Shop, eat, and more at LRT-1!

The commuting experience in Manila is not complete without riding the LRT-1 trains. The reliable train line gets you wherever you need to go in the sprawling metro, but did you know that you can do more than just board a train at all the LRT-1 stations?

 

That’s right—there are many new stalls and different establishments that have popped up in all the LRT-1 stations that they’re pretty much one-stop shops for things you need. Take a look at what’s possible the next time you ride the LRT-1.

1.    Eating at your favorite food stalls

LRT-1 certainly gives a whole new meaning to “foodtrip”! There are many new food stalls and kiosks found at the LRT-1 stations. Grab a bite of your favorite shawarma from Turks in Baclaran station, orbuy some pasalubong on your way home in kiosks like Dunkin’ Donuts  at D. Jose Station; Mister Donut, available in multiple stations such as Baclaran, EDSA, Gil Puyat, D. Jose, and Balintawak; Yumpanada, Eng Bee Tin, Thai Corn, and Waffle Haus in Baclaran

Other food concepts present are Waffle Time, Over Mango (known for their mango smoothies!) in Baclaran, and Potato Corner in Balintawak.

 

These are just a few of what you can find to satisfy your cravings, and you’re guaranteed to have something delicious every time you take the LRT-1!

2.      Shopping for gifts, groceries, and other essentials

Go no further as shopping is made easier and more accessible! Discover what’s in store at the newly opened SM City Grand Central in Caloocan City through the direct and convenient connection to LRT-1 Monumento Station. 

 

Need something quick and you’re looking for a convenience store on your way home? Don’t worry because your LRT-1 stations have got you covered. Doroteo Jose station now has a Watsons, Generika, and Alfamart that are easily accessible anytime. You don’t need to walk very far or out of the way for a convenience store!

 

3.    Loading and purchasing using your beep cards

 

Contactless transactions have become part of the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) has been promoting the use of beep™ as a safer way to travel. beep™ or Stored Value Cards (SVC) cards have become one of the widely used payment methods today across different public transport modes.

 

In addition to the existing ticket vending machines, sixty-five (65) e-tap loading kiosks are now in LRT-1 stations so that passengers can easily load their beep™ on their own and enjoy the convenience of hassle-free journey by avoiding queues at teller booths, limited face-to-face contact, and exchange of cash. E-tap loading kiosks accept bills in all denominations; 

 

What’s more, commuters can already pay with beep™ when buying from Master Siomai kiosks at several LRT-1 Baclaran, EDSA, and Balintawak stations. Cardholders can also load their beep™ cards here for future LRT-1 travels with any amount enjoying no convenience fee versus other beep™ loading partners.

 

4.    Paying your bills

Bills payment can be a chore, especially if you have to go to a payment center that’s not really along the way. If you’re always on-the-go and need to pay your bills, there’s now a Bayad Center at Balintawak Station ready to serve you! And if you need to withdraw money, there’s also a BPI ATM in the same station, as well as many other LRT-1 stops. For those needing loose change, there are also bill-to-coin changer machines to help commuters convert their large bills.

 

5.    Sending money and packages

There’s no need to head to any other place too far from the LRT-1 if you want to send a package or remit money! Courier services LBC and DHL have places kiosks open at Baclaran, Balintawak, and Doroteo Jose stations, while Cebuana Lhuillier has a kiosk at Baclaran.

 

With all these various shops and available services open along the LRT-1 line, you can save a lot more time getting what you need done during your commute!

 

Keeping commuters safe and protected

 

Now allowed to operate at 70% passenger capacity, LRMC continues to implement above-minimum health and safety protocols, such as complying with the government’s directive of having a “No face mask, No entry” policy and diligent temperature checks with Forward Looking Infrared thermal scanners in six major LRT-1 stations. Proper ventilation is assured with fresh air exchanged every three minutes and filtered in the ACU system. There are also disinfection mats and regular chemical disinfection complemented by UV-C disinfection of all trains and stations.

 

LRMC was also the first to implement the “no-talking and no answering phone calls” policy inside the trains. It has pioneered the use of digital and mobile technology via its ikotMNL mobile app for information dissemination and convenient trip planning.

 

As it strives to strengthen confidence in public transport, LRMC has achieved a 99.5% vaccination rate for LRT-1 employees and has recently been awarded the Safety Seal by the Pasay City local government highlighting the company’s compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

 

For more updates and info on the LRT-1, follow LRMC on Facebook at facebook.com/officialLRT1, Twitter at @officialLRT1, or download the ikotMNL mobile app for free on Google Play and App Store.

Make this 2021 holiday season the most organized with these home tips

Photo via Samsung

 

Preparing for the holidays can immediately turn into an overwhelming event, especially when people are coming over — from cleaning the house, setting up the holiday meals, to ensuring that all loved ones are comfortable and safe indoors. It pays to be prepared for the incoming holidays, without breaking a sweat.

 

Make this 2021 holiday season the most organized yet with these five tips.

 

 

Freshen up the holiday outfits before the festivities. 

Doing laundry during holiday preparations can be a hassle, but with the help of Samsung’s Washer Dryer Combo, washing clothes becomes more efficient. With a Speed Shot of just 30 minutes, any last minute outfit changes that need washing can be done while doing other household chores. 

 

Spilled sauce stains during holiday dinners can be a pain to remove and deal with. Good thing this Samsung Washer Dryer Combo features efficient cleaning with the EcoBubble™ technology that turns detergent into bubbles that quickly penetrates fabric and removes dirt easily, while preserving the quality of clothes. 

 

Stay comfortable and cool while hanging out.

Nothing beats the holidays when it’s spent comfortably with loved ones. Celebrate a cool and safe holiday with the Samsung Basic S-Inverter Air Conditioner. This air conditioner features Fast Cooling Technology that can cool rooms quickly from corner to corner, so celebrations are always kept cool. It also features an Anti-bacterial Filterthat helps protect against dangerous airborne contaminants. All these features can be enjoyed without thinking about increased electric bills with the Energy Saving mode.

 

Serve scrumptious Noche Buena dishes in an instant.

No matter how one effectively manages the food preparation, cooking different meals can still be overwhelming especially when pressed for time. The Samsung Smart Oven can help create any meals in no time with its all-in-one oven with 6 functions, namely as a convection oven, air fry, grill, steam, microwave, and ferment. It also reduces cooking time significantly with the HotBlast™ technology.   Powerful hot air is blown through multiple air-holes directly onto the food, so it’s cooked evenly: crisp outside, but juicy inside. 

 

Say goodbye to unwanted dust and make room for the festivities.

Cleaning the floors and dusting are two of the most tedious tasks in preparing the home for the holidays. With the advanced cleaning performance of the Samsung Jet Stick Vacuum Cleaner, surfaces and floors can be clean in time for any holiday celebration. This 2-in-1 Flexible Cleaning Tool features a Stick and Handheld Vacuum Cleaner in one, with the flexibility to maneuver under sofas and hard-to-reach areas for a dust-free home.

 

Save some of the holiday leftovers for tomorrow’s breakfast.

With the variety of food served during the holidays, food storage can cause an issue. With the Samsung Side by Side Refrigerator with Ice and Water Dispenser, there is no need to stress about food storage. The SpaceMax™ technology provides more space to store all sorts of holiday food. This refrigerator also comes with an All-around Cooling feature to ensure that food is properly cooled to stay fresh longer.

Photo via Samsung

 

Celebrate merrier holidays with these five tips in preparing the home by taking advantage of Samsung’s biggest appliance sale! Enjoy big discounts with convenient payment options from straight cash discounts of up to 41% off. Get 12-month 0% installment plans until January 31, 2022. Find out more about the promo mechanics by likingSamsungPH on Facebook or visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/offer/offline/2021/merrier-christmas-deals/featured-products/.

 

Don’t miss out on these irresistible discounts and experience the unique features and innovation of Samsung appliances this holiday season!

 

Huawei is set to bid 2021 goodbye with new additions to its ecosystem

At the heart of this fresh-off-the-lab lineup is the Huawei MateBook 14s, touted as a LAPTOP+, alluding to its unique place in the PC industry. The MateBook 14s is the latest in the MateBook family to push the boundaries of productivity -- by giving users powerful features to streamline their workflow even across multiple devices found in Huawei’s growing ecosystem.

A smarter and more vibrant FullView

Opening up the MateBook 14s reveals its visual centerpiece, the 2.5K FullView Display with multi-touch gestures and 90hz refresh rate. Such features on a laptop screen is unheard of in this segment, and gives users unparalleled immersion and interactivity with their device. Add an ultra-slim, 90% screen-to-body ratio and witness any kind of content pop out of the frame.

As powerful as the display is, the FullView panel takes measures to minimize eye strain with its Smart Brightness Adjustment and Dual Eye Comfort modes to filter out blue light and errant flickers.

Blazing speed and power, at the ready

Equipped with the 11th generation Intel Core H-Series processor and built-in Iris X graphics chip, running multiple resource-intensive programs and apps on the MateBook 14s is a walk in the park. All this performance is backed up by Huawei’s signature 65W SuperCharge battery technology that keeps the laptop up in a pinch, on top of the 13 hours of battery uptime (continuous 1080p video playback).

Mobile App Engine & Huawei Share: Breaking down device boundaries

Huawei continuously innovates on its products to work more seamlessly with each other, and the MateBook 14s is the latest to bridge the gap from PC to mobile. The Mobile App Engine is a built-in feature on this laptop that enables smartphone apps to run on the MateBook 14s with no loss of functionality. It’s essentially a virtualization of the smartphone interface integrated to the larger laptop screen.

In addition to the Mobile App Engine, Huawei Share also supports multi-screen collaboration for greater synergy between other Huawei devices to optimize one’s productivity at home. Huawei Share provides real-time interaction between different screens to maximize each other’s functionality. With a simple tap, users can connect the Laptop + with a smartphone and project the mobile interface onto the laptop screen, using two devices at a time on one single screen. They can also unleash creativity by connecting the HUAWEI MateBook 14s with a HUAWEI tablet to turn it into a digital canvas. Such synergy is on full display with Huawei’s other newly-launched devices: the HUAWEI nova 9 and HUAWEI MateView GT 27”. For example, users can control the rich app ecosystem on the nova 9, or use the HUAWEI MateView GT 27” as a separate monitor for graphic design work for a larger viewing area––all anchored by the MateBook 14s’ powerful hardware.

Filipinos have come to experience more versatile ways to work and study, including at-home setups redefined by the power of Huawei’s smart ecosystem of devices. More homes can discover how they can leverage their digital prowess to enhance their lifestyles as the MateBook 14s expands upon Huawei’s innovative multi-device connectivity features with the support for smart connections between itself and Huawei smartphones, tablets, monitors or other devices. 

With HUAWEI’s growing ecosystem, Filipinos get to be better together this holiday season with intelligently connected devices -- from upgraded home entertainment sets to virtual get-together set-ups. HUAWEI fans can have a merrier Christmas to look forward to with discounts and freebies worth up to P17,386! Top HUAWEI product lines such as its laptops, tablets, smartphones and smart wearables come with either freebie bundles as much as Php 3,389. The Better Together 2022 Christmas campaign is happening from November 26, 2021 to January 02, 2022. 

There is definitely no stopping the grind this holiday and to make sure that Filipinos working from home can still balance work and play, HUAWEI is offering great deals on its key productivity products that can allow professionals to unbox the imagination and creativity they need for work while also enjoying their Christmas celebration. 

 

All laptops in the HUAWEI MateBook D and 14 2021 series come with the Freebie Bundle 1 worth Php 3,389, consisting of a Tumblr and Wireless Charging Lamp. Purchasers of any HUAWEI MateBook D 2021 products also get to take home a free AF30 mouse and of course, if one is looking into upgrading to the latest MateBook 14s, Huawei fans are treated to a premium backpack, tumbler and wireless lamp and can learn more through the HUAWEI Online Store and flagship stores on Lazada and Shopee.

 

Don’t miss out on all the fun and exciting offers all found exclusively on the My HUAWEI App! Huawei fans can also get the latest product news, offers, and services on all things Huawei, by simply downloading the My HUAWEI App. Besides updates, fans can interact with social artists, community leaders and fellow fans in the Huawei Community. The app is available to Huawei devices with EMUI8.0 and above.

 

EastWest is willing to help business owners out with their latest easyBiz promo

Business owners know this—when running your own business, every little bit of help and assistance can go a long way.

 

That’s because there are a lot of uncertainties involved with an enterprise of your own. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, or where it’s from; the right kind of help can result in survival and success, and it can help you reclaim control of your business’ finances.

EastWest is willing to help business owners out with their latest easyBiz promo. easyBiz provides customers with convenient and helpful cash management solutions (CMS) for their business when they sign up for it, such as Auto Debit Arrangement for merchant collection, bulk InstaPay and PESONet payment system for fund transfers to other banks, eCredit for payroll and non-payroll crediting, eGov for government contributions and loan payments, and eSettle for quick settlement of multiple payables. 

 

What’s more, the average daily balance requirement for their corporate account will be waived if they avail of easyBiz’s CMS products, plus they get a special bonus interest rate of 0.055% per annum for the next three months if they use two easyBiz CMS products and grow their total relationship balance by at least P500,000 from now until December 31, 2021.

 

For example, if you deposit a total of at least P500,000 in your corporate EastWest bank accounts and use two of the given CMS products from easyBiz, the default 0.125% p.a. interest rate in your primary nominated Peso account will get 0.055% added to it for the next three months.

The more you grow your corporate accounts with EastWest, the more interest income you get in return. So what are you waiting for—reclaim control of your business’s finances by signing up for easyBiz today. Just head to https://www.eastwestbanker.com to apply for the easyBiz promo.

Safeguard strengthens hand hygiene support for minors

 

Now that the country has fully implemented the roll-out of vaccines for minors aged 12-17, Safeguard strengthens hand hygiene support to hospitals and vaccine hubs to help ensure that healthcare workers, frontliners, and children are safe from any illness that can be transmitted from improper hand hygiene.

A total of ₱6.1 million pesos in Safeguard Foaming Hand Wash products are donated to hospitals and vaccination hubs like St. Luke’s Medical Center and vaccination operations inside Megaworld Lifestyle Malls. As the Philippine’s #1 family germ protection soap, Safeguard aims to help in keeping the nation safe from the threats of germs and bacteria.

Safeguard continues to provide aid in proper hand hygiene education and practices through donations to facilities that need it the most during the fight against COVID-19. The brand has partnered with numerous organizations including LGUs, malls, and provided handwashing facilities in urban areas as well, through the #SAFEWash campaign.

For more than 56 years, Safeguard has continued to keep Filipino families safe with 99.9% germ protection, and continues to expand its protection to frontliners, healthcare workers, and those that are at risk of germs and bacteria. Safeguard hand soaps are powered by Infinishield Technology that effectively inhibits the growth of disease-causing germs. After handwashing, it provides with a protective shield against germs for up to 24 hours. 

 

As the country remains in battle against the pandemic while also easing health protocols for a better new normal, proper health protocols and hand hygiene should be maintained. Safeguard is in arms with Filipinos, and with your efforts, we can look forward to a SAFE Philippines. 

Do your part in making sure your family and loved ones are safe through each #SafeWash. Protect yourself from illness-causing germs and bacteria by shopping Safeguard in leading supermarkets, drugstores, or through the official Safeguard malls in Lazada and Shopee.

 

OFFICIAL KEY ART FOR HARRY POTTER 20TH ANNIVERSARY: RETURN TO HOGWARTS REVEALED

The Premiere Of This Much-Anticipated Anniversary Special Streams Exclusively On HBO GO On New Year’s Day

 

 

 As the countdown to the most enchanting event of the season continues, the official key art for Harry Potter 20^th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is revealed today. The highly anticipated retrospective special is set to premiere exclusively on HBO GO on January 1, 2022.

 

Announced last month, the retrospective special invites fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time as it reunites Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and other esteemed cast members and filmmakers across all eight Harry Potter films for the first time to celebrate the anniversary of the franchise’s first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

 

Additional Harry Potter film alumni joining the memorable tribute include Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Ian Hart, Toby Jones, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, producer David Heyman and filmmaker Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates.

 

Harry Potter 20^th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon at the iconic Warner Bros. Studio Tour London—The Making of Harry Potter. The special is executive produced by Casey Patterson of Casey Patterson Entertainment (A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote) and Pulse Films (Beastie Boys Story).

 

Filipinos can catch up on all eight Harry Potter films or stream Harry Potter: HogwartsTournament of Housesbefore the magical event on HBO GO. 

Subscribe to HBO GO online at http://www.hbogoasia.ph/ or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store for as low as ₱99.70/month. Or access HBO GO via Cignal, Globe and Skycable.HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV - and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.

realme hailed no. 1 best-selling mobile brand in Lazada, Shopee 12.12 sale!

 

2021 has been nothing short of incredible for realme Philippines as it has achieved countless milestones that solidify its position in the industry. With the year coming to a close, the country’s no. 1 smartphone brand for the past three consecutive quarters once again showcased real strength with a successful 12.12 performance on both Lazada and Shopee. 

 

Dubbed as realme’s Big Year-Ender Sale, the brand’s 12.12 campaign proved its commitment to providing the best digital lifestyle experience to every Filipino and becoming one with the Squad this holiday season. realme offered discounts of as much as 62% OFF on selected smartphones and TechLife devices, along with other deals such as free shipping, and giveaways during its livestream series on both platforms. 

 

On Shopee, realme dominated the electronics category as it emerged as the no. 1 best-selling brand for mobiles and tablets based on units sold. The brand’s first-ever tablet, the realme Pad, which was launched in October, emerged as the no. 1 best-selling tablet during the one-day sale on the platform. In addition, the brand also ranked third in the wearables category. Overall, realme’s performance on Shopee was a step-up from last year’s 12.12 campaign as it recorded a 50% year-over-year growth in overall campaign sales. 

Meanwhile, the brand also achieved massive success on Lazada with a similar no. 1 ranking for mobiles and tablets on the first day of the sale, and a no. 2 ranking for overall Electronics category on LazMall. Among the top-selling smartphones during the campaign were the ever-reliable realme C25-Y, and the #EntryLevelGamingChampion narzo 50A, which was noted to have sold 1,100 units in only 11 minutes. In addition, the brand performed well in the audio segment, ranking third in the category. realme also managed to achieve the fourth spot in the TV category, despite being a relatively new player with its first-ever Smart TV launched earlier this year. 

These milestones once again proves the three-year-old brand’s steady momentum and foothold within the e-commerce landscape. “We are truly happy to be one with our Squad this holiday season. We could not have achieved our recent 12.12 success if it weren’t for the love and support of everyone part of the realme community. Rest assured, we will continue to give our all to be the best tech and lifestyle companion of every Filipino,” shares Austine Huang, realme Philippines’ VP for Marketing. 

 

While the 12.12 Big Year-End Sale has come to a close, there’s still some exciting news the Squad can look forward to! Everyone who purchased any realme device with a minimum worth of P5,000 from November 15 until January 2, 2022 via realme’s Official Lazada and Shopee store will earn an e-raffle ticket for the #realmeWithYou Christmas Raffle Promo. Shop now and get the chance to WIN realme TechLife prizes, and the all-new Mitsubishi Mirage G4. To register and check the complete mechanics, visit https://bit.ly/realmeWithYouRegister

 

For more info and updates, follow the realme PH Facebook page at http://facebook.com/realmePhilippines and visit the official realme website at https://www.realme.com/ph/.