Here's a 2021 holiday gift guide for every type of person in your life

Simple but great joys: A 2021 holiday gift guide for every type of person in your life

Christmas is fast approaching, which means it’s time to get your holiday shopping done as soon as possible. With so many things happening in the world, the festive season should be filled with joy, laughter, and love, and not stress over worrying about what presents to buy.

 

The rise of e-commerce has shown how convenient it is to shop online. With just a few clicks on your laptop or a few taps on your smartphone, you can order your favorite goodies online and have them delivered to you in just a few days. With the holiday traffic and jam-packed malls, it’s definitely a good idea to get your Christmas shopping done online.

 

To get you started, here is a holiday gift guide for every type of person in your life. With this well-curated list, you can narrow down your options and ideas for the perfect holiday gift while also having the opportunity to give love and support to local brands.

 

 

For those who like to pamper themselves

All of us have powered through the year, so everyone deserves to unwind during the holidays. Gift your loved ones with items that can help them with their well-deserved relaxation.

 

For example, why not give new sheets and blankets from Linen and Homes? Their linen sets (from P2,950) are made from 100% cooling bamboo viscose, which is luxurious, lightweight, and breathable. Another excellent choice is local accessory brand K Accessories for all the women in your life. This brand makes bold and stylish necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings and ear cuffs. Try their collections and holiday gift sets (from P399).

 

If your loved one likes to keep a peaceful atmosphere with a calming aroma, help create that mood with Lumi Candles. Their soy candles (from P650) come in a variety of fragrances, from lavender to fresh bamboo, rosé, vanilla, and more.

 

Check out these stores for more of your wellness and self-reward needs:

·       Teeth Whitening Kits from Holo

·       Starter Sheet Sets from Flax Linen Beddings

·       New earrings from Penny Pairs

·       New outfits from Yong Studio International

·       Trendy clothes from Bella Clothing

·       New sneakers from Sanbera

 

 

For the home office warrior

 

Hard workers need to have the right workspace to help them meet all their deadlines. Upgrade their home office with the WFH must-have, a desk riser or a portable desk from Stance Philippines. Their Stance EasyDesk (P1,990) is a portable workspace that can be used in bed or on the couch. The Levit8 Portable Standing Desk (P1,980) can be placed on any surface to elevate the laptop.

 

You can also brighten up their workstation walls with prints and frames from Sevenside Ent. Online Store. Their customized frames start at P240 while their collage frames, which you can fill with memorable photos or any visual art to draw inspiration from, only range from P1,400 to P1,600.

 

Have a few more to spare for that special person? Be sure to explore these great sites for more home and office needs:  

·       Additional reads from BookSpine PH

·       Home air purifiers from Aviche

·       Handcrafted furniture from Ecowoodphilippines Corp.

·       Outdoor lighting from Altum Circular

·       Plant care essentials from Gardening Tita

·       A nativity set for the holidays from Alriver

·       Custom laser cut ornaments Laser Crafts PH

 

For the foodie

The way to a foodie’s heart is through their stomach. For this holiday season, step it up a notch and get them something they’ve never tried before. The sweet treats from Deliziosa will be a hit for those who like kakanin like black kutsinta and inutak. You may also consider the baked goodies from Cupcakes by Sonja, Manila’s first cupcake store. Try their classics like the Red Velvet Vixen (from P100) and the Lemon Drop (from P105). For the more adventurous foodie, their special treats like the Hostess with the Mostess (from P540) and the Pistachio Berries and Cream (from P930) will definitely be a hit.

 

If you know a coffee lover, there can never be too many mugs for them to enjoy their favorite drink. Orion carries a line of high-temperature-fired porcelain Italian coffee cups in playful colors and sizes. They have Egg Cup sets (from P660) and Espresso Egg Cup sets (from P560). 

 

For more cravings, you can visit these shops too:

·       A variety of coconut oils from Greenlife Coconut Products Philippines

·       Deli sandwiches from Bhaji Restaurant

·       Burgers from Hungry Homies

·       Porchetta from Benedicto Kitchen

·       Seafood Boil from Surf n Turf MNL

·       Custom cakes from Honey Glaze Cakes

·       Holiday catering from Eateree Eat Better, inc.

TV5 wraps up its four-month-long parade of presents with “Atin ang Paskong Ito, the 2021 TV Christmas Celebration”

As a culmination of the longest Christmas campaign on Philippine TV, TV5 wraps up its four-month-long parade of presents with “Atin ang Paskong Ito, the 2021 TV Christmas Celebration” — a two-part TV special packed with joyful treats and spectacular performances from the country’s brightest stars. Airing on December 18 at 8:30 PM and December 19 at 8:00 PM, the TV5 Christmas Special encapsulates the network’s message of hope and unity, along with everything that makes this merry season so meaningful to Filipinos.

 

TV5 kicked off the BER-months this year with its ceremonial Christmas Tree Lighting, followed by a series of surprises for Kapatid viewers across the country, most notably the Himig ng Ating Pasko: Guess the Lyrics promo, which let viewers enjoy Christmas carols every day for a chance to win exciting prizes. Last month, the network successfully launched its inspiring Christmas Station ID, “Atin ang Paskong Ito, Kapatid,” enjoining Filipinos to celebrate this most-loved time of the year despite these challenging times.

 For its upcoming two-part holiday special, TV5 celebrates the season with lots of singing and dancing, life-changing prizes and surprises, and the promise to continue uplifting the Filipino spirit in every home. Anchored on the theme “Ako, Ikaw, Tayo, hanggang sa pagtatapos ng selebrasyon!”, the Yuletide celebration spreads TV5’s 5 Pillars of Pag-asa, Kasiyahan, Kapatiran, Pagbabalik-tanaw, and Pasasalamat. 

 

The spirit of Pag-asa rises above the difficulties endured by so many Filipinos — because when there’s hope, there’s happiness, which has always been at the heart of what TV5 does. For the ultimate Kasiyahan, TV5’s Christmas Special features outstanding production numbers by “Her Majasty” Maja Salvador, Popinoy winners Versus and Yara, the Lunch Out Loud crew, Sing-Galing team, Niña Niño cast, Zephanie, the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, OPM icons Dulce, Rey Valera, Marco Sison, Radha, Hajji Alejandro, and more. The TV special is also presented by seasoned hosts Randy Santiago, K Brosas, Bayani Agbayani, Isabelle Daza, and co-hosts Zendee and MJ Marfori.

 

Another Filipino value that’s naturally in the DNA of TV5 is Kapatiran. For over a year now, this has been embodied by the network’s remarkable collaboration with a slew of artists and talents and unique partnership with different production companies, including ABS-CBN, all of whom were welcomed like family. For the very first time, both Kapamilya and Kapatid stars will share the stage for a Christmas number, led by no less than ASAP mainstays Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, and Gary Valenciano to truly capture the magic of the holidays.

 

Taking stock of the challenging year of 2021, the TV5 Christmas Special also offers viewers a Pagbabalik-tanaw, as the momentous event marks the first-ever national TV tribute for the Philippines’ recent victories. Ms. Intercontinental Cinderella Faye Obenita and Miss Globe Maureen Montagne, with the special participation of Jose Mari Chan, will help recall how Filipinos, despite facing countless hardships, rose to new heights and garnered wins, both big and small. 

 

As the network’s way of expressing their gratitude or Pasasalamat to its Kapatid viewers across the country, the winners of the Himig ng Ating Pasko: Guess the Lyrics promo will be announced during the Christmas Special. Three lucky winners will receive P100,000 each and the name chosen in the Grand Draw will bag the P1,000,000 jackpot prize and a house and lot from Camella.

 

End 2021 on a high note and experience the true essence of the one-of-a-kind Filipino Christmas with “Atin ang Paskong Ito, the 2021 TV5 Christmas Celebration” on December 18 and 19.

 

For more information, visit www.tv5.com.ph or follow TV5's official social media pages for updates.

Shopee’s 12.12 Big Christmas Sale is extended until December 15!

In case you missed out on all the big 12.12 deals last weekend, it’s not too late—Shopee’s 12.12 Big Christmas Sale is extended until December 15.  And since the extended sale coincides with payday, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Use your 13th month pay or Christmas bonus to treat yourself to the latest gadgets, or perhaps a brand-new pair of shoes. You’ve worked hard this year, and you deserve it! 

 

Check out some of the deals you need to add to cart this December 15 payday, with discounts up to 62% off:

 

12.15 Midnight Deals (available from 12:00 MN to 2:00 AM only)

 If you love unwinding after work with your favorite TV series, get yourself this Avision Smart Digital LED TV. Browse the web, watch shows on your go-to streaming service, play games, and more with this smart TV. It also comes with a built-in digital tuner and USB support.

 

Avid cyclists, this Rockbros LED Cycling Headlight is a must-have. Attach this accessory to your bike to keep safe during evening rides. It has a range of about 150m and a brightness of up to 400 lumen. It’s waterproof, so it can withstand rainy days as well. 

 

12.15 All-Day Deals 

Don’t take indoor air quality in your home for granted. With improved air quality, you can enjoy a cleaner house with fewer allergens. This Xiaomi Air Purifier features a high-precision laser sensor that sensitively detects even the slightest pollution and AI smart voice control.

If you’re looking for versatile wireless earbuds you can use for both work and play, invest in a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. Enjoy superior sound and call quality with its large two-way speakers for more dynamic Hi-Fi sound, high signal-to-noise ratio, and active noise cancellation.

Start the year off on the right foot and step into brand-new sneakers for your upcoming New Year’s Eve celebrations. These solid-tone, low-top Superdry Leather Sneakers feature a classic round toe, cow leather upper, synthetic inner, and rubber outsole.

 

This December 15 only, find all the best deals in one place at Shopee’s extended 12.12 Big Christmas Sale: https://shopee.ph/m/add-to-cart. 

 

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

Pru Life UK expands its footprint in Pangasinan, Cavite, and Mandaluyong City

 

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK expands its footprint in Pangasinan, Cavite, and Mandaluyong City with the opening of three new general agency (GA) offices in the country.

 

Diamond Trillion Life Insurance Agency Inc., headed by General Agency Leader Laneza Molina under Diamond 7, opened its doors for Pru Life UK customers at JT Commercial Building, 95 Brgy Roxas Blvd., San Carlos City in Pangasinan.

 

Francisco Jr. and Family Life Insurance Agency Inc., headed by General Agency Leader Farrah del Monico under B-Empire Life Insurance Services, opened its office at 2nd floor, Unit 8, J12 Property Leasing, Lot 2515-A-4&5, Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy Anabu Ii-D, Imus City in Cavite.

 

While Astra Life Insurance Agency Inc. headed by General Agency Leader Ryanier Angeles under Crystal Quartz 2, opened its office at Ground Floor, Unit 1b Ajk Bldg., 326 Shaw Boulevard Corner Acacia Lane, Hagdang Bato Libis in Mandaluyong City.

 

Celebrating its 25th year in the Philippines, Pru Life UK is going from strength to strength as it expands its footprint and opens more general agency offices to fulfill its promise to help more Filipinos live healthier and wealthier lives.

 

Since its establishment in 1996, the company has expanded its footprint by opening more than 190 branches and general agency offices in the Philippines and has grown its life insurance agency force to become the country’s largest with more than 35,000 agents. Pru Life UK was also named the top life insurer in the country based on the Insurance Commission’s Full Year 2020 rankings in terms of new business annual premium equivalent (NBAPE).

 

Pru Life UK also ranked first amongst local life insurance companies in terms of number of Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) agents. This year, the insurer more than doubled its MDRT agents to 501 compared with last year’s 246 qualifiers.

  

 

 

Diamond Trillion Life Insurance Agency Inc.

From left to right: Assistant Unit Manager Anecita G. Miranda, Assistant Unit Manager Irene P. Julian, Unit Manager and President Laneza C. Molina, and Branch Manager Reynald R. Rosario

 Francisco Jr. and Family Life Insurance Agency Inc.

From left to right: Assistant Unit Manager Ana Carmela De Guzman, Assistant Unit Manager Jasmin Medina, Board of Director Luzviminda Del Monico, Assistant Unit Manager Robin Santos, Assistant Unit Manager Sonny Aurellano, President, Unit Manager and General Agency Owner Farrah Del Monico, Unit Manager Hayzel Del Hugo and Branch Manager Nena Talavera

 

 

Astra Life Insurance Agency Inc. 

From left to right: Pru Life UK Vice President and Sector Head Blesila Garcia, Assistant Unit Manager Fortunato Galang Jr., District Manager Teresita Robles, Unit Manager Moreen Abarquez, Branch Manager Ryanier Angeles, Agent Paul Vincent Castillo, Unit Manager Sherrie Pearl Gamboa, and Unit Manager Ray Justin Reyes

Lemon-Dou Japan's growing chu-chi drinks is now available in the Philippines

Lemon-Dou, one of Japan’s growing chu-hi drinks, is now available in the Philippines in three different variants. The entry of Lemon-Dou® in the country is seen as a response to the increasing demand for refreshing lemon alcoholic drinks and marks the first alcoholic beverage brand in the growing beverage portfolio of Coca-Cola in the Philippines.

 

“At Coca-Cola, we’ve always strived to deliver innovations that center around what our consumers want, while ensuring that we evolve our business responsibly and sustainably as well. We continue to be bullish on our business here in the Philippines amidst the ongoing challenges of the pandemic — and the launch of Lemon-Dou, our first alcoholic brand in the country, is a tangible proof of that commitment. We are confident that Lemon-Dou will help further accelerate the high-growth trajectory of flavored alcoholic drinks in the country," said Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines.

Inspired from the southern province of Kyushu, Japan – the birthplace of shochū over 500 years ago – Lemon-Dou was first introduced by Coca-Cola in Japan in 2018. After two years, the lemon-flavored alcoholic drink became one of Japan’s Nikkei Trendy top 5 trends in 2020.

 

Martyn Ferguson, Marketing Director for Emerging Brands of Coca-Cola ASEAN & South Pacific shared, “Lemon-Dou uses a closely-guarded traditional recipe from Coca-Cola Japan. True to the Japanese philosophy of Kodawari, we’re very proud of how we have tapped into the strength of our global network to ensure that the quality of Lemon-Dou remains consistent when served to the Filipino legal age drinkers.”

 

Lemon-Dou is a play on “lemon,” the drink’s main ingredient, and the Japanese word “dou,” meaning house. Literally translated to “The House of Lemon,” Lemon-Dou uses crushed whole lemons, infused in alcohol and mixed with bubbles, which creates the great tasting, refreshing and full-bodied lemon-sour experience for the alcohol drinkers.

This newest Japanese-crafted chu-hi drink comes in three different variants: Honey Lemon–sweet taste & mild flavor with 3% alcohol level; Signature Lemon with the classic taste; bold lemon flavor and 5% alcohol level; and the Devil Lemon, a wickedly good taste with 9% alcohol content.

 

Globally, Coca-Cola adheres to a strict Global Responsible Marketing Policy to ensure that the company grows their alcohol brands, such as Lemon-Dou, in a responsible and sustainable way. This policy includes championing responsible consumption and marketing that does not appeal to people under the legal purchase age (LPA).

 

People of legal drinking age can now enjoy Lemon-Dou. It is available in major supermarkets nationwide, which includes SM Hypermarket, Waltermart, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, Landmark Supermarket, Royal Duty Free, S&R, Lander’s, Alfamart, Puregold, as well as convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Mini Stop, Family Mart, and Lawson. Lemon-Dou may also be ordered online via Boozy.ph, CokeBeverages.ph, Shopee, and Lazada as long as you are 18 years old and above.

 

For more information on Lemon-Dou, visit facebook.com/LemonDouPH/. #

 

UnionBank CTO recognized as one of the biggest names in Data in the world

Industry leader Informatica has recently named Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer Henry Aguda as one of the thirteen globally recognized recipients of the first-ever Informatica Chief Data Officers (CDO) Awards. 

 

Informatica has chosen its 13 awardees and honorees in its Awards across four categories, based on Informatica’s archetypes for data-driven leadership. Namely, these categories are the “Governance Gurus”, “Digital Innovators”, “Operational Optimizers”, and “Analytics Champions”.

 

Aguda was recognized as an honoree under the “Digital Innovators” category. He was recognized "for achieving 12x higher revenue by empowering customers to use digital banking services on mobile devices".

As a result of its incredibly fast and effective digital transformation, UnionBank is seeing strong evidence of financial inclusion: its customers are spending 6 times as much and maintaining 4 times higher outstanding balances, translating to 12 times higher revenue for the bank. 

 

“I am very honored to receive this recognition from Informatica. Rest assured that we in UnionBank will continue to be at the forefront of digital innovation in the financial industry, both in the Philippines and in the region as well.  This award is again dedicated to all UnionBankers who all believe in the responsible and effective use of data to serve our customers.” said Aguda. Aguda has been instrumental in the digital transformation journey of UnionBank leading several projects that aim to achieve the Bank’s ultimate goal of enhancing financial inclusion in the country. 

 

Informatica is a software development company based in California that has launched several initiatives this year for the CDOs, who they consider as innovative business leaders. One of these initiatives is the CDO Awards that Informatica promises to be a new annual tradition. This event aims to acknowledge data-driven leaders who spearhead the new wave of innovation, as well as value creation in this data-led culture. 

 

Nowadays, CDOs are appointed in two of three Fortune 1000 organizations. CDOs acknowledge the relevance of data as a strategic asset, and they are expected to manage and grow data-driven organizations and implement digital transformations while keeping up with day-to-day business needs.

The country’s One True Pair gives a heart-wrenching, yet insightful, exchange of lines in a short film with Jollibee Studios

Many people dream of falling in love with the right person at the right time and making it last forever, but many are left disappointed yet continue searching while some give up and find other kinds of love that works for them.

 

Love might be a powerful and universal feeling yet it’s anything but simple--that is at the heart of the newest Jollibee Studios film, One True Pair The Movie, starring the country’s most iconic love team, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.

 

The film tells the story of Ian and Gela, two famous celebrities who were once a popular on-screen tandem for many rom-com movies over the years. Ian, dubbed the “Prince of Philippine Cinema,” took a short break from showbiz while Gela continued being a top celebrity.

 

After his break, Ian and Gela reunite once again as they work on a project together. In their musings and conversations, we see how they are as real people, how they’ve matured individually over time, and their enduring friendship and love for each other.

 

The film is directed by JP Habac and is a deeply insightful film that shows that as people grow, so does the love they have for other people.

 

The country’s one true pair

After the release of the film on Dec. 1 on the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel, One True Pair the Movie has amassed over 4 million views with many commenting that the film felt unscripted and surfaced the reality of what it meant to love a person and how the definition of love changes as life goes on.

 

The film also led the YouTube channel to grow from 652,000 subscribers before the release of the film to 704,000 subscribers to date.

 

“Parang ‘di scripted, parang totoo, parang lahat galing sa puso, parang nanonood ka ng totoong buhay ng dalawang artista na minsan sumugal pero natakot sa nararamdaman. Thank you Jollibee nakaka-touch kasi ito talaga ang reality,” said Crizell Susana on YouTube.

 

Well loved by Filipinos since the 2000s, Bea and John Lloyd bring waves of joy and kilig with Jollibee Studios’ One True Pair The Movie.

 

The film also highlighted why John Lloyd and Bea have remained the most iconic love team in the Philippine entertainment industry for more than a decade.

 

“I feel that the storyline was inspired by them…I love how John Lloyd and Bea had inputted their emotions into this,” said Cheenee in a comment on the film. “I realized how humans are so complex to the point that love cannot be explained in just one tense. There are indeed different types of love,” she added.

 

The journey of finding the love that lasts

Within the 35-minute film, One True Pair The Movie showed that there are different kinds of love and that the journey of finding the One is also a journey of finding oneself.

 

The story of Gela and Ian showed that throughout their lives, people may find several “loves” from the first lovewho taught them how to love–the fairytale, the ideal but one often does not last. The love that changed them and taught them how to love themselves. This is the love that’s painful but one that they’ll look back and be thankful for because it taught them how to choose themselves and walk away. The love that lasts–it's the one that stays even after the romance is gone--that inexplicable connection that remains even if the kilig is gone. This is the love that was built on all the lessons in a person’s journey. This is the love that has grown through joy and adversity, and is made even more special for it. And finally, the love that goes beyond romance–this is the love that has always been there while they are busy loving the first three kinds and all other kinds of love they wanted to be in.

 

The beauty of taking that journey in finding the love that lasts is that it is as much a journey of yourself--accepting yourself and loving yourself and how you appreciate the people that came and went in your life and how those experiences made you grow into the person you are now.

 

Find your own kind of love in Jollibee’s One True Pair the Movie exclusively on Jollibee Studios and find more lessons in love and life by subscribing to the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel.

McDonald’s Philippines shares the light to Filipino communities in need through initiatives that aim to create feel-good moments this holiday season

McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen crew volunteers prepare the meals that they will distribute to Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit beneficiaries.

 

Reinforcing its commitment to fostering communities, McDonald’s Philippines through its charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) shares the light to Filipino communities in need through initiatives that aim to create feel-good moments this holiday season. 

 

Through its Share the Light campaign this month, McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen is distributing over 7,000 meals to orphanages and its Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit (RMBB) beneficiaries nationwide. 

 

The Kindness Kitchen is a project of RMHC, which aims to continue to provide food for medical health workers and other front liners like the police, LGU volunteers and government agencies; and extend help to the different marginalized sectors without access to food.

 

“Our Share the Light campaign this Christmas is a reinforcement of our strong commitment to communities -- being able to share kindness and give back to those people who are in much greater need of our help and support during the holiday season. As we share kindness through our McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen, we also enjoin our customers to share the light to Filipinos in any way we can,” said McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO and RMHC President Kenneth Yang.

  Beneficiaries from RMBB Old Balara receive their Share The Light Happy Meals from employee-volunteers of McDonald's Kindness Kitchen.

 

With the generosity of Filipinos, the support of partners, and the efforts of volunteers, McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen can achieve more. Anyone can help create feel-good moments and share the light to those in need by donating meals at rmhc.org.ph/donate.  

 

The QSR giant also committed to donate one million Happy Meal books and toys to various school beneficiaries, through the support and collaboration of its stores across the country.

 

Apart from these efforts, McDonald’s also makes it easier and more convenient for its customers to give back to communities in need this holiday season with the launch of the Share-A-Meal program. With no purchase requirement, customers will just need to visit a McDonald’s store near them and fill out a Share-A-Meal card. 

 

Running from December 13, 2021, the 12th day before Christmas, until December 25, 2021, McDonald’s will grant over 1,000 wishes and share over 18,000 meals to communities and beneficiaries in need come Christmas day. Check out facebook.com/mcdo.ph for details.

 

The McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen meal which will be served to communities together with a Happy Meal this holiday season.