Scarlet Snow Belo celebrated her birthday with a fun-filled and exciting Jollibee Kids Party

Internet sweetheart Scarlet Snow Belo celebrated her birthday with a fun-filled and exciting Jollibee Kids Party. As the beloved Jolly Kid ambassador turned five, Scarlet Snow took her family and friends to an exciting theme park adventure at Jollitown.

Held at Jollibee Ortigas Roosevelt, a Jollitown Theme Park Party was a fitting birthday bash to celebrate the Jolly Kid ambassador’s special day.

Consistent with the theme, wooden tables and chairs were set up and marshals wearing carnival costumes greeted guests, transporting kids to a real-life amusement park. There were also fun corners where Scarlet Snow and her friends enjoyed classic carnival games such as ring toss, ball shoot, jolly crane, and the beauty box face painting booth.

The venue also featured a Jollitown-themed message board where Scarlet’s friends and loved ones had written well-wishes for the playful and loving birthday celebrant. Guests also enjoyed a photo spot dressed in fun carnival decorations which made their trip to Jollitown a more fun, exciting, and unforgettable experience.

By the end of their theme park adventure, the guests already gathered an appetite for their favorite Jollibee meals. Scarlet Snow led the mealtime prayer and enjoyed the delicious Jollibee food, along with her friends.

For the loving parents of Scarlet Snow, Dr. Hayden Kho, Jr. and Dra. Vicki Belo, their only wish is to be able to give their child countless joyful moments as she grows up. “I also grew up with Jollibee, that’s why I know my child is in good hands,” says Dr. Hayden Kho. “Now that she celebrates her 5th birthday, we would just like to give her a celebration that she will hold dear in her heart forever. I think the Jollitown theme fits her best now because as you can see, she’s already a big girl. She’s now up for more adventure, both in play and in real life, and as her parents, we will just be behind her, to support and love her all the way,” he added.

Stay updated on how Jollitown can give you a fun and unforgettable kiddie party experience and let Scarlet Snow show you the joy of being a Jolly Kid. Watch the ‘Scarlet Snow Belo At Jollitown’ event highlights at Scarlet Snow Belo’s 5^th Birthday Party here.

Smart expands list of free sites amid COVID-19 concerns

As part of continuing efforts to empower the public with the right information amid concerns over COVID-19, PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications is offering free access to more relevant government websites.

Starting March 11, subscribers of Smart, Sun, and TNT can access the official websites of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/) and Philippine Information Agency (https://pia.gov.ph/) for free on their mobile phones.

The two websites provide official information and updates on the number and locations of persons under investigation (PUI), as well as advisories on what to do and how to stay protected.

Smart, Sun, and TNT users can also still make calls without being charged to the 911 Emergency Hotline and 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center.

Earlier, Smart had provided free access to the websites of the Department of Health (www.doh.gov.ph), particularly its COVID-19 Tracker (https://ncovtracker.doh.gov.ph), and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph).

“The key to dealing with this situation is having the right information at all times. By providing free access to these sites, we empower the public by helping them get information that will enable them to protect themselves, their families, and communities,” said PLDT-Smart Public Affairs Head Ramon R. Isberto.

World Vision urges the world to focus on those who are invisible and most at risk from COVID-19 pandemic

A united global effort is needed to help prevent COVID-19 from having a massive destructive impact on the lives of child refugees, migrants and the very poor, warns aid agency World Vision, as a pandemic is declared by the WHO (World Health Organization).

World Vision health specialists are urging governments not just to focus on the impact of the virus on its own citizens, businesses, travel and trade, but to rally to support war-torn and poverty-affected countries where coronavirus outbreaks will potentially cause misery.

World Vision International president & CEO Andrew Morley warned: “The WHO’s pandemic declaration is a signal for us to work together to scale up the response internationally.  While most countries and citizens will be focused on protecting themselves, we mustn’t forget those - especially children - living elsewhere as refugees, as displaced people and in places where there are few doctors, nurses and hospitals. Our primary concern is for children, many of whom in Asia have already been impacted by loss of family livelihoods, school closures, and health systems under strain.”

World Vision in the Philippines has conducted awareness campaigns on COVID-19 in various rural areas where many families have limited means to get information.

In the Philippines, World Vision national director Rommel V. Fuerte pointed out how the country has been coping from succeeding emergencies in the past months. “Thousands of people are still reeling from the impact of the multiple earthquakes in Cotabato, volcanic eruption in Taal and typhoon in Bicol. In Marawi and other fragile areas of the country, thousands of children are still displaced. We also remember the children living in poor and highly urbanized areas who are most vulnerable in these times,” Fuerte shared. 

“World Vision lauds the coming together of different stakeholders to combat fear and the further spread of the virus and we continue to pray that we will get through this as a country and as a global community,” he added.

World Vision is already hard at work distributing protection equipment and supplies in Asia, where the virus outbreak was first recorded, as well as rolling out health advice and psycho-social support to children, their caregivers, and communities.

“COVID-19 is highly infectious and will spread easily in places where there are unhygienic conditions, crowding, and where health services and monitoring are weak,“ said World Vision International’s head of Health and Nutrition, Tom Davis. “This means that countries hosting high numbers of displaced people where there is a severe lack of doctors, nurses, community health workers and hospitals need special and urgent support.”

While wealthy countries typically have 2-12 hospital beds per 1,000 population, in the poorest countries it is as few as 1 bed per 10,000. There also can be a lack of oxygen, ventilators, and intensive care units. In refugee camps, this kind of medical support is commonly not accessible and death rates from COVID-19 may be higher than the 3.4% reported so far and which come from countries with more advanced healthcare systems.  Infection rates may be higher due to cramped living conditions and poor hygiene, Davis warned.

Davis also warned the domino effect for children could be catastrophic when guardians and income earners fall ill or die creating vulnerabilities for desperate children that range from dropping out of school, to being forced to work, beg or enter the sex trade to survive.  Also, as health systems shift resources to caring for the burgeoning number of adults who are sick with COVID-19, routine child health and nutrition services may be put on hold or under-resourced. 

World Vision calls on all concerned individuals and agencies to support the government-led efforts to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the risks, and to heed health leaders' constant advice regarding the pandemic.

For more updates and information, like and follow World Vision in the Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit their official website www.worldvision.org.ph.

Goldilocks highlights special meals for the Lenten Season

As Lent is a time for penance and reflection. 

Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop, highlights their special meals which are perfect for this season. 

Give yourself more options this Lenten season with Goldilocks’ Rellenong Bangus and Bangus Belly Sinigang Meals!  

Grab these seasonal meals and other goodies at any Goldilocks Food shop in Luzon! 

For more information, you may follow @GoldilocksPH on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or visit the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph

Get the Nova 7i Early for Limited Freebies

Pre-orders for Huawei’s newest entry in the high-spec yet affordable Nova series of smartphones are now available -- Filipinos can get their hands on the Huawei Nova 7i early both online and offline. Pre-ordering through Lazada or any physical retail partner also entitles consumers to a couple of cool freebies.

Get the Nova 7i Early for Limited Freebies

Customers can place their Nova 7i pre-orders (SRP Php13,990) at Lazada and Shopee for only PHP 500 deposit between March 12 to 22, 2020 down payment period, and pay the remaining amount on March 23 to 24. Customers who will pre-order will get freebies worth Php 8,669 in total such as Freebuds lite, Band 4e, a small fan, and a colorful speaker. Plus, the first 20 customers can enjoy 50% cashback vouchers.

You may visit these links for more information.

Lazada: https://tinyurl.com/v9knvqz

Shopee: https://tinyurl.com/t7aykz9

Pre-orders via Huawei Experience Stores and other partner retailers which will last from March 14 to March 20 will include its own set of freebies. 

In addition to Freebuds Lite (available colors may vary), customers also get 50GB of Huawei cloud storage for 3 months and a GMovies voucher worth Php 100. All in all, freebies are worth PHP 5,200!

An Abundance of Power and Style 

As is tradition with the Nova Series, the Huawei Nova 7i delivers a flagship-grade experience at a fraction of the cost, bringing high-end cameras and blazing fast performance encased in a sleek and dreamy exterior.

The Nova 7i sports a high-resolution Quad Camera system, each lens taking care of different shooting duties such as ultra-wide angle, macro, and bokeh for unmatched versatility. Thanks to the built-in handheld Super Night Mode, snapping clear pics even in sparse lighting is effortless.

The Most Fashionable Gaming Smartphone

In the performance department, the Nova 7i benefits from its Kirin 810 AI chipset’s efficient processing power.

With a flagship-class chipset like the Kirin 810 onboard the Nova 7i is indeed the most fashionable gaming smartphone, playing all the latest AAA games are entirely immersive, stutter-free affairs. Much credit lies on the chip’s built-in Mali G52 GPU boosted by GPU Turbo 3.0, which pumps out all the high-end graphics and effects that bring games to life. The Kirin 810 also supports Kirin Gaming+ Technology, which utilizes AI processes to further optimize gaming experiences.

Modern games being as graphically impressive as they are, the Nova 7i makes sure there’s plenty of power and storage under the hood -- hence the 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM to accommodate all the top games available today. Now, you can play high frame rates games such as Call of Duty, Mobile Legends, Asphalt 9 and more!

Last but certainly not least, the Nova 7i exudes a youthful edge in its design, thanks to its trendy color gradients and 3D glass panel that curves on all four sides.

The Huawei nova 7i is powered by Huawei Mobile Services and Huawei AppGallery. Huawei AppGallery is Huawei’s official app distribution platform and is now the third biggest app store globally. Huawei AppGallery features a four-layer detection mechanism to ensure that apps featured on the platform are safe to download and use. All kinds of useful and fun apps such as TikTok, Viber, Facebook, Gcash, BDO, Lazada, Wordscapes, and Asphalt 9 are available for download through AppGallery. To find out more, you may check:

https://huaweimobileservices.com/appgallery/

The Nova Series carries all the hallmarks of Huawei’s smartphone innovations, and the Nova 7i carries on that torch at an even more accessible level. To know more about nova 7i, you may visit this link: https://consumer.huawei.com/ph/phones/nova-7i/

Making Your Place Look Like A Million Bucks

 While anyone can easily admire a chic pad that looks like it came straight out of a magazine, not everyone has the budget for a major renovation or hire a world class designer to spruce up their homes.

Taking design cues from some of the metro’s most sought-after condominiums, these are simple design inspirations anyone can pull off even on a budget. 

1.     Add depth to your ceiling!  

Ceilings have a great influence on how we feel in certain spaces. Low ceilings prompt quick action as small rooms make us unconsciously want to leave faster, while the inviting aura of a room with high ceilings make us want to take our time and relax.

You can highlight the size of your living space using recessed lights for a more modern, understated way of lighting. Likewise, full-length mirrors further expand the space in the room.

In the one-bedroom model unit from Mi Casa, for instance, the interior design done on the ceiling adds visual depth. This works well for an area where you regularly welcome guests. The living room and dining area are good areas to apply this concept because they will greatly benefit from the impression of a bigger space.

Actual photo of Mi Casa model unit

2.     Let nature illuminate your home for you.

Natural lighting is the best way to brighten up any space. 

Condominium units with floor to ceiling windows not only provide sweeping views but give off the impression of a bigger and more calming living space. You will only be able to take advantage of spectacular views, of course, if your unit is on the higher floors of a condominium unit and where the building itself is located strategically.

Marco Polo Residences in Cebu plays this up perfectly with not only floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that provide unobstructed views of its mountainous surroundings, the city and the sea in the distance. On the other hand, if you have smaller windows, you can achieve this same feeling by keeping the window area clear of clutter.

3.     Opt for earth tones.  

Earth tones are timeless and versatile, making it suitable for any kind of home. 

Actual photo of Four Season Riviera model unit

The neutral colors, just like in the showroom model unit of Four Season Riviera in Binondo, Manila drive just the right amount of attention to your home and allows you to add your own accent colors here and there. You’ll save on expensive paint jobs by strategizing which segments of your living space to highlight and which you can leave bare.

4.     Experiment with open spaces.  

Although your studio unit has no pre-set divisions, this does not mean you that you need to fill the void with clunky furniture. You can utilize every fixture and piece of furniture you own to achieve a clean and organized look.

A good example would be using a slim table in a bar-like set up which can help divide your kitchen from your living area through a more open concept. 

You don’t need walls to define spaces. You can use partial wood and frosted glass partitions that double as shelves or different colored tiles and rugs to segment floor areas for different spaces. In this model unit at The Capital Towers in Quezon City, the bedroom area is defined by using tinted glass, while the dining and living area are fused into one to maximize floor space.

Actual photo of The Capital Towers model unit

5.    Tastefully maximize storage space.  

Keep knickknacks out of sight with built-in storage like the shoe cabinet, bedroom closets, and kitchen floor storage in The Seasons Residences in North Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Using beds with hidden compartments underneath for clothes and shoes, as well as hollow ottoman seats that double as storage boxes will help eliminate clutter around the house and keep your intimate belongings away from prying eyes as well.  

By lessening the use of heavy furniture, you will be freeing-up breathing space in your stylish abode making it easier on the eyes and a delight to move around in.

Lastly, while your design options may be influenced by your current budget, never sacrifice personal tastes. Any luxurious house will feel like home when it reflects the personal style of its owner. To get your own feel of luxury, visit the nearest Federal Land property show room today or get a virtual tour at www.federalland.ph. 

Disney Philippines introduces a new voice to Mulan’s iconic song as it connects to today’s generation of Disney fans

Captivating generations of Disney fans, “Reflection” has been a powerful ballad that breathed life into the narrative of Disney’s “Mulan.” Written and produced by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel, "Reflection" holds a special place in the hearts of many Filipinos for decades.

Just as much the 2020 reimagined version of Mulan is set to release in Philippine cinemas in a few weeks, Disney Philippines introduces a new voice to Mulan’s iconic song as it connects to today’s generation of Disney fans. Deemed as the most streamed Filipina artist, Disney Philippines has collaborated with Moira de la Torre on a localized version of the film’s most endeared song, “Reflection.”

Attendees during the listening party were among the first to hear Moira’s rendition of “Reflection” and were also given a special sneak peek into the upcoming music video.

When asked how Moira felt when she discovered that Disney is tapping her to sing “Reflection” for fans in the Philippines, the songstress said, “I became very emotional, because ‘Reflection’ is very special to me. It’s the first-ever song I performed in public, and also the first full song that I learned on my own. It basically launched my love for music.”

Moira also shared how the song perfectly reflects how her life has been. “It's funny how it speaks about self-doubt and questioning who you see on the mirror every day. That's basically me, but every time I feel that happening now, I feel braver. This song came back at a perfect time in my life, and I could only be happy and grateful."

To her, being able to give justice to the iconic song would be a great honor, knowing how this can inspire and empower today’s generation of young Filipino girls. 

Disney’s “Mulan” arrives in Philippine theaters on March 25, 2020. Join the conversations online at #MulanPH.

Jericho Rosales talks about finding the right balance

Since winning the title of “Mr. Pogi” in 1996, Jericho Rosales has grown before the eyes of millions of Filipinos. Today, aside from being a full-fledged actor, Echo is also a noted singer, established businessman, and loving husband, among other real-life roles he plays.

Along with being committed to his craft and personal life, the new Great Taste Brown Barako coffee endorser makes it a point to live a meaningful, well-balanced life. His lengthy showbiz stint has taught him the value of pursuing his career along with other endeavors to keep his passions aflame.

On his artistry and passion

Being a multitalented artist who spent most of his young adult years in the limelight, Echo has explored different directions before he met himself holistically. Sharing how he remains creative and true to who he is, Echo replied, “When you’re true to yourself, it’s not really a problem to be creative. Things just naturally come in, and you’ll be surprised to have a lot of options. That’s how it has been it for the last two decades.”

When asked if he has any advocacies he feels strongly about, he proudly shares, “It’s a lot of things, and one concern is the environment.” As one who loves the beach and surfing, Jericho has done several coastal cleanups in various areas nationwide together with partner organizations. Although for him, one should first be a person who cares, before becoming an advocate.

“I guess the greatest advocacy that I have is just care. We can do so many things, but it’s all deeply-rooted in caring and loving,” Echo said. “It may not look like it’s a lot, but being mindful and learning how to coexist encompasses everything, and that alone makes a great difference.”

On looking back on his best works

Jericho has played numerous film and TV roles, but if he were to choose one that he’d always go back to as it left such a huge impact on him, Echo said that it would probably be the role of Lieutenant Ricarte in Marilou Díaz-Abaya’s Bagong Buwan.

“One scene that has always stuck with me was when he was shouting, ‘Ceasefire! Ceasefire!’ To me it was his call for peace ­– it had so much to say about our society and the world that we’re living in.”

On finding the right balance

Now with years of experience under his belt, Jericho sets his sights on the next chapter of his life. Having contributed so much in the local showbiz industry, Echo finds solace in spending most of his free time at home with his family, but still being creative.

“For the past 20 years I’ve never felt so free – so now, when I have time to spare, I just stay home and write songs or watch films.” When asked what helps him stay creative, Echo said, “Coffee.”

“The new Great Taste Brown Barako is a perfect fit for me. It has this strong kick because it’s Barako, yet it’s sweet, so that balance is really what I’m looking for.”

As the first ambassador for the all-new Great Taste Brown Barako, Jericho is happy and excited to represent another Filipino brand. “I am honored to introduce this new Great Taste variant. Aside from its really good taste, I’m glad to be associated with something that is known to many Filipinos,” Jericho shares.

As he stars in his first TVC with Great Taste, Jericho feels elated to be onboard with a product that he personally champions. “I really had fun shooting this commercial, and I hope that I get to embrace my relationship with the Great Taste brand for a long time,” he said.

Want to find your perfect balance like Jericho Rosales? Jumpstart your mornings with a good cup of the all-new Great Taste Brown Barako.

Stay updated on Great Taste’s latest offerings by following Great Taste Coffee on Facebook (@GreatTasteCoffeePH).