Watsons has taken bold steps—from making changes in how the stores operate with information about sustainability

 

Watsons Philippines has taken bold steps—from making changes in how the stores operate to empowering customers with information about sustainability—to achieve its goals consistent with its proposition of Look Good DO GOOD Feel Great, the retailer said in its Sustainability Report Philippines 2021, Doing Good For The Community and Planet.

 

Watsons has approached sustainability in the most dynamic way. The retailer has spread awareness and conversion to a sustainable lifestyle through various efforts such as holding informative and educational webinars with KOLs and influencers to spread the word about the importance of living more sustainably and creating a stronger presence and a permanent store corner for Sustainable Choices. Watsons also held a Supplier’s Day event where the retailer shared its vision with supplier partners and asked them to provide new product developments that would meet strict sustainability criteria. 

Aside from encouraging better manufacturing practices and responsible purchase decisions, Watsons also partnered with Plastic Bank, a social enterprise that collects and recycles plastic bottles while providing livelihood to registered collectors. 

 

Watsons released the sustainability report as part of taking responsibility to help lead the way to a sustainable future and give the public a clear focus on its priorities which are covered under the 4 Pillars of Community, People, Customers, and the Planet. 

 

As the leading pharmacy in the Philippines, Watsons’ goal is to uplift the health and wellbeing of the Community. Realizing that the company’s strength lies in its People, Watsons also makes sure its workforce is healthy and resilient. It recognizes the value of involving its millions of Customers in adapting to more sustainable lifestyles by providing more sustainable options. Watsons also aims to reduce the environmental footprint of its store operations, which is a responsibility of every business to manage its carbon emissions and help save the Planet.

 

In the report, the retailer also laid out its 2030 sustainability goals and forecasts anchored on the 4 Pillars. By 2030, Watsons will have sponsored 3,300 cleft and/or palate surgeries to help improve children's lives and have provided free medicines to 20,000 people for the Community. It would have Health & Wellbeing Certification GOLD Investors in People by 2025. Around this time, Watsons expects 15% of its sales to come from the Sustainable Choices selection and to collect 65,000kg of trash. Further mitigation of the effects of its store operations on the planet by reducing electricity intensity by 10% vs 2015 is also in its the pipeline. It also aims to recover and recycle 40 million plastic bottles and reduce by 50% scopes 1&2 GHG emissions vs 2018.

 

"Sustainability is being able to do successful business while positively impacting everything around it, including employees, suppliers, customers, and the planet. Gaining the support of our suppliers, employees, and customers for our sustainability programs has been one of our biggest achievements. We believe businesses must do more for the planet and we are happy to take the lead as a retailer," said Watsons Philippines General Manager Danilo Chiong in the report.

 

As of end-2021, 100% of Watsons stores have been using LED lights and appliances with inverter technology and has more than 1,200 products under the Sustainable Choices category on the shelves. These Sustainable Choices products are free from harmful ingredients (Clean Beauty), made of responsibly sourced palm oil and other ingredients (Better Ingredients), use FSC or recycled paper, recycled plastic, or have no plastic at all (Better Packaging), and promote the concept of refill.

 

Watsons is not just adding products to stores but influencing trends and behaviors for the future, recognizing that customer preferences shift, and demand for sustainable choices will grow. 

 

"As we continue to learn, to educate and innovate, we expect that our products, processes, and customers will also evolve. Even now, we have plans to begin installing refill stations for liquid products in our 1,000th store. As a leading health and beauty retailer, we feel the responsibility to be agents of change, and provide opportunities for our shoppers and partners to be able to do good too," said Chiong.

 

You may read the full Sustainability Report Philippines 2021, Doing Good For The Community and Planet here.

UNIQLO / INES DE LA FRESSANGE 2022 Fall/Winter Collection

A uniform to accentuate each person’s unique, individual character

 

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO today announces its latest collaboration collection with Ines de la Fressange, lifestyle icon and symbol of French chic. The UNIQLO / INES DE LA

FRESSANGE 2022 Fall/Winter collection presents LifeWear that reflects Ines’belief in bringing effortless French style to the world. This is a line focused on the pursuit of true beauty and comfort, continually offering a timeless, essential wardrobe. Items will be available in the Philippines from Friday, September 9 at select UNIQLO stores and from the uniqlo.com online store.

 

ダミーダミー

 

 The ‘Ines-style uniform’

 

Ines returns to the idea of the uniform, or an eternal standard in fashion and one of

her essential styles. Finished in fluffy and soft materials while making the most of the

essence of men’s fashion and work details, this is a collection to provide comfort for

everyone and accentuate their individuality. Along with classic items such as pea

coats and chino pants, the lineup features numerous offerings incorporating modern

designs, including functional items such as shirts with elbow patches, and padded

shirt jackets in flannel with cotton lining.

Playful knits perfect for an urban stroll

 

Knits are an essential part of the Ines wardrobe, and this season features a richly

varied lineup. The wide-ranging wardrobe includes sweaters with color combinations

that convey a graphical impression, along with 3D knit* cardigans with a lovely, rounded silhouette, as well as lightweight and comfortable knit jackets with a soft and fluffy silhouette. Cashmere sweaters, which are a favorite of Ines, are offered in exciting, vivid colors such as mustard yellow and pink, perfect for enjoying a relaxing stroll through the city.

*3D knit is a WHOLEGARMENT*, a garment knit entirely on a single machine in three

 dimensions without seams. *WHOLEGARMENT is a registered trademark of SHIMA SEIKI MFG Ltd.

 

 

 

2022 Fall/Winter Collection Lineup

Pea Coat

 

Chesterfield Coat

 

Flannel Tunic

 

Frill Shirt

 

 

 

 Color Block Crew Neck Sweater

 

 Knit Jacket

 

 Soft Chino Wide Pants

 

 Wool Blend Flared Skirt

 

 Rayon Shirt Dress

 

 Cashmere Stole

 

Collection Overview (Total 25 Items)

 

Item Prices Item Prices

 

Outerwear Php 3,990 – Php

 

 

 

7,990 Knits Php 1,990 – Php

 

 

 

6,990

 

 

 

Pants and skirts Php 1,990 – Php

 

 

 

3,490 Dresses Php 2,990 – Php

 

 

 

3,490

 

 

 

Shirts Php 1,490 – Php

 

 

 

4,990 Accessories Php 1,490 – Php

 

 

 

2,990

 

 

Note: Prices listed are provisional and subject to change.

 

Details of the 2022 Fall/Winter Collection

 

Launch date: September 9, 2022 (Fri.)

 

Availability: Full lineup available in UNIQLO Manila Global Flagship Store and

 

 

 

UNIQLO Online Store only.

 

Special website: https://www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/contents/collaboration/ines/22fw/

 

Ines de la Fressange

  

Born and raised in France, Ines became a top international model soon after starting her

career at the age of 17. She became renowned as the muse of several top fashion houses and remains a style icon in fashion circles to this day. In 2013, she relaunched her own brand,

Ines de la Fressange Paris, and continues to embody modern Parisian chic as an art director.

Samsung Launches Worldwide Music Video Takeover at Galaxy Unpacked 2022

 

 

 

Global pop music artist BTS is at the forefront of the music scene — and, through a global takeover at Galaxy Unpacked 2022, the group had the opportunity to sweep the world once again.

By scanning the billboard QR code in Times Square, Galaxy users’ smartphones automatically started playing BTS music in sync with the big screen

 

At this year’s Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung Electronics unveiled two never-before-seen digital films starring BTS at iconic public places across five major cities: Times Square in New York City and Piccadilly Circus in London (August 10 at 4 p.m. EST), COEX in Seoul and Shibuya in Tokyo (August 13 at 11 a.m. KST) and Kudamm in Berlin.

The first digital film, “Galaxy x BTS: Unfold your world with Z Flip4,” highlighted new experiences offered by the Galaxy Z Flip4. The video, featuring “Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” by BTS, celebrated Samsung’s newest shade Bora Purple and showed a future full of potential and possibility. The second video was a brand-new digital film to “Over the Horizon 2022 by SUGA of BTS,” a reimagining of the iconic tune that SUGA participated in producing last year in honor of the ringtone’s 10^th anniversary.

 

With its new larger-than-life campaign, Samsung is telling its users loud and clear — no matter how the future unfolds, by dreaming big, our best moments are still yet to come.

 

Relive the magic by checking out the photos from the global premiere below, and stay tuned to the Samsung YouTube channel for more BTS and Galaxy Unpacked content.

During Galaxy Unpacked 2022, digital films featuring “Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” by BTS and “Over the Horizon 2022 by SUGA of BTS” debuted at Times Square, New York

 

 Large crowds gathered at Piccadilly Circus, London, and tuned in with their devices for the premiere of two brand-new digital films starring BTS during Galaxy Unpacked 2022

Shopee and the Department of Trade and Industry partners for the ASEAN Online Sale

 

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launched its third ASEAN Online Sale Day in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR) last August 8 to 10. This annual sale celebrated the 55th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by showcasing different local and regional products on Shopee’s platform. Over the last three years, the ASEAN Online Sale has consistently offered users a wide range of quality products from across the region to offer users an enjoyable online shopping experience. 

 

Shopee’s continued partnership with the DTI for the third iteration of the ASEAN Online Sale is a testament to both organizations’ commitment to make quality products even more accessible for users all over the Philippines. Throughout the duration of the sale, Filipinos were able to conveniently shop for their favorite Southeast Asian products on Shopee. 

 

Marievic M. Bonoan, Director at the DTI - Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, said, “The DTI is happy to partner with Shopee once again for the ASEAN Online Sale Day to support our goal of driving e-commerce forward in the Philippines. We are humbled to have connected even more buyers with quality products through Shopee’s platform. We will continue to craft even more projects and initiatives that will push for e-commerce growth across the country.”  

 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared, “Through our partnership with the DTI for the ASEAN Online Sale, we strengthen our commitment to transcend borders and make online shopping more accessible and convenient for our users. We are thrilled to offer our users quality products from all over the region. We look forward to maximizing our platform’s reach to deliver an even better online shopping experience for all.”

 

During this year’s campaign, Shopee users enjoyed discounts of up to 90% off and exclusive vouchers on a wide assortment of products from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. 

Empresa Homes Mariveles is an ideal place to settle down

All eyes are on Bataan, currently tagged as the “Industrial Heartland of Central Luzon”. The designation is well-earned as this once laidback province is now a bustling industry and investment hub where a slew of industrial estates and multi-national companies thrive. 

With several engines of growth across the Bataan Peninsula—the Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park; the Bataan Technology Park and Subic Bay Freeport Zone; the Mt. Samat Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone; the Limay Industrial Estate and Government Arsenal; and the Freeport Area of Bataan—it is only logical that homebuyers and property investors are earnestly eyeing Bataan as an ideal place to settle down.

 

Indeed, the past years have seen Bataan steadily transform into a flourishing economic zone, opening doors for job and business opportunities and affording its longtime residents and migrant workers the chance to prosper and grow. These comprise the market of potential homebuyers that leading residential property developer Empresa Homes, known for building its projects in progressive towns and cities in the Philippines, is primed to serve.

 

In fact, Empresa Homes Mariveles, located at Barangay Lucanin in Mariveles, Bataan, is just the residential enclave they need to set down roots, raise a family, and move towards a foreseeably bright future. 

 

Families with school-age kids will be gratified to know that Empresa Mariveles is located close to schools such as Batangas II and Lucanin Elementary School, Mariveles National High School, PUP Bataan, Balanga State University, and Limay Polytechnic College. Retail establishments like Puregold Cabcaben, VistaMall Bataan, Batangas Market, Cabcaben Market, and Mariveles Market are also a short commute away. 

 

Empresa Mariveles homeowners are likewise perfectly positioned to benefit from infrastructure projects that are underway. One is the longest and largest span in the region—the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, a 15-minute drive from Empresa Mariveles. Cross the Manila Bay from Mariveles to Cavite in just 30-minutes. Imagine road trips to the metropolis and back made easier and shorter, offering more livelihood and business opportunities to the community’s entrepreneurs.

 

Commuters and motorists will likewise appreciate Empresa Mariveles’ proximity to major roads and highways like the Roman Superhighway and the Dinalupihan Exit of SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway). 

 

As in the developer’s other residential projects in the country, Empresa Mariveles features leisure and security amenities, like a basketball court, a park, and a kiddie playground—plus guarded entrances and exits and a perimeter fence. 

 

The Mariveles development offers the contemporary Elena unit, a rowhouse with 22 sq. m. floor area and 36 sq. m. lot area, which has living and dining areas, a toilet and bath, and provisions for bedroom and service area. It will also soon offer Elena xE, an enhanced version with painted fence and gate, complete toilet and bath fixtures, common area floor tiles and bathroom floor and wall tiles. 

 

“Rest assured, Empresa Homes remains committed to building safe and secure modern communities in towns and cities where we see great potential for our future residents,” Neil Almonte, Empresa Homes North/Central Luzon and Rizal Division Head affirms. “With the province of Bataan staying on track as one of Central Luzon’s more progressive provinces, we are set to welcome new homeowners in our Bataan properties.”

 

Interested property buyers and investors in Bataan can check out Empresa home models via virtual tours in the BRIA website (www.bria.com.ph), inquire via the official BRIA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BriaHomesIncOfficial/), or reserve a BRIA home online through https://www.bria.com.ph/online-reservation/.

 

BRIA Homes is a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc., one of the top real estate companies in the country. Acclaimed for its massive footprint of over 50 developments in major Philippine cities and municipalities, BRIA Homes is committed to bring quality and best-value residential communities closer to everyday Filipino families. Through a diverse portfolio of properties such as house-and-lots and condominiums, BRIA Homes promises to provide the right property option for every Filipino’s needs.

 

To know more, visit their website at www.bria.com.ph, like and follow “Bria Homes, Inc.” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber Community, Telegram Channel, Kakao Talk, LINE and WhatsApp, or call 0939-887-9637.

 

 

Cebu Pacific is aligning its sustainability goals with the global aviation’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050

Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ leading airline, is committed to invest in more sustainability initiatives to boost the stability of its operations and care for the environment and planet at the same time. 

CEB -- which currently operates the greenest aircraft in the aviation industry, the A330NEO – is aligning its sustainability goals with the global aviation’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

After participating early this year in the Singapore Airshow as Asia’s greenest airline, CEB has established three major pillars on its sustainable journey which are fleet modernization, which aims, among others, to have an all-Neo fleet; resource optimization, which includes pushing for fuel efficiency best practices; and utilizing SAF by launching green routes by 2025 and using SAF for its entire network by 2030. 

CEB was the first local airline to incorporate the use of SAF in its operations.

“Cebu Pacific is committed to invest time and resources to be the greenest airline in Asia and one of the greenest in the world. We conduct our business in an ethical manner, with the welfare of our employees, the community, and the environment in mind,” said Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience Candice Iyog when she discussed sustainability in business and tourism at the Cebu Business Month Tourism Summit. 

SAF is a “drop-in” replacement for fossil fuels, produced from renewable resources. The use of SAF results in an up to 85% reduction in carbon emissions across the SAF lifecycle. The chemical and physical characteristics of SAF are almost identical to those of conventional jet fuel and these can be safely mixed with regular jet fuel to varying degrees. SAF does not require any adaptations to the aircraft or engines and does not have any negative impact on performance or maintenance. 

“As Cebu’s namesake, we have this great sense of responsibility as we realign, reinforce, and rebuild tourism that we do this mindfully and sustainably as stewards of this planet we all share,” Iyog said. 

“It has always been Cebu Pacific’s core purpose to give back to the community,” Iyog added. 

Throughout 2021, CEB flew over 648 tons of humanitarian items for free to support distribution of essential food and medical supplies to different destinations. 

To date, Cebu Pacific has distributed over 76 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to over 31 provinces in the country. 

In partnership with both public and private organizations, CEB was the first airline to respond to the victims of Typhoon Odette which battered a large part of Visayas-Mindanao area.

CEB transported over 336 tons of humanitarian and disaster relief across the Philippines. 

Iyog said that Cebu Pacific firmly believes that no one can achieve a sustainable business alone. 

“We have to widen our net to involve our tourism ecosystem, while at the same time, building culture internally in the company so it becomes part of everyJuan’s everyday life,” she said. 

narzo introduces its most affordable model yet, the narzo 50i Prime

narzo, the latest game changer smartphone brand in the Philippines, continues to bring technology closer to every Filipino by introducing its most affordable model yet, the narzo 50i Prime. Available nationwide starting August 15,  fans can snag the newest addition to narzo’s quality sulit lineup for the lowest price possible of PHP 4,399 with free shipping only at narzo’s official TikTok Shop PH.

“Aside from nationwide hybrid availability and assured long-term quality, another game changing aspect of narzo is in our community engagement,” says Allen Yin, Country Manager for narzo PH. 

“As a young brand, we are not afraid to venture into new selling platforms like TikTok Shop Philippines because it enables us to grow closer with our customers. If you’re on a tight budget while looking for a new smartphone—just tune in to our daily live streams, hang out with the rest of the narzo fans, interact with the narzo team—and surely you’ll find the perfect deal that will suit your digital needs.”

The narzo 50i Prime will also be on a discounted flash price of PHP 4,449 from August 15-17 on Lazada, and for PHP 4,499 only on August 15 on Shopee. All 19 narzo physical stores in the country will also be retailing the new model for its original SRP of PHP 4,999.

A game changer in the sub-5K segment

The narzo 50i Prime is ideal for Filipino students and workers that are looking for a reliable smartphone without going over their allowance and budget. 

It is powered by a Unisoc T612 Processor on a 12nm Octa-Core node; with two Cortex-A75 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores that can both clock up to 1.82GHz, ensuring smooth operating experience between apps. Underneath, it also houses a Mali-G57 GPU that provides good gaming performance for the casual player. 

Designed light for everyday use, it weighs only 182g and is super slim at only 8.5mm. Uncompromising despite the ergonomic build, the narzo 50i Prime still provides an immersive viewing experience through its 6.5-inch HD+ Large Display that has an 88.70% screen to body ratio, larger than other smartphones in its price segment.

The narzo 50i Prime is also unique in the sub-5K segment by having a dedicated Triple Card Slot that enables up to 1TB of expanded memory via MicroSD card, along with a Dual SIM functionality. This makes the phone a goliath in file storage while maintaining a slim physique with a comfortable grip and feel.

The most affordable narzo model yet

For those looking for a simple and effective smartphone that will last a long time, the narzo 50i Prime checks all the boxes for the most affordable, all-rounder tech companion.

Similar to its bigger cousins in the narzo lineup, the narzo 50i Prime has a 5000mAh Massive Battery with 10W charging, to equip users with enough battery life to last throughout the day. At the back, it sports a handy 8MP AI Camera without the intricacies of multi-lens setups, perfect for those who just need a working camera for basic photography. Its 5MP Selfie Camera also does the job for taking standard resolution pictures and videos for social media.

On top of these, the narzo 50i Prime also has an Ultra Saving Mode, which optimizes the smartphone’s background processes to prolong usage even further. It’s also equipped with a built-in Fast UFS 2.2 Storage with a Read & Write Booster that speeds up application startup and cache loading times, giving better browsing behavior. Lastly, it runs by default on the realme UI R Edition that is designed to draw less power and make use of less bloatware.

The narzo 50i Prime is available in a 3GB+32GB single variant that retails for only PHP 4,999. It comes in two cool colors in vertical stripe design: Dark Blue and Mint Green.

Watch out for upcoming e-commerce sales this August

Aside from the new narzo 50i Prime, the rest of the narzo quality sulit lineup will also be having a Payday Sale on August 15 and a Mega Campaign Sale on August 22, in e-commerce platforms Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop. 

Lazada Payday Sale (August 15-17)
Model	SRP	Discount	Sale Price
narzo 50A	7,999	900	7,099
narzo 50A Prime	7,999	1,000	6,999
narzo 50 4G	9,999	1,200	8,799
narzo 50 5G	12,999	1,400	11,599
narzo 50 Pro 5G	15,999	1,400	14,599

 

Shopee Super Brand Day Sale (August 26)
Model	SRP	Discount	Sale Price
narzo 50A Prime	7,999	1,000	6,999
narzo 50 4G	9,999	1,000	8,999

 

Additionally, fans are encouraged to join the ongoing Brand Membership Program in narzo’s Lazada flagship store to enjoy benefits such as earning points per 100-peso transaction, which can be used to redeem vouchers and be eligible for exclusive giveaways for members.

For more information and latest updates, follow narzo Philippines’ official Facebook page and join the twelve-thousand strong narzo online community to be a part of the real game changer!

P&G Philippines launched its P&G Limitless program and the P&G Manila Service Center (MSC) Persons with Disability (PWD) Network

 

Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines, a company that has long championed equality and inclusion in the workplace, launched its P&G Limitless program and the P&G Manila Service Center (MSC) Persons with Disability (PWD) Network. 

 

The program aims to enable everyone to become disability confident, from the moment they apply and all through their career journey in the company. Disability confidence in business is when employers are able to have the skills, techniques, tools and confidence needed to understand disabilities and address barriers for their PWD employees. 

 

P&G aims to create an environment where all employees are well-equipped with disability fluency, thus understanding and knowing how to interact and work with persons with a disability. This helps create a more inclusive workplace and company culture where employees with a disability and employees with disabled dependents feel valued, included and can perform at their peak. 

 

Among their practices, the company uses software applications and their features such as live captioning and other visual accessibility tools so that hiring managers, interviewers and employees can leverage these features to successfully conduct interviews, trainings, and meetings with colleagues and applicants with disabilities. For hard-of-hearing applicants, P&G can provide interpreters during interviews and onboarding activities to assist applicants in navigating and understanding processes to give them a strong start in a new company.  

 

“P&G believes in the power of our unique differences and in giving equal access and opportunity to everyone regardless of gender, background, sexual orientation, and disability. We intentionally provide the necessary tools and accommodations that give people an equal opportunity to succeed.  Across our hiring, training, development and appraisal processes, we assess every employee’s performance fairly based on their impact and eliminate bias where it is unnecessary,” says Vince Dizon, Country Human Resources Leader for P&G Philippines.

 

P&G also aims to strengthen its capabilities by partnering with different expert institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Benilde Deaf School to conduct basic Filipino Sign Language Training.  Recently, the P&G PWD network also collaborated with the University of the Philippines College of Allied Medical Professions to conduct a Neurodiversity awareness and acceptance training for its employees. This included an interactive discussion about the introduction to neurodiversity, neurodiverse experiences and perspectives, and the types of therapies and support services to further help P&G employees to be disability confident.

 

Fostering inclusive communities

 

The PWD Network is the latest community that P&G has established to foster equality and inclusion in the workplace. Other P&G affinity networks include their Women’s Network, Parents at Work, Men Advocating Real Change (MARC), and Gay, Ally, Bisexual, and Lesbian Employees (GABLE).

 

For more information, visit [Link].