Discovery Shores Boracay steps into the Roblox metaverse with “Bogart & Friends”

One of the first luxury resorts to open along the famous white beach of Boracay, Discovery Shores Boracay (DSB) once again pioneers in the travel and tourism industry.

 

Guest can now experience the Discovery Resorts in the virtual space as its flagship property, DSB steps into the Robloxmetaverse with World of Discovery’s first game episode called “Bogart & Friends."  Kids and kids-at-heart can delve into this new, fun and exciting world where they can complete challenges and redeem special treats.

 

The main objective of the game is to find DSB's beloved mascot, Bogart the Bear. Players can collect items by completing tasks such as crossing the swimming pool, getting out of quicksand, or experiencing iconic DSB moments such as pool butler service and Boodle Fight. Prizes include coins for in-game items and badges that can be claimed to get actual prizes at the property for in-house guests.

 

Guests can play by themselves, meet fellow guests or make it a fun activity for friends and family.Discovery Hospitality Corporation (DHC) through The World of Discovery, follows in the footsteps of pioneering companies like Nike and Chipotle in creating a virtual experience to connect with their customers. The game, “Bogart & Friends” is an interactive way to promote brand love by providing out-of-the box channels to entertain andengage with guests of various ages.As travel and leisure evolve through the tailend of the pandemic, DHC has taken the initiative to showcase its leadership through the design and development of new and exciting ways to showcase its hotels and restaurants.

 

So whether in Boracay or not, guests can enjoy a visit to DSB virtually by playing Bogart & Friends. “It’s a new experience to take on, we invite everyone to download the Roblox app and search for “World of Discovery” so they can have a blast as we offer a virtual space in an iconic tourist destination in the country – the first of its kind in the Philippine hospitality industry,” shares Erwin Lopez, Hotel Manager of Discovery Shores Boracay.

Westlife is back with “The Wild Dreams Tour”

WESTLIFE is coming back and will be bringing ‘The Wild Dreams Tour' to Manila! Supporting their latest album, Wild Dreams, and celebrating their greatest hits, the band will be performing in MANILA on February 20, 2023 at the Araneta Coliseum.

 

Following their record-breaking 2019 reunion tour ‘The Twenty Tour’ which saw Shane, Nicky, Mark and Kian play over 600,000 fans across 27 countries. The new tour will see the global pop kings perform songs from the new album plus all their well-loved hits including ‘Swear It Again’, ‘Flying Without Wings’, ‘If I Let You Go’, ‘My Love’, ‘Uptown Girl’, ‘A World Of Our Own’, ‘Unbreakable’, ‘Mandy’, and ‘You Raised Me Up’.

                               

Westlife have sold over 55 million records worldwide, and are the only band to have their first 7 singles enter the UK chart at No.1. They also have the most singles of any artist to debut at No.1 in the UK. Overall the band has had an incredible 14 No.1 singles, behind only Elvis Presley and The Beatles. They have had 33 No.1 albums worldwide and as a live act have sold 5 million concert tickets worldwide.

 

Presented by Wilbros Live. Tickets to WESTLIFE: The Wild Dreams Tour in MANILA will be on-sale beginning June 4 at 10AM via TicketNet.com.ph and at all TicketNet outlets nationwide.

 

FB, Twitter, IG: @WilbrosLive

#WESTLIFEManila2023

Pru Life UK launches PRUHealth FamLove

 Leading life insurer Pru Life UK launches PRUHealth FamLove, a protection plan that shares the critical illness coverage to up to four family members in one policy, a first-of-its-kind product in the market. This is available for all Filipino families, including same-sex or common-law partners, parents, and adoptive children.

PRUHealth FamLove is a yearly renewable protection plan that provides long-term coverage until age 85 (applicable when the premium is continuously paid), against high treatment and hospitalization costs due to critical illness.

According to a 2019 study by Mercer Marsh Benefits*, critical illness cost in the Philippines is the second most expensive in South East Asia. Lung cancer treatment costs can lead up to Php 2.78 million, stroke is for Php 1.8 million, while a heart attack is for Php 980,000**.

Having critical illness protection is important as costs including long-term medication and care, and even loss of income can be covered by the plan’s critical illness benefits through the System and Organ Function Insurance (SOFI) concept. This feature makes the product unique in the market as it provides coverage should any major organs require surgery, without the need to remember the long list of critical illnesses.

PRUHealth FamLove is flexible and easy to avail as it comes in different packages, with the option to choose how many family members will be covered from one (self) to three – mySelf, myPartner, myChild, myFamily, myParent – depending on what suits the family’s protection needs.

 “Pru Life UK celebrates and nurtures every Filipino family of different types and sizes with PRUHealth FamLove. This protection plan focuses on their ever-changing needs by offering critical illness protection to the whole family,” shared Pru Life UK President and Chief Executive Officer Eng Teng Wong.  

 “This innovation is a solid testament to our continuing commitment to promote financial inclusion by providing protection coverage to millions of underserved and unserved Filipinos to get the most out of life,” Wong added.  

 

For more detailed information about PRUHealth FamLove, customers may visit the Pru Life UK website or book an appointment with a Pru Life UK insurance agent.

 

This is the latest product offering from Pru Life UK, ranked number one by the Insurance Commission in terms of New Business Annual Premium Equivalent in 2021.

 

References:

*8 Dec 2020. Philippines' Healthcare Cost Inflation Projected to Hit 10.1% in 2020: Mercer Marsh Benefits Study. https://www.asean.mercer.com/newsroom/philippines-healthcare-cost-inflation-mmb-study.html

** Cost of Critical Illness in the Philippines. https://digitalpinas.com/cost-critical-illness-philippines/

 

URC’s Thailand subsidiary has been recognized with the Good Environmental Governance Award 2021

 

Universal Robina Corp.’s (URC) subsidiary in Thailand has been recognized with the Good Environmental Governance Award 2021 for two of its facilities at the Samut Sakhon Industrial Estate, southwest of Bangkok.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for our excellent business conduct in all aspects of our operations,” said Tanant Suwanraks, general manager of URC Thailand.

 

“This award inspires us to strengthen our sustainability practices and ensure that we continue to meet good environmental governance standards,” he added.

 

The award, in recognition of two URC Thailand plants (4 and 6), was presented by Dr. Veeris Ammarapala, governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.

 

In 2018, the company was awarded the same Good Environmental Governance Award for plants 1 and 3. 

URC Thailand has been operating since 1992 and currently has five manufacturing facilities in the country.  It produces some of Thailand’s top snacks under the Jack ‘n Jill brand such as Dewberry, Cream-O, Roller Coaster, Tivoli, Lausanne, Dynamite, Lush and Fun-O, which was awarded as Thailand’s most admired biscuit brand in 2021.

URC Thailand’s two plants met criteria set by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, including information accessibility and accuracy; community participation in problem solving; transparency; social responsibility; rule of law legitimacy; justice principles and returning benefits to society; and community, as well as, factory sustainability and harmony. 

 

“As we live up to our purpose of delighting Thai consumers with good food choices, we’ll strive to become more environmentally conscious and prioritize business conduct through our URGreen program,” said Suwanraks.

 

Last year, URC Thailand set goals for its “URGreen” program in line with the six sustainability focus areas of its mother company in the Philippines. URC has been actively spearheading projects to help improve people’s capabilities leading to better livelihood (People & Communities); to move towards a low-carbon economy (Climate Action); to improve water efficiency and protect watersheds (Water); to improve its product portfolio (Product); to reduce its packaging footprint (Packaging); and to promote responsible sourcing of key ingredients (Sourcing).  These initiatives are in line with the United Nations Sustainability Developmental Goals.

 

 

URC’s Thailand subsidiary receives the Good Environmental Governance Award 2021 from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand. In photo:  Wattawut Ueaphumirat (left), Integrated Supply Chain Director, URC (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Witoon Ekpiriyamont, Environment Health and Safety Manager.

How Google supported the 31st SEA Games

Google brought the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games closer to the region’s 650 million people through live updates on the matches, scores, and tallies, including the latest trends across the 40 sports played in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Among the sports included this year was esports. This is the second time it has been included as a medal event in a multi-sport competition sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee after the Olympic Virtual Series–a lead-up event to the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.

The esports event covered eight games and ten events with Vietnam bagging 4 golds while Indonesia and the Philippines came home with 2 golds each.

While the majority of this year’s audience cheered their teams online, some were able to travel as quarantine restrictions eased in Southeast Asia. Here are some of the ways Google provided digital tools and experiences to help both online and on-site audiences enjoy the Games from wherever they are: 

Live updates with a dash of AR on Google Search
The latest information on events, sports and players, country rankings, and medal tallies were made available on Google Search. As a tribute to where the Games were held this year, people who searched on their phones were treated to a 3D AR version of the Saola — one of the world's rarest large mammals native to Vietnam. 

A dedicated SEA Games Trends page was also put up for fans of sporting trends where Search stats on favorite moments were made visible. This was made available for six countries including the Philippines, along with a deeper focus on seven sports: badminton, basketball, chess, football, taekwondo, swimming and esports.

All the action live on YouTube
Live events, clips and highlights from official SEA Games broadcasters were made available on their respective YouTube channels. A YouTube SEA Games Playlist included live feeds from local broadcasters including the Philippines’ TV5.

Ask Google Assistant for updates
Missed the Games? Just ask Google Assistant for updates whether you’re using your phone, speaker, TV or other enabled device — Google Assistant will have all the important details.

Vietnam virtual tours with Google Arts & Culture
If you were not able to experience the Games in real life, you can still take a virtual tour of the host country with 37 new exhibits in Google Arts and Culture’s Wonders of Vietnam feature. From astounding craft works to the world’s largest cave and cities packed with history and culture — see it all without leaving your chair.

Put Vietnam on your travel bucket list
The Games may be over but that doesn’t mean you can’t travel in Vietnam in the near future. Put the beautiful host country in your bucket list and once there, make the most of your trip by keeping an eye on prices (just set up a “track prices” function on Google Flights) and find flights with a lower environmental impact using the Emissions filter.

Once you’re on the ground, let Google Lens be your guide. Just hold your phone up to a sign or other printed text, and Google Lens will auto-detect what language the words are written in and then translate them. You can also avoid crowds using Google Maps’ features showing how busy an area or business is, and find out businesses’ opening hours, offerings and other details through Business Profiles on Search and Maps.

To learn more, visit: https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-asia/sea-games/. 

realme recently broke the record for the highest livestream sales for smartphones on TikTok Shop Philippines for C35

 

realme, the PH’s no. 1 smartphone brand for 2021^[1], continues to achieve massive success in the industry, this time with the recent launch of the realme C35. Launched via a special livestream via @realmePH on TikTok Shop Philippines, the brand’s latest #ChicandClassy entry-level stunner went on to break the record for the highest livestream sales for any smartphone on the platform in the Philippines as of May 20, 2022.

 

During the five-hour livestream, the brand featured the realme C35 with the lowest price guaranteed of up to P2,000 OFF, and eventually achieved a stellar sold-out performance. This marks the first time a smartphone has made its launch debut via TikTok Shop Philippines. 

 

As the latest addition to the best-selling C Series, the realme C35 brings elevated looks and impressive specs to the entry-level category. The realme C35 is touted as the brand’s most stylish entry-level smartphone with its modern, squared-off look and Ultra Slim Design, coming in at only 8.1mm and 189 grams. It is also the first in the C Series to feature a 6.6” Full HD+ Large Display with a resolution of 2408x1080 pixels. 

 

Aside from its stunning looks, the realme C35 also boasts no-compromise functionality with  the powerful Unisoc T616 Processor, a 5000mAh Battery with 18W Quick Charge, a 50MP AI Triple Camera and an 8MP Sony IMX355 Selfie Camera. It is equipped with an ergonomic side fingerprint sensor, expandability of up to 256GB via micro-SD card, and a TÜV Rheinland Smartphone High Reliability Certification. 

 

Available in two colors: Glowing Black and Glowing Green, the realme C35 is offered for an SRP of only P8,499 for the 4GB+64GB variant, and P9,499 for the 4GB+128GB variant. 

 

With all these and more, the realme C35 serves as a testament to the brand’s commitment to make cutting-edge technology and impeccable product design more accessible to every Filipino. In addition, with this new launch format, realme continues to be at the forefront of marketing innovation as it continues to redefine live shopping and promotions in partnership with TikTok Shop Philippines. 

 

The realme TikTok Shop will continue to hold frequent live sessions starting this month. Visit @realmePH on TikTok Shop Philippines to get exciting deals, incredible discounts, and many more! 

 

To know more about realme’s latest updates, follow the realme PH Facebook page at http://facebook.com/realmePhilippines or visit the official realme website at https://www.realme.com/ph/.

---

^[1]     based on Canalys and IDC sell-in reports for Q1-Q4 2021

Canva Philippines holds “Usapang Canva” for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and educators

Canva Philippines will hold its first-ever Communities Mega Webinar, “Usapang Canva”, on May 26, 2022 which aims to educate freelancers, entrepreneurs, and educators on how they can utilize Canva in achieving their goals. The webinar is free and open to all and will be livestreamed on Canva Philippines’ official Facebook page. 

Canva is an online visual communications platform with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design. With its drag-and-drop user interface and a vast range of templates ranging from presentations, social media graphics, posters, plus a huge library of fonts, stock photography, illustrations, video footage, and audio clips, anyone, including business owners, freelancers, and teachers, is empowered to bring their ideas to life. 

The Mega Webinar will feature demonstrations and learning sessions about Canva’s features including Canva Video Suite, Photo Editor, Smartmockups and Quick Create, which are valuable for those creating visual content for their businesses, clients, or classes. Participants will also get a chance to take home free 3-month Canva Pro access. With Canva Pro, they can unlock other premium features such as multiple Brand Kits, Background Remover, Magic Resize, and Content Planner.

“We’ve seen how valuable Canva is for Filipinos especially with the rise of the gig economy, online businesses, and distance learning. While these were all spurred by the pandemic, we believe that upskilling our communities of freelancers, negosyantes, and teachers don’t just stop even after we transition to the “New Normal”. We need to constantly upgrade their design skills so they can make the most of what Canva can offer,” says Maisie Littaua, Canva Philippines Head of Growth.

Canva Philippines harnesses the power of its communities in ensuring that design becomes accessible to all Filipinos. In its online communities Canva for Pinoy Freelancers, Canva for Negosyo, and Canva for Pinoy Teachers, members are empowered to share their ideas and provide design insights to fellow community members. Canva Philippines also hosts a series of interactive events within the communities to ensure that members are collaborating and connecting with one another. 

For updates on the Mega Webinar, check out the “Usapang Canva” event page. To learn more about Canva, visit www.canva.com or follow Canva on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok. Canva is also available for download on the App Store and Play Store.

 

Rhinoplasty continues to be one of the most popular surgical procedures at The Icon Clinic

Beauty has been a favorite subject of discussion by scholars. It is considered one of the transcendentals or the properties of being, like truth, goodness, unity, essence, and otherness. In ancient Greece, beauty was not only skin deep, for the ancient Greeks believed that it is a reflection of a person’s character – that someone beautiful is also a good person. They named the concept kaloskagathos.

The Philippines has some of the most beautiful people in the world. In recent years, our beauty queens have been winning international pageants left, right, and center. Filipino creatives like fashion designers and pageant mentors have become the most sought-after in the pageant world because of our string of successes. Our standard for beauty as a people has evolved, and because of this, Filipino men and women have been inspired to make changes so they can live their best lives.

Dr. Eric Yapjuangco, or Doc Yappy to those who know him, of The Icon Clinic, is one of the country’s leading experts in rhinoplasty. He has been a board-certified surgeon for over a decade now. He is as passionate as ever in ensuring his patients’ safety and satisfaction before, during, and after each procedure. 

Rhinoplasty continues to be one of the most popular surgical procedures in the country today. In 2021, it was among the top three most-requested procedures . When asked about the process, a patient goes through in preparation for a rhinoplasty; Doc Yappy said, “We need to have a consultation first. We need to talk about the patient’s concerns, their wish pic, or the nose that they want to achieve. And once we agree on that, they have to get medical clearance to undergo lab tests and swabs. Once we have everything, we proceed with the surgery.”

Doc Yappy emphasizes the importance of having realistic expectations, and that is why it is essential to discuss with the patient what their desired outcome is. “The surgery takes about two to three hours. Right before we start, I discuss with them again their desired outcome because each person has their preferred nose. The wish pic says a lot. The nose kasi can be very subtle or very dramatic. Some patients want something super subtle, while some want something very dramatic but still suits them,” he said.

According to Doc Yappy, there is no minimum or maximum age for rhinoplasty. As long as a patient gets a medical clearance from their cardiologist, they can undergo the procedure. About 60 to 70 percent of The Icon Clinic’s patients are women, but according to Doc Yappy, men are showing more and more interest in rhinoplasty.  A significant number of their patients also have a celebrity nose for their wish pic; however, sometimes, the desired nose needs to be modified to suit the patient’s face.

People walk through The Icon Clinic’s door for a myriad of reasons, but Doc Yappy advises them to undergo a procedure for themselves and not for anyone else. He also has very straightforward advice for people who are not happy with the way they look. He said, “See me.”

Click on the link to watch Doc Yappy’s before and after Rhinoplasty video. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbtycTnhUJy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

To know more about Rhinoplasty and other procedures, visit www.theiconclinic.com.

 

Give love today and celebrate small wins with Red Ribbon’s NEW Tiramisu Meltdown and Mango Graham Mousse Junior cakes

There’s a lot to be thankful for everyday–something as simple as a good score on a test or a completed project, a commendation at work, being able to nail that TikTok dance, or meeting up with friends and relatives after a long time to simply catch up–are all causes for celebration.

 

Our fast-paced lives need not be a hindrance from giving love everyday to others and even to oneself and from celebrating even the smallest wins because sometimes, these are the moments that truly count. No matter how big or small, make these moments extra special with Red Ribbon’s NEW Tiramisu Meltdown and Mango Graham Mousse Junior cakes. 

 

These junior cakes may come in small packages, but these are surely packed with flavors perfect for your everyday celebrations.

The Tiramisu Meltdown Junior is made with layers of soft chocolate chiffon and cream cheese with just enough hint of coffee, while the Mango Graham Mousse Junior is made of layers of crushed graham biscuits, exquisite mango cream, and creamy icing, topped with mango bits.

 

Thinking of ways how you could give love today and celebrate small wins despite your busy schedule? Here are some tips:

 

Long overdue catch ups

We spent the past two years Zoom-ing with the crew, and while technology afforded us a way to connect despite the distance, there’s really no better way to spend time with our circle of friends than sharing stories and good food together.

 

Make those long overdue catch ups more exciting with the refreshing Mango Graham Mousse Junior Cake.

 

Reunion potluck with the family 

We all missed a meal that our relative or friend cooks so well. So, why not organize an intimate potluck get-together, where everyone could bring food for sharing!

 

The Red Ribbon Tiramisu Meltdown Junior is just the perfect food to bring as its unique chocolate-coffee flavor combination can easily make any celebration extra special and memorable.

 

Go Solo!

Who said indulging yourself a bit and enjoying the good stuff all to yourself is a crime? Besides, everyone has their own silent battles, and winning those battles deserve to be celebrated.

 

Choose between the Tiramisu Meltdown Junior or the Mango Graham Mousse Junior, or even pick both, because what’s stopping you from savoring your wins by going all out?

 

Celebrations do not always mean grand. These could be simple, quiet, and special. Make them extra memorable with Red Ribbon’s NEW Tiramisu Meltdown and Mango Graham Mousse Junior, which you can purchase at Php 420 and Php 440, respectively. You can also choose from an array of other Junior cakes, including our bestseller Black Forest, and other popular cake flavors like Mango Sunrise, Chocolate Indulgence, Chocolate Mousse, and Yema Caramel.

 

Order your favorite Red Ribbon products by visiting a Red Ribbon Bakeshop store near you! You may also purchase via the Red Ribbon delivery website, order via the Red Ribbon app (available for Android and iOS), call the delivery hotline #87777, send a message via RIA Messenger, or purchase via the GrabFood and foodpanda apps.

Xiaomi and Leica announce strategic cooperation in terms of mobile imaging

On 23 May, Xiaomi, the world's leading consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company, and Leica Camera, whose legendary reputation is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, innovative technologies and German craftsmanship, officially . The first imaging flagship smartphone jointly developed by the two companies will be officially launched in July this year.

 

Founded in 2010, Xiaomi is currently the world's third-largest smartphone manufacturer. Since its establishment 12 years ago, Xiaomi has always practiced the mission of 'relentlessly building amazing products with honest prices to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology', its smartphones and other products are sold in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. With strong R&D strength and continuous long-term investment in technology, Xiaomi has become an important leader in technological innovation in the fields of consumer electronics and smart manufacturing. And in the field of imaging, based on its long-term technical accumulation in lens optics, chips, algorithms, etc., as well as its deep understanding of mobile photography, Xiaomi provides extraordinary photography experiences including portraits, night scenes, and snapshots.

 

    For over 100 years, Leica Camera has been creating lightweight cameras favored by street photographer pioneers and world-class optical lenses, fulfilling the passions of its community. With ingenious optical engineering and formidable craftsmanship, Leica cameras, recognizable by their ‘red dot’ branding, are German engineering at its best, and continue to attract new generations of consumers who aspire to achieve “the Leica image look” and own these masterpieces of design. In addition to making precision-crafted masterpieces, Leica attracts well-known photographers and emerging new talents around the world. 

 

    Xiaomi and Leica share the same ideas regarding mobile imaging. Both companies are eager to continuously explore the optical performance and photographic experience in the mobile imaging era through extreme technological breakthroughs and aesthetic pursuits.

 

    "Xiaomi focuses on creating the ultimate user experience, and has always hoped to explore the capabilities of smartphone photography to the extreme. Xiaomi and Leica agree with each other's pursuits and ideas and appreciate each other's advantages and industry. This cooperation will provide a strong boost to Xiaomi's imaging strategy. During the cooperation, from optical design to tuning aesthetic orientations, the innovative technologies, product philosophies and imaging preferences of both parties have experienced unprecedented in-depth collision and fusion." says Lei Jun, founder, chairman and CEO of Xiaomi Group.

 

    "It is an honor to announce the long-term strategic cooperation with Xiaomi today. Leica and Xiaomi are both global premium brands and during this unprecedented deep cooperation process, both parties have successively worked on the goal of providing customers a new era of mobile photography. We are convinced that the first jointly developed imaging flagship smartphone makes the pioneering progress of both companies visible. We will provide consumers in the field of mobile photography exceptional image quality, classic Leica aesthetics, unrestricted creativity, and will open a new era of mobile imaging." adds Matthias Harsch, CEO of Leica Camera AG.