PLDT Gabay Guro celebrates 12th anniversary with a star-studded gathering on launch of the Gabay Guro App

PLDT-Smart Foundation’s flagship advocacy program for teachers, Gabay Guro, celebrates its 12th anniversary with a star-studded Grand Gathering and launch of the Gabay Guro App on September 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

This year, Gabay Guro is gathering over 20,000 teachers from all over the country for a star-studded Teachers’ Tribute headlined by country’s biggest stars including Aegis, Angeline Quinto, Christian Bautista, Eat Bulaga BakClash, Eat Bulaga Broadway Boys, Edward Barbers, Erik Santos, Darren Espanto, Gabby Concepcion, Ian Veneracion,  Jaya, Jay-R, Jayson Dy, Jed Madela, Jona, K Brosas, Klarisse De Guzman, Kyla, Kuh Ledesma, Martin Nievera, Maymay Entrata, Moira dela Torre, Piolo Pascual, Pops Fernandez, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Zephanie Dimaranan. In support for the Gabay Guro, talent managements Cornerstone Entertainment Inc. and Eat Bulaga enlisted their celebrity talents to perform for the Grand Gathering as volunteers. The event will be hosted by Jose and Wally and Dimples Romana.

At the Grand Gathering, teachers will also get a chance to win exciting prizes from Gabay Guro’s partners, such as 100 winners of Accident Insurance Policies for 1 year from Inlife Sheroes, gift certificates from Don Henrico’s, Fitness First, Jollibee, and Penshoppe.  Gift packs from Colgate and Palmolive, Pilipinas Alibaba, and Unilab Consumer Health; gadgets and free subscriptions from PLDT Home; gadgets and mobile phones from Smart, Sun and TNT; travel and leisure escape by First United Travel, Inc., and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar; and free entrance tickets to Enchanted Kingdom; cash vouchers from Aveda, Shopee and Lazada; Television sets by Devant; cash prizes from PLDT-Smart Foundation, Pecci, and Telescoop; livelihood packages from Reyes Haircutters; motorcycle from Motorlandia; a Gratour van from Foton; and a brand new house and lot as the major prize.  The event is exclusive to teachers, and admission is FREE just get your tickets from your local Dep Ed unit.

“Gabay Guro continues to develop innovative programs for our teachers and our partners in nation-building,” Gabay Guro Chairperson Chaye Cabal-Revilla said. “Every year, it is our great honor to be able to give back to our teachers through a grand tribute and we always look forward to continuing this mission and empower them through Gabay Guro’s previously 6 and now 7 core pillars of learning.” 

Since 2007, Gabay Guro has been empowering teachers across the country through its seven key pillars: housing and educational facilities; scholarships; trainings; livelihood programs; broadbanding and computerization; annual Teacher’s Tribute; and the newly launched innovations pillar.

The new Innovations Pillar of Gabay Guro aims to reinforce the digital transformation for Filipino teachers, school leaders, and stakeholders by equipping them with new modes of teaching and the latest technology that will enable them to create, grow, and evolve their craft for the benefit of their students.

Backed by this new learning pillar, Gabay Guro introduces an exclusive application for teachers that will provide e-learning content and interactive technology and ready-to-use online tools that are aligned with the DepEd and CHED curriculum. This will provide teachers with the latest and easily accessible educational resources right at their fingertips. The new Gabay Guro app will be launched at the Gabay Guro Grand Gathering event at the Mall of Asia Arena on September 22.

Since its founding, Gabay Guro has built and donated 47 classrooms nationwide and provided over 1,770 scholarship grants through its 57 partner schools, which have been equipped with new computers and broadband connectivity. Of its scholars, 1,013 have graduated, with 343 finishing with honors. About 680 graduates have also passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers. 

Over the years, more than 60,000 educators have also benefitted from Gabay Guro's nine regular training programs including: Teacher’s Treasure Chest; English Proficiency Program; Personality Development; Emotional Intelligence; Teachers’ Armor; Leadership Training; IT Sustainability and Literacy; Teaching in the Digital Age; and Unleashing Creativity in Teaching. Gabay Guro also links schools to communities and industries through workshops and seminars. This helps promote an innovative mindset and unlocks opportunities for teachers, school leaders and staff.

Gabay Guro also holds Teachers’ Tribute in different provinces in the Philippines. Through the "Teacherfest,", Gabay Guro’s satellite and localized tribute celebration with teachers in key cities around the country, more teachers from remote areas are able to share in the fun and frivolity. Gabay Guro has successfully mounted the Teacherfests in the provinces including Metro Cauayan Isabela, Santa Rosa Laguna, Bataan, Butuan, Bulacan, Navotas, and Davao.

Gabay Guro’s efforts have also been recognized by various award-giving bodies in the Philippines and abroad including Gawad Tanglaw, Anvil Awards, Philippine Quill Awards, Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) Awards, and the CMO Asia Awards in Singapore.

To secure passes to the Gabay Guro’s Grand Gathering, teachers may visit Gabay Guro's official Facebook account, and follow its official Twitter and Instagram accounts @PLDTGabayGuro for updates.

From L-R: Chaye Cabal-Revilla (Chairperson of Gabay Guro), Noelle Aujero (Head of Marketing, FOTON), Miriam Ochoa (Chief Marketing Officer of Inlife Sheros) and John Yanez, Head of Tribute Pillar of Gabay Guro


Gabay Guro Grand Gathering 2019 is made possible by the support of Aveda, Colgate-Palmolive, Conzace, Devant, Don Henrico’s, Enchanted Kingdom, First United Travel, Inc., Fitness First, Foton, Inlife Sheroes, Jollibee, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Levi’s, Manila Doctors Hospital, Motorlandia, Penshoppe, Pilipinas Alibaba – Zeegee Powered Drinks, PLDT Home, Reyes Haircutters, Shopee, Smart, Sun, TNT, UL Skin Sciences Incorporated, Unilab Consumer Health, Eat Bulaga and Cornerstone Entertainment Inc.

GCash and the Nightshift Generation

Before my blog life, I used to be part of the BPO industry several years ago. Back then I remember a lot of my wave mates were either young college undergraduates trying to save up to finish their studies, while some were  already the breadwinners of their families.



I think I was one of the oldest from our training batch, and many of them called me mommy. I didn’t mind since they were actually the same age as my kids. Two decades ago, it would be very difficult for these kids to find decent jobs besides working part time at fast food restaurants or some other clerical jobs. Thankfully the rise of the BPO industry has given them more opportunity to find work and earn better wages.

Many young people already find full-time jobs at call centers straight out of high school. And earning around P24,000 monthly plus benefits is not bad for kids their age. The downside is that they have to work the night shift which is a bit more challenging.  What’s good though, is that the millions of BPO workers who turn nights into days are not deprived of the conveniences available during the day.



Like I mentioned a lot of my former officemates of them work not just to save money so they could eventually go to college, but also to support their families. They send money to their parents or to siblings who are still in school. They lend to their friends. They pay bills and buy load—even at midnight!



I remember there was one time, when we were having lunch (that’s 2am when you’re working the night shift) and one of my officemates got a call from her mom in the province asking her for some money for an emergency. Unfortunately, banks and remittance centers don’t open till the morning and she had to work through her shift worrying about how she could send the money ASAP.



But now with the GCASH app you can send money to anyone, anywhere in just a few minutes without even having to leave your station.



My niece and her friends do all these with their mobile phones. They use the GCash app, which lets them perform financial transactions during breaks at work. Their favorite feature is Send Money because it lets them transfer their siblings’ allowance from their GCash accounts to their siblings’ bank account in Manila.



With GCash’s money transfer feature, they can even remit money to their parents in the province through Palawan Express. In the morning, when the rest of their family wakes up, they are well-provided for. And these young, responsible workers can sleep in peace, ready for the next day—rather, night.



As someone who’s lived the BPO life—I lasted six years; my kids had their college degree by then —I know how hard it is to work at night. Your health could suffer, if you’re not used to the schedule. I also know that while you have the whole day to do bank errands, you’d much prefer to rest. And so, apps like GCash really do make life easier.

Try TGIFridays’ new creamy Milktea Cheesecake!

When you’re done with your favorite entree and are ready to finish off your meal on a sweet note, move to another main event which is new on the menu: TGIFridays’ creamy Milktea Cheesecake!  It’s like having your milk tea and eating it too, so it’s doubly delicious!

Temptation sits on a buttery graham crust, layered with a smooth, velvety, and milky cheesecake, then topped with pearls for that chewy bite. Brown sugar syrup is then drizzled on top to achieve that much craved-for milk tea flavor.

Available in all TGIFridays branches, this sinfully sweet dessert is packed with big flavors. So if you are wondering how you could-cross order your favorite beverage and a piece of cake, this will be your ultimate, decadent ‘dream team’ that melts in your mouth.

 To know more about TGI Fridays, check out its social media sites: TGI Fridays Philippines (Facebook) @tgifridaysph (IG) and its website - www.fridays.com.ph.)

Bayani Agbayani is the new face of Home Suite

Were having a new office soon.  Just before we knew it me and my partner went shopping for furniture. The first thing in our list is a nice and comfy sofa that we were able to buy during the mad rush sale in SM Store.  Just because we are going to be sitting on that sofa over and over again for the next few years, we knew that we made the best investment. We were lucky enough to  buy the sofa at 20% off.

Shopping for furniture and accessories nowadays doesn't just involve looking for what's pretty and sturdy. You should  consider the materials used and how each is crafted. When you go shopping, make sure you come prepared with your list, swatches, pictures, and the right budget. Its okay to splurge when shopping for sofa. Its the best investment that you'll not regret as the years go by.

Just when you decide to shop for your new furniture, check out Home Suite under CLC Marketing Ventures Corp. Home Suite is available in SM Stores and Puregold.

CLC Marketing Ventures Corp ., the company behind Home Suite recently unveils its newest celebrity ambassador - Comedian Bayani Agbayani last Sept 2 at CLC Marketing Ventures office at Old Sauyo, Nova QC.  The event was graced by CLC executives led by Mr. Ching.

Just like the high quality entertainment and fun laughter that comes in mind when the name Bayani Agbayani is mentioned, Home Suite is beyond joyful and excited to be represented by Bayani. Now that he represents CLC Marketing Ventures,  he has an incoming tvc playing as Yan Wick.

Now, Bayani takes on a totally different genre as he transforms into Yan Wick, the badass action hero trying to protect his home from the bad guys. In the teaser video shown to us earlier, Bayani, fights off the home invaders with punches, kicks and flips– armed with only a pencil ala Keannu Reeves’ John Wick character. The result is an action packed yet hilarious TVC we can’t wait to see in its entirety.

 

Greenwich celebrates friendship month with the #barkadaboxawards

Greenwich recently held its new campaign The Barkada Box Awards with Greenwich celebrity endorsers Enrique Gil and Yassi Pressman at the Market Market Activity Center  last Sept. 1. It was a fun filled  #ootd event with the barkadas as we were able to take our selfies and groupfie shots at the creative fun filled booth namely Beshie ng Bayan Award, Marupok Award, Barkada Cutie Award,  and That's my Tita Award =) which represents me. 

The Barkada Box Awards is Greenwich’s pioneering and chalog (charming plus kalog) way of appreciating our friends through creatively designed limited time offer pizza boxes that is meant to be entertainingly awarded to each of our barkada. 

In a recent culmination activity dubbed as “Barkada Box Awards Grand Hangout,” kabarkadas from all ages converged at the Market! Market! Activity Center to be thankful for new and old friendships by way of entertaining photo booths, free-flowing pizza slices and a chance to bond with Greenwich kabarkadas Enrique Gil and Yassi Pressman. 

Greenwich came up with four witty personalities that became the inspiration of the Barkada Box Awards. Which award would you give to your barkada? 

                                                      Bumped into Chef Anton Amoncio

Para sa barkadang friend ng bayan, ang galing mag-small talk kahit saan…
Hi doon, hello dito… grabe, kulang na lang kaibiganin ang multo…
Ang galing mong promotor, kahit sa pizza, ikaw ang donor! 

Marupok Award 
Para sa kabarkadang ‘di makatanggi kay ex, isang tawag lang o text… 
Madalas kay boss puro ‘yes’, o sa mall sale, always nakapila siya, bes…
Madaling mag-give in! Kung maka-order ng pizza, talagang ‘di nabibitin!


Barkada Cutie 
Para sa barkadang habulin ng manliligaw, atensyon ng madla, talagang naaagaw! 
Pambahay man ang suot sa litrato, standout talaga ang ganda’t pagkaguwapo… 
Charming kahit sa kainan, kaya naman ang last piece ng pizza, sa kanya naiiwan! 

That’s My Tita Award
Para sa kabarkadang OA sa herbal supplement, at nangangamoy menthol ointment… 
Papunta pa lang sa gimik, parang sa pag-uwi siya ay mas sabik… 
Oh tita, sige na, order na ng pizza para sa barkada! 


Hurry! Head on to any of your favorite Greenwich stores nationwide or visit greenwichdelivery.com to get your limited edition #BarkadaBoxAwards, available in any double size of Greenwich’s mouthwatering pizza variants of your choice! 

The SM Store’s Share Shoes Campaign helps children take steps in achieving their dreams

Shoes are essential in one’s journey through life. For less fortunate families and their children, a new pair of shoes will allow them to perform their daily chores in comfort and walk to and back to school in safety. Good shoes can also inspire them to work hard – because with a new pair of shoes, they are not only able to fulfill their daily tasks but are also taking little steps to achieve their dreams.    

Young girls choosing which pair of shoes they’ll get

Since 2015, The SM Store Share Movement has collected over 900,000 donations composed of shoes, clothing, footwear, book and school kits, disaster kits and toys, which were given to children and families all over the country. This year’s Share Shoes Campaign was able to collect over 40,000 pairs of shoes, with close to 2-million pesos worth of shoes donated by The SM Store and their generous counterpart benefactors, allowing them to reach more kids and inspire these children to take those important steps toward achieving their goals. 

The Share Shoes campaign invited shoppers to donate their pre-loved or brand-new shoes to children in need. In partnership with Caritas Philippines and other NGOs, the shoes collected were distributed to Oriental Mindoro and other far-flung communities nationwide. 

The SM Store saw how important shoes were to lives of the children. In one of their previous donation turnovers: Rich, 11 years old, took a pair of sandals for his elder sister instead. When asked why, “I still have a pair of shoes,” Rich said, “my sister needs it more.”

Students takes their pick on the shoes they want 

                                        

These are the kind of stories that inspire The SM Store Share Movement to double their efforts in reaching out to those who are in need of assistance. SM founder Henry Sy envisioned that every Filipino should have their own pair of shoes. It is a passion that blossomed to what is SM today, a company that takes every step to make this vision a reality.

According to The SM Store, this project reminded them of their humble beginnings, milestones, legacy, and promise to help communities be better. After all, The SM Store started out with shoes and they hope to be a part of people’s journeys through life through the gift of shoes.

Over the years, The SM Store has conducted its quarterly donation drive from shoes, to books, toys and hygiene kits for identified poor communities and areas impacted by calamities, through its #SMShareMovement Project. 

A girl opening the box of her new shoes

                                               

Find out more about these quarterly donation drives and know how to contribute to upcoming projects, by liking The SM Store Facebook page and by following @TheSMStore on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Korea’s LG Sakers and Barangay Ginebra gear up for a battle of the ages

Basketball season is in full swing! Five years after their last meeting, worlds collide yet again as two of the most popular basketball teams in Asia face each other once more. The LG Sakers, one of the stalwarts of the Korean Basketball League (KBL), is set to face what is arguably the country’s most beloved PBA team – the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. 

Dubbed as Asian Basketball Showdown, the first exhibition game between the two teams happened 5 years ago and was received very well by the appreciative crowd. It was a landmark event that pitted perennial crowd favorites in their respective leagues. The LG Sakers is one of the most well-supported teams in the whole of South Korea while Barangay Ginebra is a pillar in Philippine sporting history. To have these two teams face against each other is a dream come true for every fan of basketball. 

While the LG Sakers bested Barangay Ginebra in their first foray five years ago, the Filipino squad is determined to pull out all the stops to ensure an enjoyable game for the crowd and hopefully, get a win in home court. 

A big fan of basketball himself, LG Electronics Philippines Managing Director Inkwun Heo says “In the spirit of celebration of the 70th anniversary of South Korean and Philippine diplomatic relations, we want to treat Filipinos to an experience they’ll never forget. ” 

Just like the first showdown, the exhibition game is still a free event courtesy of LG Philippines. To find out how to get a free ticket, click this Asian Basketball Showdown 2 for the full mechanics.
Asian Basketball Showdown II happens on September 17th, 6PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Generation Nova: Why the Huawei nova 5T is the GOAT phone for Gen Z

As digital natives, AKA kids who grew up connected to Wi-Fi, today’s youth are pretty much the epitome of tech-savvy. Generation Z may not know what a VHS or rolodex is, but they definitely know their way around Snapchat and Instagram like Bear Grylls trekking in the rugged wilderness. As such, it goes without saying that a smartphone is the best friend a Gen Z-er can have barring an actual human best friend: enter the Huawei nova 5T.

As the fresh successor to the Nova series of devices, the Huawei nova 5T delivers a substantial upgrade to its already stellar pedigree. Kids today might scratch their heads at a pager or floppy disk, but they’ll certainly appreciate all the sweet tech the nova 5T has to offer:

Make random moments iconic with the Ultra-Wide Angle lens and 48MP HD camera.

No squad is too large for the nova 5T’s new ultra-wide angle shooter, which can capture more subjects in a single frame than a regular lens. Vacation shots in particular can achieve a greater degree of awesome with this dedicated landscape mode. If it’s for the gram, though, the 48MP HD main lens delivers in spades with its AI-powered HDR feature capturing every crisp little detail, no matter the scenario.

A 32MP Selfie Camera or, TFW your selfies aren’t a grainy mess
Say hello to a new dimension called bright and clear nighttime selfies, courtesy of the nova 5T’s 32MP selfie shooter. Kids will never know the agony of VGA front cameras but they’ll definitely enjoy high-resolution selfies on the 5T, even when they’re doing dabs at dusk in a dimly-lit coffee shop.

No scope the competition with the Kirin 980 and GPU Turbo 3.0
Photography isn’t the only talent up the nova 5T’s sleeve; the Kirin 980 chipset with 8GB of RAM at its heart ensures a lag-free performance across the board, especially gaming. With the GPU Turbo 3.0 boosting graphical power while reducing power consumption by 10%, gamers can enjoy graphics-heavy games like PUBG Mobile, Vainglory, and Arena of Valor for much longer.

Fresh and New Color Gradient to Match Your Mood
The HUAWEI nova 5T come available in three inventive color schemes: Crush Blue, Dark Black, and Midsummer Purple. A refined finish provides a unique texture, and accentuates lighting contrasts, creating a multi-layered 3D effect on a flat surface. An enhanced reflective design endows each phone with a holographic look.

The smartphone of choice for a smart generation
Through a brilliant combination of flagship-grade specs, futuristic hardware design and affordable pricing, the Huawei nova 5T has what it takes (and more) to satisfy even the savviest Gen Z individual knee-deep in Twitter hashtags and Instagram followers.

Pricing and Availability



Consumers eager to experience the Huawei nova 5T’s greatness can pre-order the device on September 6 until September 13, which includes a free Huawei surround speakers worth Php 1,990 and a FREE IFLIX Membership for one year worth PHP 1,308! To know more, please visit Huawei page: https://consumer.huawei.com/ph/phones/nova-5t/

Starbucks is bringing everyone the smooth and creamy flavors of fall with their brand new beverages

I have always been a fan of Starbucks Cold Brew,  when I feel like my body is weighing me down, I always order this wake-me upper signature beverage.  I am just as excited as any coffee lovers out there, when I learned that Starbucks offers the new Irish Cream Cold Brew.

It’s officially the perfect season for coffee-lovers as we transition into the coziest time of the year. With the chilly weather and with more customers seeking the comfort of a good cup of joe, this season marks the best time to explore and discover well-crafted coffee beverages.

While Pinoys may not experience crisp autumns at home, Starbucks is bringing everyone the smooth and creamy flavors of fall with their brand new beverages, handcrafted with heart, to enjoy during this cool time of the year. Available for a limited time only starting September 10.

A returning favorite is the Asian Dolce Latte, a drink which celebrates the classic Starbucks latte with a twist from the east. The Asian Dolce is made with rich shots of premium espresso. However, the added kick to the beverage is the specially-developed sweet dolce sauce which perfectly blends with creamy steamed milk, giving it a rich, velvety texture. For the final touch, the beverage is topped with Turkish coffee grounds.

Giving customers a taste of flavors from all over the world, Starbucks is also taking inspiration from the iconic Irish Cream Coffee by incorporating delicious Irish Cream to two indulgent beverages.

The Irish Cream Coffee Jelly Frappuccino is an instant pick-me-up, crafted with signature Coffee Jelly Frappuccino® infused with Irish Cream, topped with a smooth and rich espresso whipped cream, and dusted with finely ground espresso powder. There’s also the Irish Cream Cold Brew, made with a custom blend of Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee, slow-steeped, then topped with a float of Irish Cream, creating a silky smooth coffee experience.

Step into your favorite Starbucks and let each smooth sip of its handcrafted beverages give you the autumn feels!

Huawei launches Nova 5T

Huawei recently launches Huawei Nova 5T at The Island, BGC last August 29.

Hot off Huawei’s research and development labs, the nova 5T exuded the same fun and youthful vibe that permeated its product launch, a party popping with color and personality.

Media outfits, content creators, gaming communities and several renowned lifestyle figures experienced the Nova brand’s new look and feel through the event’s various experience booths and lounges. These various corners showcased the nova 5T’s dazzling new features and powerful hardware capabilities, which enable this newfangled nova to capture spectacular images, launch and juggle multiple apps with ease, and play some pro-level PUBG.

Country Head of Huawei Consumer Business Group Philippines, Mr. George Li expressed his optimism on the launch of HUAWEI nova 5T, saying “I’ve always believed our products complemented the lifestyles of our consumers, and that’s still what we’re going for with the newest Huawei nova 5T. With its new iconography and flagship features, we’re positive that a lot of Filipinos, especially millennials will continue to patronize our product.” 

True to the brand’s tradition, the nova 5T packs flagship-class specifications in a stylish frame without the hefty price tag. To highlight this new-gen Nova’s potential, here are a handful of the phone’s plethora of exciting new features.