Catch Philippine Realty TV on CNN Philippines this Sunday, January 24 at 8PM and watch just how smart LG’s smart home can get

What exactly does a complete, fully-functioning smart home look like? This question will be answered in the upcoming episode of CNN Philippines’ Philippine Realty TV (PRTV) as they unveil Project: Smart Home 2.0 for the very first time. PRTV is the country’s first real estate and construction TV show for local and global Filipinos. Project: Smart Home is a groundbreaking series  where Philippine Realty TV executive producer and homebuilder John Aguilar builds a green, smart, and sustainable modern Asian contemporary home.

The segment, which will be hosted by Issa Litton, will walk through a whole house fitted with interconnected LG electronics and appliances. Through the use of cutting-edge technology, each independent unit seamlessly works together in order to make life better at home. All appliances, from the air-conditioner, the refrigerator, to the TV can be controlled remotely using LG’s proprietary Smart ThinQ app. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Upon entry is the living room with the 86” UHD TV – the biggest UHD TV of LG in the Philippines. It’s a Smart TV that along with the other appliances. It has a Home Dashboard that acts as your control board for everything connected. With it, you can keep everything connected in one place. Monitor and control your smart home devices directly from the LG ThinQ AI TV using the easy and intuitive Home Dashboard. 

In the master’s bedroom, they will be greeted with the LG’s newest TV, the LG GX 65 inch 4K SMART OLED TV, which boasts of self-lit pixels that automatically turn on and off to create perfect blacks and infinite contrast. With its gallery flush design, the LG GX65 can fit perfectly with any interior, even looking like a piece of art itself. Supplying the immersive audio for this room is the LG XBoom Go PL5. What separates this from regular Bluetooth speakers is that LG’s XBoom PL series uses British Meridian technology, which is one of the most influential audio technology pioneers in the world. The XBoom PL5 is portable and can be placed anywhere. With its long 20 hour battery life, you can bring it with you anywhere you see fit. An LG monitor is also here for quick video conferences and work related activities. The 27UL850 4K UHD IPS LED Monitor has 4k resolution and an IPS panel. This IPS panels is characterized as having the best color and viewing angles perfect for content creators.

As they move to the entertainment room, they will see the LG 75” 8K NanoCell TV, which uses nanoparticles to deliver pure, true color. With its Nano accuracy combined with its wide viewing angle, colors are not compromised when viewed within 180 degrees. The speakers used for the entertainment room is the LG Sound Bar SN6Y. It has both Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X which provides powerful and more realistic audio entertainment, and immersive surround sound. High resolution audio and AI Sound Pro all combine for a premium home theater experience. When it’s time for work, the LG UltraWide 34WL85C takes center stage. It’s a 34-inch IPS curved monitor, with WQHD resolution and a 21:9 aspect ratio. The 21:9 aspect ratio feature on a 34” screen means that you can have the screen space of two monitors without needing to take up as much table space. The arc based design leaves you with space for your notes and other work supplies.

As the segment moves into the kitchen, the popular LG Instaview Door-in-Door Refrigerator makes an appearance. The InstaView Door-in-Door™ has a sleek mirrored glass panel that illuminates with two quick knocks, allowing you to see inside the easy access compartment without ever opening the door, reducing cold air loss to help keep food fresher longer. And of course, you can also control it with your smart phone thanks to Smart ThinQ AI. For the service kitchen, the refrigerator used is the Two Door Top freezer with Door in Door. Door in Door enables you to get small items inside without opening the whole fridge door. Inverter Linear Compressor is not just about energy savings but also prolonging the freshness through linear cooling. Door Cooling+ helps you attain even and faster cooling thus preventing dead spots inside your fridge. This feature practically eliminates temperature fluctuations as refrigerator doors open and close, making your food fresh for even longer.

Finally, for the laundry area, you’ll see the LG TWINWash. It has an LG main washer which features a washer & a dryer (2-in-1) and an LG mini washer for additional loads you might have. Save space in your home and make more room for your family. For this model (F2721HTWV), it has a capacity of 21kg for washing and 12kg for drying. It has 2 different capacities because – when drying clothes you would need more space for the air to flow and evenly dry out your clothes. The overall drum can accommodate up to 21kg of clothes – it is our biggest capacity for our front load washing machines, you can even have your duvet or comforter washed in it. For the mini washer, it has a capacity of 3.5kg which will be perfect for your intimates or lingerie, wool, baby wear or clothes which we prefer to be hand washed. Together, the LG TWINWash™ will make it easier for you to wash TWO loads at the same time!When done with the laundry, you’ll want to use the Heat Pump dryer. It comes equipped with DUAL Inverter Heat Pump™ that provides the higher level of energy efficiency or shorter time in drying your clothes. Its Eco Hybrid™ technology provides the option to save energy or save time depends on your lifestyle.

Catch Philippine Realty TV on CNN Philippines this Sunday, January 24 at 8PM and watch just how smart LG’s smart home can get.

Smart boosts your K-Life with weekly exclusive streaming of M COUNTDOWN

Legions of Filipino K-pop fans will now have something new to tune into every week as mobile services provider Smart is set to launch the exclusive streaming of M COUNTDOWN playing the hottest K-pop songs from their favorite groups live from South Korea!

 

M COUNTDOWN is an iconic K-POP chart show provided by Korea’s leading music channel Mnet. Smart subscribers will now find out, in real time, which songs rule the charts and how long these chart-toppers get to sit on the countdown throne as the M COUNTDOWN presents chart-topping K-pop music, as well as new singles and comebacks.

 

Smart is streaming the K-Life on the Gigafest.Smart starting January 21, and will air the show live every Thursday at 5 p.m. with replays at 9 p.m.

 

Smart subscribers will be able to enjoy special features such as multi-view experience, which allows them to watch the event through different angles, including angles locked on their favorite K-pop group member.

Watch the M COUNTDOWN live via Gigafest.Smart

 

Smart subscribers can watch the weekly shows of the M COUNTDOWN live anywhere and in multi-view feature! All they have to do is turn on their mobile data, go to http://gigafest.smart on January 21, click “Watch Now.”, and choose their preferred viewing screen.

 

Catch the livestream at 5pm every Thursday with replays at 9pm, both available on multi-view features so you may watch the performances in different angles for an overall unique viewing experience!

 

MCOUNTDOWN will also be available on Colours every Thursday at 4pm starting January 28, 2021 featuring the episode of the previous week. 

 

And because you can stream anywhere, you can definitely go full-on stan mode wherever you are!

 

 

All the K-Content you want with GIGA K-Video

 

Bringing the M COUNTDOWN to Filipino K-pop fans is part of Smart’s efforts to bring the K-Life closer to them, like with GIGA K-Video 99. This promo comes with seven-day free Viu premium subscription to K-shows such as dramas, variety shows, and news streaming in content provider Viu, 1 GB for Viu and YouTube every day, and 2 GB of open-access data, all for seven days.

 

To register to GIGA K-Video, go to GigaLife App or dial *123# and choose GIGA K-Video from the Giga offers menu. 

 

Country’s fastest mobile data network

 

Stream the M COUNTDOWN live every week and all your favorite K-Content anytime, anywhere with Smart LTE, the country’s fastest mobile data network as certified by third-party mobile internet analytics firms, such as Opensignal and Ookla. 

 

In its November 2020 Mobile Network Experience Report for the Philippines*, Opensignal noted that Smart remained ahead of the competition in terms of Video Experience, Upload and Download Speed Experience, 4G Availability, and 4G Coverage Experience.

 

On the other hand, Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, recently named Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network in the first half of 2020 after it achieved a Speed Score™ of 18.33, with average speeds of 15.94 Mbps for download, and 7.57 Mbps for upload, based on 2,810,963 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest®.

 

For updates on the M COUNTDOWN and other K-Life news from Smart, follow Smart’s official accounts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications, and Twitter and Instagram at @LiveSmart and use the official hashtag #SmartMCountdown and #SmartKLife.

 

*Opensignal Awards – Philippines: Mobile Network Experience Report November 2020, based on independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period July 1 – September 28, 2020 © 2020 Opensignal Limited.

 

ShopeePay launches ShopeePay Cashless Festival this January 21-28!

ShopeePay, an integrated mobile wallet that offers users easy access to digital payment services, launches its first-ever ShopeePay Cashless Festival this January 21-28, 2021. Shoppers who use ShopeePay can enjoy free shipping, coins cashback, a chance to win ₱10,000, and more exclusive rewards during the promo period.

 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “With the launch of our inaugural ShopeePay Cashless Festival, Shopee encourages more consumers to adopt digital payments for a safer, more rewarding, and seamless shopping experience. Filipinos are slowly embracing a more cashless lifestyle, and Shopee is excited to be at the forefront of this evolution. We remain committed to providing easy access to a wide range of digital payment options such as ShopeePay to cater to Filipinos’ evolving needs.”

Key highlights of the ShopeePay Cashless Festival:

 

From January 21-28, ShopeePay users can redeem these deals and rewards when they activate and top up their e-wallet:

 

●      Free shipping: During the promo period, users who activate their ShopeePay wallets for the first time can enjoy a free shipping voucher with no minimum spend. New free shipping vouchers with a minimum spend of ₱149 will also be released daily. 

●      Coins cashback from participating shops: Shoppers can look forward to 20% coins cashback on categories such as gadgets, home and living, mom essentials, and sports and motors. 

●      Bills payment coins cashback: From January 21-27, ShopeePay users get 15% cashback capped at 120 coins when they pay their bills with a minimum spend of ₱800. On January 28, they can get 20% cashback capped at 160 coins with a minimum spend of ₱800.

●      Deals Near Me: ShopeePay users get to enjoy ₱1 deals, up to 50% off on e-vouchers, and up to 15% coins cashback capped at 60 coins.

●      Flash deals on mobile load and data: Throughout the week, shoppers can buy ₱100 worth of load/data for only ₱90. On January 25 and 28, users should be on the lookout for flash deals such as ₱10 load/data for ₱6, ₱15 load/data for ₱9, and ₱20 load/data for ₱12.

●      Grand prize worth ₱10,000: There are two ways to win ₱10,000: users simply have to either top-up at least ₱300, or transfer ₱1. All users can also get rewards in the form of Shopee coins or vouchers.

●      Play & Win on Shopee Live: Score up to ₱20,000 worth of ShopeePay credits by joining Play & Win ShopeePay Edition on weekdays, every 5:00-6:30 PM.

●      Tutok to Win: All successful callers on Wowowin’s Tutok to Win will receive ShopeePay credits worth ₱5,000 each, on top of the usual cash prize of ₱20,000.

 

For more information on the ShopeePay Cashless Festival, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay. 

 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

OPPO Reno5’s latest camera technologies will allow you to picture life together better with your family and loved ones

OPPO is set to launch the much awaited ultimate smartphone videography powerhouse, the OPPO Reno5 4G and Reno5 5G this February 2021. OPPO Reno5’s latest camera technologies will allow you to picture life together better with your family and loved ones. 

 

“We are thrilled to officially introduce the new OPPO Reno5 4G and Reno5 5G in February. With the steady growth of 5G in the country and our cutting-edge camera technologies, we promise to equip young Filipinos with a Reno smartphone that can inspire them more to creatively #PictureLifeTogether with friends and family in this highly digital-driven lifestyle,” said Raymond Xia, OPPO Philippines Marketing Director.

A phone that adapts to your ever-changing lifestyle

 

In facing the new demands brought by the 5G era, and in keeping with the Reno series’ long-standing pursuit of providing a superior video and photo experience, OPPO has developed a more advanced and more comprehensive imaging system on the new Reno5 4G and Reno5 5G – the OPPO Full Dimension Fusion (FDF) Portrait Video System. Based on top-end imaging hardware, innovative image processing algorithms, and user-centric software, the OPPO FDF Portrait Video System caters to the diverse video creation needs of users in almost any situation, empowering them to capture the joy of life in every moment with easy-to-create professional-quality video content. 

 

Picture Life Together with Friends

 

OPPO’s consumer research has shown that the core need for consumers is the ability to capture clear videos in any situation, and in a way that expresses their own unique style. At the same time, they want this process to be simple and easy to use.

 

OPPO believes the best way to solve this consumer need is through the perfect integration of imaging hardware and software. The all-new OPPO Full Dimension Fusion Portrait Video System works on the basis of top-end imaging hardware in tandem with flexible, intelligent software, together with OPPO’s extensive expertise in portrait scene detection and portrait feature design. The result is a world-class portrait video experience for users on the new OPPO Reno5 4G and Reno5 5G.

 

A camera perfect for every moment

 

The Reno5 4G and Reno5 5G boasts the OPPO FDF Portrait Video System which guarantees clear images in any scenario, whether that be day, night, in strong backlight, while in motion or while standing still. It also  ensures the portrait subjects and the background are clearly and naturally defined.

 

OPPO’s original, industry-leading AI Highlight Video now uses new generation technology which is capable of detecting light levels in a scene, and intelligently and optimally adjusts brightness, color and clarity in videos resulting in smooth video from frame to frame, vibrant colors, and reduces noise. This is the first time OPPO has united Ultra Night Video and Live HDR under one feature, which is available on both the front and rear cameras of both devices. 

 

OPPO has also included a host of features such as AI Color Portrait (except Reno5 5G), Monochrome Video, AI Mixed Portrait (only available on Reno5 4G) and more which gives users the power to create content with deeper and more creative stories. The phone’s FDF Portrait Video System also includes the Portrait Perception Engine to let users shoot in their style. 

 

Other camera features include the Scene Design Manager which analyzes different scenarios to give the user high quality images wherever they are and Portrait Recognition which instantly recognizes the portrait subject in the image and separates them from the image background. In addition to facial recognition, it can also detect and track moving human bodies within a video and extract these portrait subjects with precision from even the most complex backgrounds so you can still be the highlight of a shot even if you’re in a busy environment. 

 

From beginning to end, the Reno5 4G and Reno5 5G are the new additions to OPPO’s powerful technology to simplify the complicated task of video capture, editing, and sharing off of users’ hands, leaving them with a simple-yet-professional means to record and create their own stories. 

 

For more information about the latest OPPO Reno5 4G, Reno5 5G, and all of OPPO’s exclusive deals, visit the official website at www.oppo.com/ph or via the official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines. 

 

Making connections that matter with PLDT Home

Many families are now looking forward to the start of the new year at home. Despite the hardships and challenges that the past months of quarantine have posed, there are still so many things that everyone can be thankful for, especially that staying safe at home has brought everyone closer together.

 

When everybody welcomed the new decade full of hopes and excitement, no one could have predicted how a health crisis would put an indefinite pause on their plans and resolutions for the year. However, radio personality and wonder-mom Riki Flo felt blessed to have spent the time in quarantine with the company of her loving family. 

 

She says, “I realized that spending time at home with people you love the most is a luxury, and when life got too real, I was reminded of that. And though we may not have had as many adventures outside this year, we made many memories at home and that allowed us to become closer.”

 

 

Bonding in the new normal 

When the news of the lockdown first broke in the country, Riki remembers how she prepared for the quarantine by purchasing art supplies for her children. A mother of two young and energetic kids, Calix and Dandy, she knew that the isolation would be a difficult period of adjustment for them and wanted to brighten things up.

 

“Being isolated from the world is tough and if we were going to be holed up for a while, I wanted them to enjoy themselves at home. I bought different art supplies and creative materials in case they wanted to experiment and make crafts,” she said. 

 

She also introduced her little ones to the world of gardening. Lately, their family has been nurturing a newfound love for plants, flowers, and even insects. This little hobby of theirs has also turned out to be a learning experience as they would be looking up the species and reading more about them on the internet. 

 

Embracing the new digital lifestyle 

Going online has not just been a source of latest news, updates, and additional knowledge for Riki’s family. She goes as far as to say that the internet has made life in quarantine more bearable for her and her kids. 

 

“With reliable connections from PLDT Fibr, we were able to keep in touch with our different family members and friends through video calls. We also enjoyed family movie nights by watching new and old films together, and we even fell in love with K-pop,” she expresses. It seems that through streaming music videos of Korean idols that Riki uncovered a special hidden talent of her children: dancing! 

 

Riki also mentions how four-year-old Calix was able to continue with his kindergarten classes online seamlessly with help of PLDT. With PLDT’s new whole home wifi mesh system, they have been able to enjoy consistent connectivity with no dead spots in the household. This has enabled them to discover new ways to work, learn, and play from every corner of the room, including the kids’ newly transformed study area. 

 

“At first, it was difficult to get him to understand why everything had to be through a computer screen right now, but we have all adapted and our mornings are much smoother now,” she shares. “I’m also thankful because my husband and I tag team when it comes to Calix’s online classes. He prints the materials and I sit in and facilitate the actual class.” 

 

One thing that Riki is grateful for in this year is how she was able to understand her family more. She says, “As a mom, I can say that I saw and learned more about my kids, about their interests and their talents. I wouldn’t have been able to get closer to them if I wasn’t working from home.”

 

She also adds, “It’s all about being patient with the kids and learning how to stretch things out. It’s very important that we can support and guide them as these experiences and memories are part of their childhood.” 

 

This new year can be full of challenges, but it is also packed with hope and anticipation. With PLDT making sure that our connections are faster and more stable than ever, we can be excited to face the days to come.

 

Know more about PLDT Home’s latest Whole Home Wifi System at https://pldthome.com/wholehomesystem and see how you can rediscover connections and activities at home.

 

Promote better health with 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets

In these difficult times, it is important that the air we breathe is clean and healthy especially now that everyone is working from home  and our kids with their remote learning.

For most of us, living in these extraordinary times has made optimum health the primary objective in our lives once more. With our priorities coming into much clearer focus, we are fast regaining appreciation for things that we used to take for granted. 

 

This is especially significant now that people are spending more time than ever in their domiciles—from adults working from home to children coping with online learning. We’d like to safeguard our families’ health 24/7 but unfortunately, allergens and pollutants like smoke, pet dander, and fumes from household chemicals can accumulate in our homes. Some of these are trapped in our air conditioners and spread around each time the units are switched on. More often, these are the common causes of allergies and other respiratory illnesses.

So how do we ensure that air quality in our abodes remains clean and untainted? For those looking to preserve good air quality at home, the best solution is 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets. This innovative product from 3M captures 93% of PM2.5 particles* and outperforms ordinary AC screens by at least 60 times**. 

 

“As we rediscover the joy of spending more time at home, it’s incredibly important to make sure that the air we breathe is clean and healthy,” says Lai Mei Yip, Command™ & HEM Portfolio Manager of 3M. “This is why we’re proud to offer 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets as an absolute must-have for all families.” 

 

Yip adds, “The better the quality of air, the better we feel to face each day’s challenges.” 

 

The 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets work effectively by first pulling in the allergens and small particles, traps it, then finally delivers cleaner air. It addresses the common household dust, pollen, dust mite debris, mold pores and pet dander. 

 

Each pack contains 4 sheets of 8’’ x 13’’ and 2 filter-change Koala indicators that also turns black to help you notify when it’s time to change the AC Filters. 

 

To install the 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets, remove and clean the plastic mesh screen that comes with your aircon units. Cut the filter sheets following the shape and size of the built-in plastic mesh screen. Place the 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets vertically onto the center of the plastic mesh screens. Allow gaps on each side. Use the double-faced adhesive tape to attach the filters to the mesh screens. Install the plastic mesh screens with 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets back into the air conditioner. Replace filter once every 1-3 months. 

 

You can buy the 3M Air Cleaning Filter Sheets at select supermarkets nationwide. 

realme peps up young realme Squad members to kickstart the year right and bright with great online deals this January

With all the challenges Filipinos needed to triumph over in 2020, the hope for a New Year of new beginnings and renewed fighting spirit is shared by many. realme, the number one smartphone brand in the Philippines, peps up young realme Squad members to kickstart the year right and bright with great online deals this January. The online sale event is happening both on Lazada and Shopee, and features several discounted realme products with price tags slashed by up to PHP 3,000!

 

The shift to a highly digital lifestyle was accelerated last year by the need to stay at home and lessen physical interactions. To aid young Filipinos thrive in the new normal, realme Philippines has launched a variety of products that boast features complementary to the digital lifestyle of the youth. Among these are the budget battery beast realme C12, best-selling midrange gaming champ realme 6 Pro, and smart audio devices realme Buds Air Neo and Buds Q -- all of which offered at discounted prices during successive flash sales on January 20 on Lazada; and January 15, 16, 19, 20, 25, and 27 on Shopee. 

Those who are not as eager standing by waiting for the flash sales may enjoy all-day discounted rates on Lazada on January 25, 27 and 30. Meanwhile, Shopee will be running the realme promos the whole day solely on January 30. 

 

Entry-level battery beast realme C12 is a powerful device capable of handling the workload of young online schoolers and casual gamers.  It packs a 6,000mAh Mega Battery that can last for at least 2 days, a MediaTek Helio G35 Processor, a 13MP AI triple-camera setup, a 5MP selfie camera perfect for social media photos. The realme C12 will retail for a discounted price of PHP 5,490. The realme 6 Pro, with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset, 30W Fast-Charging technology, and 90Hz refresh rate, is a device of choice for mobile gamers. The best-selling realme smartphone will be made more affordable with PHP 3,000 being slashed off of its original price, making it available for just Php 13,990. 

 

Audio lovers are also in for a treat! The stylish and top-selling realme Buds Q, the first in-ear True Wireless Stereo (TWS) device from realme, will get a PHP 400 discount, lowering its price to PHP 1,090. The realme Buds Air Neo, known for its Super Low Latency Gaming Mode, is getting a Shopee-exclusive discount of Php 700 off, retailing for a final price of Php 1,290. 

 

“Our January Online Sale is just the first of our many exciting activities this year. Our products bear technology and features that can help our Squad have a year of achieved goals and fun experiences. We hope through promos like these, more young Filipinos can have realme as their digital companion,” shares realme VP for Marketing Austine Huang. 

 

The realme January Online Sale also includes other products from the leading smartphone brand in the country. To know what other realme devices will receive discounts, customers may visit the official Facebook and Instagramaccounts of realme Philippines. 

 

Win a share of P700,000 in prizes when you fuel up at Caltex via PayMaya QR

Motorists can drive a safer and more rewarding experience with Caltex as  PayMaya  powers contactless payment options plus a chance to win as much as  P100,000  in select Caltex stations nationwide. 

 

A total of P700,000 worth of prizes  from PayMaya  and Caltex are up for grabs  for 150 winners  who  can get a chance to win P1,000  and  P10,000 in prizes, plus  one lucky winner  who will  take  home the grand prize of P100,000!   

 

By utilizing contactless payment options  like  PayMaya QR, customers not only enjoy exciting rewards but  also  experience safer transactions as this lessens the risk of virus transmission often associated with cash handling.  With  PayMaya  as  the preferred  payment option at their go-to Caltex stations, motorists can  now  drive around  the metro worry-free and enjoy  exciting rewards that give them the best value for their money.    

To get a chance to  win  these exciting rewards, all they have to  do is #ScanToPay  at least P100  via  PayMaya  QR, at select Caltex stations  nation wide  until February 28, 2021.    

 

Every  PayMaya  QR transaction automatically earns a customer  a raffle entry  for the promo. And the more they #ScanToPay, the more chances they have of winning. The first batch of winners will be announced on January 22, 2021 and the next batch, including the grand winner, will be announced  on March 5, 2021.    

 

On top of the chance to win these raffle prizes, motorists who #ScanToPay via  PayMaya  QR  will instantly get  a 1%, 10%, or 100% cashback of up to P500  for their  PayMaya QR transaction.  

 

Getting  PayMaya and paying  contactless for your purchases  is very easy. Just download the  PayMaya  app at  https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133  and register an account, to find out what it’s like to go cashless with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding way to pay for anything online and in stores! Remember, for your everyday needs, don’t pay cash. PayMaya!   

 

PayMaya  is the only end-to-end digital payments eco system enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country including "everyday" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants as well as government agencies and units.     

 

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya  provides over 28 million Filipinos with access to financial services. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or  remit  through its over 200,000 digital touch points nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 37,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to digital services. 

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

NutriAsia and Papa team up with DepEd to teach students about proper nutrition

Proper diet and nutrition are crucial in young children’s formative years. These foster proper development for children, leading to good health, intelligence, and behavior, thus giving them better chances in succeeding later in life.

In light of this, NutriAsia and Papa forged a partnership with both Marylindbert International and the Department of Education (DepEd) for school year 2020-2021, the Pinggang Pinoy Pina-Sweet Sarap Comprehensive School Program. It is a special module that teaches the importance of having the right diet and nutrition. Powered by Papa Banana Catsup and Papa Spaghetti Pack, the program aims to educate Grade 1 and 2 Filipino students about how keeping a good diet with the right nutrition leads to proper and healthy development. 

“With the Pinggang Pinoy Pina-Sweet Sarap Comprehensive School Program, we have a whole plan ready for teaching young Filipinos how to keep a proper diet and take in the nutrients they need,” said NutriAsia President and COO Angie Flaminiano. “We hope to be a part of their good growth and development and, in turn, the Philippines’ growth as well.” The Pinggang Pinoy program will be launched in 30 participating schools across the country, namely in Regions I, X, XI, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. 

The class module is the first in the three-stage Pinggang Pinoy program. The second stage will involve cooking demonstrations and activities that will show students and parents how to prepare healthy snacks using Papa products. The final stage will involve a cooking contest that will challenge students, teachers and parents to create unique recipes using Papa Banana Catsup and Papa Spaghetti Pack.

Papa’s advocacy of helping educate Filipinos in the classroom and beyond has also led them to produce edutainment Facebook videos for NutriAsia’s HomeSchool Program. These videos can be viewed at https://nutriasia.com/homeschool/

For more information and updates on Pinggang Pinoy and NutriAsia’s other initiatives, visit the official website atwww.nutriasia.com, and follow NutriAsia on Facebook.

 

Smile Train beep cards will be introduced and made available at various MRT, LRT and bus stations in NCR

More than 4,000 children are born with a cleft lip or palate annually in the Philippines, all of whom can greatly benefit from surgery and comprehensive cleft lip and palate care. Through its sustainable model, Smile Train has supported more than 1.5 million cleft palate surgeries in the Philippines since 1999. With the support of partners such as AFPI, Smile Train is confident that it can bring a smile to the lives of more Filipino children in the years to come.

Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, furthers its commitment to champion Filipino children with cleft and spread more smiles through a partnership with AF Payments Inc. (AFPI), the joint venture between Ayala Group and First Pacific Group behind the contactless smart card, beep. To sustain its goal to provide children with cleft with the urgent support and care they need, special edition Smile Train beep cards will be introduced and made available at various MRT, LRT and bus stations in NCR.

“We are excited to be able to contribute to this noble cause and to be of assistance to children with cleft. During these uncertain times, they continue to need special care and assistance. We are grateful that Smile Train has chosen to partner with us and provide us this opportunity to help out and provide cards that bring a message of hope,” said Sharon G. Fong, Chief Commercial Officer of AF Payments Inc. 

Smile Train’s series of special edition beep cards will feature celebrity goodwill ambassadors beginning with actress and model, Marian Rivera-Dantes who has been a supporter of the organization for over six years.  “Naging part kami ni Dingdong [Dantes] ng 30,000th cleft surgery celebration sa San Fernandino Hospital in 2014, at doon ako unang naging saksi sa life-changing work ng Smile Train. Inspired ako by their story so ngayon I make sure to help as much as I can and spread awareness para mas maraming tao pa ang mabigyan ng libreng operasyon at other services for children with cleft,” she shares. 

[“Dingdong [Dantes] and I were part of the 30,000th cleft surgery celebration at San Fernandino Hospital’s in 2014, and there, I was able to witness Smile Train’s life-changing work. I was inspired by them and moved to do my part in raising awareness for Smile Train to reach more children with cleft and provide them with free operations and services.”]

The August launch of the first in the series of special edition Smile Train beep cards coincides with the birthday month of Marian Rivera-Dantes. Rivera-Dantes has been an avid supporter of the cause and has been known to mobilize her clout to further push for advocacies she espouses. The actress previously celebrated her birthday by coming up with her own fundraising efforts and donating half a million pesos to Smile Train Philippines gained through sales of limited edition shirts in partnership with one of the Filipino brands she endorses. 

Other celebrities featured on the special edition Smile Train beep cards include Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Miss World Philippines 2013 Megan Young. Catriona and Megan have continued to support Smile Train Philippines as they raise awareness for the charity’s efforts in empowering local medical professionals to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care. A lot must be done for the 540 babies around the world born every day with a cleft, a serious health condition with potentially life-threatening complications such as difficulty in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking.

With thousands of Filipinos using them for everyday needs, especially for transportation, the charity sees this as an effective way to convey the message that help is at hand for those children in need of cleft lip and palate surgery or care. Smile Train hopes that whenever Filipino commuters encounter a child who needs help, they can simply refer to their beep cards to get the contact details of Smile Train. 

For more information about Smile Train Philippines’ local efforts and to refer a patient in need, visit smiletrain.ph/get-help, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like them on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.