Help Caritas raise funds to protect the poor from COVID-19

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine (Lockdown) from March 17 to April 12 suspending all means of public transportation. 

Everyone is advised to stay inside their homes as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases intensify its efforts to identify and isolate confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Many poor families in Metro Manila, even before the declaration of the Community Quarantine, are already unable to purchase food and basic protection needs against COVID-19. More than the virus, they’re afraid that the lockdown will deprive them of livelihood.

“We won’t last a month here. We won’t even last a few days if my husband doesn’t earn a living,” a woman living in Baseco, Tondo Manla said in an interview.  

In response to this crisis, Caritas Manila, the lead social service arm of the Archdiocese of Manila, launched the LIGTAS COVID-19 campaign. This aims to provide Caritas Ligtas COVID-19 kits and Caritas Manna food bags to 6,000 poor families in Metro Manila.

The 2000 Pesos Caritas LIGTAS COVID-19 kit for a family of 5 includes:

·      1 liter of 70% ethyl alcohol

·      5 handy bottles of 30 ml alcohol

·      5 washable face masks

·      1 liter of antibacterial liquid soap

·      1 box of 100 tablets of vitamin C with zinc

·      A pair of reusable gloves

·      1 liter of liquid bleach

·      3 pieces of cleaning cloth

·      Eco bag

The 700 Pesos worth of Caritas Manna bag to the family contains:

·      5 kilos of rice

·      munggo beans

·      9 assorted canned goods

·      2 packs of Caritas Margins kalabasa/malunggay noodles

·      1/4 pack of sugar and salt

·      Eco bag

Joining this campaign is now made even easier with GCash. Simply scan the QR code below in your GCash app and you can donate as low as 1 peso to help protect the poor from COVID-19.

The crisis has affected our country and there is no other way to #FightCOVID19 than to live out the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan. No one should be left behind.

For MORE information about Caritas Manila and its campaigns please go to www.caritasmanila.org.ph or CONTACT 0917-5955083

Staying at Home? Try the TikTok #POV Challenge

While the 30-day “community quarantine” is in effect within Metro Manila, why not make the most of your time and learn new things?

There is a trending challenge on TikTok which offers viewers a myriad of perspectives on situations, scenarios, and circumstances. The TikTok #POV challenge features short form videos that are shot from the watchers’ point of view. This places the audience right in the middle of a scene as a participant and not just a spectator.

Watching TikTok  #POV posts can give off an almost roleplaying feel for the viewer. In a way, you can enjoy being a part of the action for a brief moment. The variety of viewpoints that you can experience when you browse through the #POV hashtag on TikTok is incredible. These videos provide the audience with a unique perspective on everyday things, which you might have never thought about or imagined yourself.

Typically, a #POV video will assign a particular character or persona to the viewer. The post creator sets the scene, and he or she indicates what point of view the video is taking, in the post caption. Here are some awesome sample videos by Filipino TikTok creators, with POVs like a classmate, a school geek, and even someone’s crush.

@yanyandejesus1 POV: You’re the school geek who has a crush on me (the bad boy) for a long time and you decided to confess your feelings for me.
♬ Don't Wanna Fall In Love - KYLE

@jasminealabastro23 ##pov : me and my friends were talking but then we made eye contact 🙈 (you're my crush) ##foryoupage ##tiktokdavao ##tiktokphilippines
♬ Make Me Crazy - goalsounds

@moonchi22 POV: Ako yung bagong transferee sa klase ##pinoytiktok ##fyp
♬ 'yung bagong classmate ay 'yung crush mo - ❀JaBuan❀

In some videos, the viewers personify inanimate objects. This one from @benoftheweek, for example, puts viewers in the point of view of a Nintendo DS Lite https://vt.tiktok.com/YxnFXq/. This video is said to be one of the first to use the #POV hashtag on TikTok.

@benoftheweek what ur nintendo ds lite sees when u pictochat ur crush (wait till the end lol) ##foryou ##foryoupage
♬ original sound - benoftheweek

Another video where the audience takes on the perspective of an inanimate object is @jae_hwaw’s post, which shows what a cellphone hidden inside his bag supposedly sees. 

@yazdemand ##pov your my mirror after My family say that “you will always be a boy”😢 ##foryou
♬ original sound - Junkhoe伊

@jo_osh pov: the mirror of my insecurities
♬ IDFC - isså.pÿt

@jae_hwaw ##POV you’re my cellphone! ##phcomedy##voicechanger ##duetwithme ?
♬ original sound - 𝙹𝙰𝙴-𝙷𝚆𝙰

For content creators a #POV post gives the ability to speak right at your audience, as if you are communicating with them directly. In a way this adds a deeper, more intimate quality to your interaction, which could also help to drive engagement. You can be as creative as you want to be when making TikTok #POV videos, placing your viewers in all the scenarios you can come up with, from scary to funny to serious and meaningful ones.

  Apart from being entertaining and creative, #POV videos may be used to tackle important issues as well. You may find that certain #POV videos depict scenes that play on different emotions, including positive ones like joy and excitement, and negative feelings such as fear and loneliness. Through these videos, content creators can share valuable messages like how to deal, and where to seek support.

For instance, a #POV video could take the viewpoint of a mirror, and what the viewers will see is actually their reflection. Videos like these may be used to address topics like insecurity and self-image issues. Some great examples are these two posts by @jo_osh and @yazdemand

When you share your own #POV content or watch one of the thousands available on TikTok, you are sure to enjoy the unique experience that this online trend can bring. Start looking at things from a new perspective, and create your own #POV videos today. Download TikTok on your iOS and Android devices to get started.

SEAF x Ellana Cosmetics

I always support our local (Philippine made) make-up and skincare. Some of the brands that I have been using, are getting good reviews and testimonials  here and abroad. That's why if you'll check my make up and skincare staples nowadays. 

Some of them are a mixed up of local and high end products, like Ellana's pressed foundation in Hazelnut. Its perfect for setting your make up. Plus its 100% vegan makeup, talc-free, fragrance-free and cruelty-free.

SEAF  has  announced  its  first  investment  in  the Philippines as SEAF Women’s Opportunity Fund (“SWOF”) has invested in  Ellana Cosmetics Pte Ltd (“Ellana Cosmetics”), a fast-growing skin first cosmetics brand established by founder- formulator,  Theresa  Buenaflor,  as  a  leading  homegrown  mineral  cosmetics  brand.  Ellana Cosmetics creates and distributes non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic products specifically catering to the requirements of Filipina and Southeast Asian skin types.

From humble beginnings, Ellana Cosmetics started with foundation and primer products sold at a counter at a weekend bazaar in 2009. Today, the company has developed into a makeup brand that sells over 200 SKUs, including products distributed in more than 70 outlets. 

Ellana Cosmetics puts customers at the heart of its products and customer experience. Through its digitally-focused campaigns, the company cultivated direct relationships with consumers, fostering conversations both online and offline to gather insights on their needs and challenges. 

Ellana then used this consumer feedback to develop and refine its product offerings and formulations. With this consumer-centric approach, Ellana has developed a strong and growing customer base.

Theresa Buenaflor stated, “We believe that beauty does more, and we make that happen through products that put skin health first. Beyond beauty, we can do more by empowering our employees professionally and on a personal level. The investment from SWOF enables Ellana Cosmetics to accelerate our business expansion while strengthening our commitments to  empowering women,  particularly  our  beauty consultants who  are  hired  directly and  to protecting the environment by consistently decreasing our brand’s packaging waste.”

“We are excited to be partnering with Ellana Cosmetics in its expansion plans as well as advancing its women economic empowerment programs. Theresa has demonstrated grit and perseverance in building the Ellana brand over the years to a retail network of 70+ points of sale in the Philippines,” stated Jennifer Buckley, SEAF Senior Managing Director. “As a result, she has created an organizational culture that celebrates individuality, promotes gender equity and empowerment, and espouses strong family values. We are delighted to see Ellana Cosmetics become a strong brand that is well-known not only in Metro Manila but in many other parts of the Philippines, and we look to support its further expansion through this funding round.”

SEAF Investment Director Rowena Reyes explained that SEAF sees great potential in the Company and how they have developed a community of loyal customers who value high- quality projects using natural ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging. The firm was particularly impressed by Ellana’s distinctive hiring policies and training programs and foresees it as a great role model for women’s economic empowerment in the retail sector in the Philippines. This strongly aligns with SEAF’s mission to pursue gender equality to deliver on its mission of “Improving Lives and Communities through Entrepreneur-Focused Investment.”

SEAF’s  partnership  with  Ellana  Cosmetics  will  support  the  expansion  of  its  retail  outlets, increase  its  warehouse  capacity,  and  implement  management  systems  to  run  its  growing operations more efficiently.

Enjoy your favorite Netflix films and series for only P149/ month

Bored? Now is the perfect time to binge-watch your favorite series and shows in Netflix.  There's so many things to watch like the latest Season 2 of Kingdom in your mobile phone. 

At PHP 149 per month, members will be able to enjoy all the films and shows on Netflix —  uninterrupted and without ads — on one smartphone or tablet at a time. This plan is in addition to the existing Basic, Standard, and Premium plans. 

Filipinos are passionate entertainment fans who love stories from many different genres and countries around the world - To All The Boys, Crash Landing On You, The Witcher, Stranger Things, YOU, Dead Kids, Kingdom, Money Heist and more. 

This new plan brings together two things that Filipinos love — entertainment and mobile devices — Filipinos spend an average of 3.3 hours a day watching online content on their mobile phones^[1], which reflects that the Philippines is truly a mobile-first country.

"We’re enthusiastic to introduce the Mobile plan in the Philippines to make it even easier for anyone with a smartphone to enjoy Netflix. At home or on the go, now more people can watch all the shows and movies Netflix has to offer, wherever and whenever they want,” said Patrick Flemming, Director of Product Innovation at Netflix.

To sign up for the Mobile plan:   

1.    Download the Netflix app or visit www.netflix.com

2.    Select the Mobile plan for PHP 149/month 

3.    Add account details and get started

We have also adjusted prices for our three existing plans, so the current options are:

●      Mobile - PHP 149/month (new plan)

●      Basic - PHP 369/month

●      Standard - PHP 459/month 

●      Premium - PHP 549/month 

Netflix continues to improve the mobile experience with features including:

●      Smart Downloads: Downloads the next episode over Wi-Fi, and deletes the one you’ve seen.

●      Mobile previews: Watch previews in vertical video format.

●      Share the joy of Netflix: On Instagram Stories, Twitter, Whatsapp,  Messenger, and more by using the ‘Share’ button on the Netflix app.

●      Data saver: Lets you stream upto 6.5 hours of Netflix on just 1GB of data.

●      Android lite UI: Automatically loads Netflix faster on entry-level smartphones. 

You can pay for Netflix using credit and debit cards, via direct carrier billing with your existing network provider (Globe, PLDT, SkyCable), or with cash using a Netflix prepaid code. 

---

^[1] The Global State of Digital in 2019 by Hootsuite and We Are Social

Cebu Pacific Advisory on Cancelled Flights as of March 14, 2020

Cebu Pacific Advisory

March 14, 2020 (as of 130pm)

Domestic flights today (March 14, 2020)

All Cebu Pacific domestic flights to and from Manila are already fully booked today. We request affected passengers to not go to the airport or ticket offices to avail of their rebooking, refund or travel fund options, and to please manage their bookings online instead. This is for the health and safety of everyone. 

We will notify affected passengers via email addresses provided to us upon booking, once their bookings can be managed online. We are in the process of completing cancellations for March 15-April 14 flights in our system. 

We are working on mounting recovery options in the coming days and will announce them as soon as they are available. 

Please bear with us, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.

Nadine Lustre "Break Free in Brazil" sporting the stylish Vivo S1 Pro

If you haven’t seen it yet—though that would be unlikely—Nadine Lustre recently turned Brazil’s streets into her own private runway for an exclusive photo shoot with MEGA Magazine and Vivo Philippines.

The glamorous shoot, with the theme “Break Free in Brazil”, featured the young celebrity strolling through the colourful and carefree city, sporting the stylish Vivo S1 Pro.

While some photos from the shoot have already made the rounds on social media, there are still plenty more to see in the Making Mega supplementary magazine, now available for reading in selected Vivo concept stores and kiosks.

Those who will purchase the S1 Pro at participating Vivo stores in SM North, SM Megamall, SM Fairview, SM Sucat, and Market! Market! can also take home their own copy of the limited-edition magazine while stocks last.

So, what are you waiting for? Head to the nearest Vivo concept store or kiosk and get your hands on the Making Mega magazine today. 

To learn more about the Vivo S1 Pro, visit http://bit.ly/VivoS1Pro or check it out on Shoppee and Lazada at http://bit.ly/ShopeeVivoS1Pro and http://bit.ly/lazadavivos1pro

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