exclusive deals and products from their favorite brands. This collaboration with L'Oréal marks the first regional installment of our Super Brand Day series, and the tie-in to International Women’s Day makes it even more meaningful. We are proud to support L'Oréal’s belief in celebrating women and beauty for everyone, and we are confident that this Super Brand Day will be a great success.”

As an International Women’s Day special, Maybelline New York will also be launching a limited edition Empowered Box exclusively on Shopee, containing the latest shades of Maybelline New York’s best-selling lipstick, the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink. Each limited edition Empowered Box contains two Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink lipsticks and a Maybelline SuperStay Eraser.

The L'Oréal x Shopee Super Brand Day will feature three days of themed beauty deals, with each dedicated to one of three leading L'Oréal brands; L'Oréal Paris, Maybelline New York, and Garnier. Key highlights include:

● L'Oréal Paris: 50% off all Color Riche Matte lipsticks, including highly popular shades Rich Merlot and Hinted Blush; and 50% off Magic Retouch hair root concealer spray in Mahogany Brown.
● Maybelline New York: 50% off all Powder Matte and Creamy Matte lipsticks on March 8 during 2 rounds of flash sales at 12MN to 2AM and 12NN to 2PM.
● Garnier: Buy 5 Take 2 promotion on all variants of Garnier Serum Masks, and up to 22% off on Garnier Micellar Water.

Shopee users can also stand to win additional discounts and special prizes by taking part in the L'Oréal-themed Beauty Ninja game, and a series of social media giveaways. Users who shop from L'Oréal Paris, Maybelline New York, and Garnier official stores on Shopee on March 8 also stand a chance to be one of three lucky raffle draw winners of a year’s supply of products from the brands. Finally, Shopee will host a special Facebook Live session on March 8 with Filipino online stars Doll Up Mari; and Kristine Roces, also known as RealAsianBeauty, to give away a wide array of best-selling products from L'Oréal.

All L'Oréal products can be found via the L'Oréal Official Store on Shopee Mall. Products under Shopee Mall come with 7 days return, 100% authentic guarantee, and free shipping.

Shop the L'Oréal x Shopee Super Brand Day: https://shopee.ph/m/super-brand-day.
Download the Shopee app for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.

PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are the country’s fastest fixed and mobile networks for 2018

PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are the country’s fastest fixed and mobile networks for 2018, according to Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis.

In its latest report, which covers Q3-Q4 2018, Smart achieved a Speed Score TM of 15.57, with average download speeds of 17.86 Mbps and average upload speeds of 8.61 Mbps, based on 2,186,540 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest® on LTE-capable devices in the Philippines.

On the other hand, PLDT achieved a Speed Score of 18.57, with top download speeds of 52.28 Mbps and top upload speeds of 55.95 Mbps. The fixed network award is based on 27,221,777 customer-initiated Speedtest nationwide for the same period.

The Speed Score is a measure that takes into account both upload and download speeds.

“We are pleased to award Smart with the award for Fastest Mobile Network and PLDT for the award for Fastest Fixed Network in the Philippines. This recognition is testament to their exceptional performance in Q3-Q4 based on Ookla's rigorous analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with Speedtest," said Jamie Steven, Executive Vice President at Ookla.

These latest figures are improvements from the Q1-Q2 scores, when Smart posted a Speed Score of 14.98 and PLDT achieved a speed score of 17.31.

“This award is proof that our continued investments in our network to improve the mobile internet experience of our customers across the country are paying off,” said Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart senior vice president for Network Planning and Engineering.


“Improved connectivity has helped Filipinos keep abreast with ever-evolving times, empowering individuals, businesses and government,” Tamayo added. “In addition to our network investments, we have also undertaken LTE migration efforts to assist customers in upgrading to LTE through SIM replacement programs and by partnering with device manufacturers in making LTE devices more accessible,” Tamayo said.

PLDT, Smart ahead in key cities

Drilling down, initial data included in Ookla’s country reports showed Smart still posting big leads in key cities like Quezon City, Makati and Manila, for example, while PLDT is still way ahead in Quezon City, Pasig and Manila.

In Quezon City, for example, Smart posted a Speed Score of 23.09, more than twice that of the competing network. This reflects the results of the major network upgrade activities that Smart recently undertook in the city, including the activation of LTE-Advanced and carrier aggregation.

For mobile, Speed Score incorporates a measure of each provider’s download and upload speed to rank network speed performance. Tests used to calculate the Speed Score exclusively come from ‘modern devices’, which are devices capable of connecting to the market’s fastest, generally available technology.

For fixed, Ookla assesses the best network speeds attained across a given network, accounting for tests that are taken on various Speedtest applications that connect to a fixed network, including tests taken on mobile phones over a Wi-Fi connection. Each top carrier accounts for at least 3% of the sample size in the geographic area.

Investment in network transformation

The awards come as PLDT and Smart ramp up their integrated fixed and wireless network expansion. PLDT has committed historic levels of resources to support network transformation which is estimated to amount to US$ 5 billion from 2016 to 2020. In 2018, capital expenditures were at P58 billion.

Alongside Smart’s ramped-up Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) roll out, PLDT is also aggressively rolling out its fiber broadband service, which also supports the stepped-up deployment of the mobile network by providing high-capacity links for cellular base stations.



To date, Smart has also already fulfilled its commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission to cover at least 90 percent of cities and municipalities to address the growing demand for broadband infrastructure and internet access within three years from the grant of the use of frequencies by the NTC in 2016.

Meanwhile, PLDT operates the country’s most extensive fiber infrastructure at 221,000 km and its fiber coverage has now reached 5.75 million homes as of end of the 3rd quarter of 2018, while its total capacity of 2.25 million ports has more than doubled from end of 2017.