Cebuana Lhuillier extends heartfelt thanks to loyal clients for decades of trust, loyalty

For many of Cebuana Lhuillier pawning clients, their jewelries are more than valued accessories. To many, these items were heirloom pieces, fruits of their hard work, or precious investments. During times of need, they also represent a quick solution, an opportunity for a better life, or a fresh restart.

 

For more than 35 years, Cebuana Lhuillier has known these stories from its clients as they go through its doors during theirtimes of need. More than its high appraisal rates, they comfort their clients by the assistance of well-trained branch personnel and the assurance that their precious pieces are safely and securely taken cared of. This eases the burden of parting with the jewelry for the clients, until the time that they come back to claim their pawned items. 

 

Aware that the value of the items in their care goes beyond their weight in gold, Cebuana Lhuillier thought of a way to further give meaning to the Holiday Season for some of its most loyal clients. 

 

Salamat, Ka-Cebuana 

As part of its CSR initiatives, the company has made it its annual tradition to give back to those in need during the Holidays. Usually, these gift-giving activities were held every 6thof December in celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of pawnbrokers and the inspiration behind the legend of Santa Claus. 

 

This year, Cebuana Lhuillier chose the best recipients—its valued clients, many of whom has stayed with the company for years, entrusting some of their most precious items in their times of need. The event, dubbed “Pasasalamat,” gathered more than 200 clients across eight regional locations nationwide in a simultaneous celebration of thanks and love from Cebuana Lhuillier. The gathering proved to be more than a celebration as attendees were feted to a day of fun and prizes, but the end of the program proved to be the most poignant of all when Cebuana Lhuillier, through its operations team, returned all the pawned items of its attendees as a special surprise. 

 

Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and CEO, shared, “Pasasalamat2022 is our way of giving thanks to our clients for the trust and partnership we have established in the last 35 years. We’ve known their stories—and were blessed to be with them as they chased their dreams and provided better lives for their loved ones. With “Pasasalamat,” we are returning this trust by gifting them with the items they pawned with us. We hope that through this small gesture, Cebuana Lhuillier is able to give further meaning to this season.” 

A Season of Joy, Hope, and Giving Thanks

For many of the attendees of the Pasasalamat celebration, the unexpected blessings were more than expressions of gratitude coming from a long-time ally—it brought hope and joy as precious pieces, family heirlooms, and cherished investments find its way back to them. 

For Grecilda Torres, a small business owner and client of Cebuana Lhuilier for 26 years, the unexpected return of her pawned items—all rings—brought to tears. “Nakaka-touch isipin na gumawa ng time si Cebuana Lhuillier na ipakita saamin na importante kami. I am very much grateful and thankful na—yung 26 years naming magkasama, it keeps going lang. My business and the business of Cebuana Lhuillier, magkasama pa din kami. Nagka-doctor na akong anak, pero still, nandito pa din ako with Cebuana. And for that, I am very thankful,” she shares. 

 

Meanwhile, Remigia Mejia, a 79-year-old cancer survivor and loyal client of Cebuana Lhuillier for 30 years, cannot believe that a pendant which her late husband gifted her before they were married has found its way back to her. She shares, “Hindi ko akalain na babalik yung mga alahas ko since pinag-iipunanko din na matubos sila. Karamihan sa kanila, matatagal na saakin, including yung pendant na bigay ng asawa ko and yungsingsing ng anak ko which I gave her nung nag-debut siya. As much as possible, ayaw ko silang maremata kasi they are very valuable and sentimental pieces para sa akin. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa Cebuana Lhuillier for this event and for the many years na hindi nya din ako pinabayaan. Nagtra-trabaho pa lang ako, kasama ko na ang Cebuana Lhuillier and even till now, kami pa din ang magkasama.” 

 

For Ana Marie Mendoza Rapido, a teacher from Cavite and a Ka-Cebuana since 2012, Cebuana Lhuillier has been a trusted ally during times of emergencies. Through their jewelries, Ana Marie and her siblings were able to sustain the hospitalization and medication of their mother who have been in-and-out of hospitals in the last ten years. “Ang Cebuana po, trusted nanamin at lagi naming taga-sagip sa oras ng kagipitan, lalo nanung panahon ng pandemic,” shared Ana Marie who was in tears when she opened the box and saw her pawned item inside.

 

Grecilda, Remigia, and Ana Marie were just three of the many loyal clients whose continued trust and loyalty to Cebuana Lhuillier proved to be instrumental in the company’s continued reign as the country’s number one pawnshop. With Pasasalamat, the decades-old financial institution was able to express and extend its thanks for the many whose continued patronage remains the reason for its longevity and its continuous desire to serve as an ally and a friend to millions of Filipinos and their journey towards a better future.

 

The Brother Concept Store is now open at SM Fairview!

Brother International Philippines Corp. recently opened the company’s fifth concept store in the Philippines at SM Fairview, Quezon City on December 9, located at the 3/F Cyberzone. 

Glenn Hocson, President of Brother International Philippines Corporation, was there to greet the media and formally invite customers to visit the store and enjoy the brand’s products. He was joined by Rolando Raval, Chief Operating Officer of Upson International Corporation, the largest retailer of IT products. 

“The Brother concept store is part of our commitment to giving shoppers an improved shopping experience. They can see the complete range of products, interact with the different features, and get recommendations from our experienced staff,” said Glenn Hocson. 

Hocson adds that the new store is part of Brother’s growth, and commitment to make IT products more affordable and accessible as the Philippines marches into the digital age. “Brother International Corporation Philippines and Upson have a strong relationship that has lasted for more than 20 years. These two brands have lifted each other up and have a beneficial partnership that will endure for many years more. We are always here to support Upson’s expansion and growth, and we know we can count on them with our own growth endeavors.”

The concept store will carry the complete range of Brother products, which includes printers, scanners, labeling machines, cutters, and sewing and embroidery machines. Shoppers will also enjoy special holiday promos and discounts.

 

Brother New Concept Store in SM Fairview

Aside from the SM Fairview branch, Brother concepts stores are located in Gaisano Mall, Davao, SM City North Edsa Annex, Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City, and SM City Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.

For more information on Brother products, and to find the nearest store near you, visit the Facebook page  or call the Brother Helpdesk Hotline at (02) 8 581-9898.

Max’s Restaurant is making mornings more delightful with an indulgent Breakfast Buffet

Max’s Restaurant, the iconic restaurant chain famous for its Sarap-to-the-Bones Fried Chicken is making mornings more delightful with an indulgent Breakfast Buffet. Jumpstarting the day gets easier when one’s first meal is made up of an abundant selection of dishes.

 

The Max’s Breakfast Buffet consists of all-time breakfast favorites such as tapa, tocino, corned beef, Vigan longganisa, and crispy bacon chips. There is also an egg station where a cook prepares the dish depending on the customer’s preference. This can either be sunny side up, scrambled, or omelette with various tasty fillings. Guests can also enjoy Pinoy morning meal staples like a warm bowl of hearty and filling congee or sweet champorado.

Since eating bread has always been part of morning routines, there is also a variety of fresh baked goods from Max’s Corner Bakery that will give everyone the energy for the day. The buffet also includes drink options such as Brewed Coffee, Juice, Hot Chocolate, and Iced Tea.

 

Get unlimited refills of all the dishes and drinks for only P699. Guests can get a special sneak peek of this new breakfast experience at select stores around the metro starting December 14.

 

This exclusive offer is available for dine-in in the following Max’s stores from 7AM to 10AM:

Max’s Sucat – Saturdays and Sundays

Max’s Antipolo – Saturdays and Sundays

Max’s Tagaytay – Saturdays and Sundays

Max’s Malate – Saturdays and Sundays

Max’s Matalino – Thursdays and Fridays

 

For more information, visit the official Facebook page at @MaxsRestaurant.

The holidays at Discovery Shores Boracay are made much more memorable this time as the resort launches an art exhibit

This beachfront resort becomes a dreamy holiday destination each year with its dazzling decor, seasonal eats and festive experiences that the whole family will love. The holidays at Discovery Shores Boracay are made much more memorable this time as the resort launches an art exhibit in collaboration with gallery. sort of., called Let’s Talk About Art on December 20, 2022 showcasing the stunning works of young Filipino artists. Get to see the world through the eyes of David Ignacio, Jesse Camacho, Kiko Moran and Aldrin Tamidles also known as “Alburoto.”  

Banana Boat by Alburoto

Let’s Talk About Art is a three-day celebration of art and the people behind the masterpieces. Guests are invited to marvel at the artworks, interact with the artists through live sketching sessions and watercolor tutorials, and ultimately help promote and propagate the love for visual arts. 

wiwishu a merikrismas by Jesse Camacho

“This is in line with Discovery Shores Boracay’s desire to provide our guests with immersive experiences that will create meaningful impact while supporting local artists and communities, and the ever-evolving art scene in the Philippines,” says Erwin Lopez, hotel manager.

Ampaw na Ampao by Kiko Moran

               

                  POV: Ikaw ang Regalong Hinihintay Ko 

                  by David  Ignacio

Looking for that perfect holiday gift? Consider gifts that give back to meaningful causes and efforts, making them a bit more special. To support local communities, a portion of the sale of the exhibited works will be donated to the ATI Village in Boracay Island. The exhibit will run until January 15, 2023 at Discovery Shores Boracay’s Great Room, Signature Suites. 

 

To know more about the resort’s festive offerings, visit https://www.discoveryshoresboracay.com/holly-jolly-christmas-at-discovery-shores-boracay/  or call (632) 7720.8888.

 

vivo shares hacks for a surprise-filled season with the vivo V25 Series

The most beautiful holiday of the year is fast approaching and festive mall decorations, Christmas songs on the radio, colorful street lanterns, and even neighbors’ twinkling lights are telltale signs that we're really  just a month away from Yuletide. 

 

While it’s true that the ‘holiday feels’ are already in the air and can be seen almost everywhere, one can’t deny that along with it comes the stress of having less time to buy gifts for the people who matter. 

 

Fortunately, you can reduce the holiday stress and enjoy the Christmas season (as you should!) through these shopping hacks using the vivo V25 Series.

 

Shop smart

 

We get it – buying gifts is fun, but it can also get overwhelming especially when you're unsure of what to buy for friends and loved ones. So before you queue in malls and stores, why not create a Christmas plan and research about the gift ideas you already have in mind? List down your gift recipients, determine how much you can spend on each person, and the gifts you’d like to buy. Look for the stores that offer the items on your list and compare which one gives the best offer. Look out for bazaars around the city too because there will surely be a lot! Knowing where to buy your gifts and planning out your itinerary will not only save you money but time as well.

 

Take advantage of free shipping promos and vouchers

 

Queuing in malls and stores may not be everyone’s cup of tea or some might  just be too busy closing that year-end report. If the crammed aisles and mile-long lines make you feel Grinch-y, you can opt to “add-to-cart” instead and make the most of Christmas shopping in the comforts of your home. The additional perks? A lot of online shopping apps and brands offer free shipping vouchers.

 

Enjoy your online Christmas gift hunting and viewing the perfect gift options via the wide screen of your vivo V25 Series device. The vivo V25 Pro features a 6.56-inch AMOLED HDR 10+ display with a 120hz refresh rate and supports a peak brightness of 1300 nits, giving you a vibrant, color-rich display and making your screen more visible in bright daylight. This will definitely help you appreciate your gift selections and not to mention a clear view to catch all the discount vouchers from the store.

 

And if one shopping app is not enough, you can download a few more so you’ll have more shops to choose from and check which among them offers the more affordable prices for the same gift items. With the vivo V25 Series’ huge 256GB memory, you won’t need to contemplate which app or files to delete to save more space, as the device’s bigger memory capacity and up to 20GB Dynamic RAM allow you to download as many shopping platforms as you’d like and switch between apps with ease.

 

Gift an experience or a workshop

 

Sometimes, it’s just really challenging to pick the perfect gift for loved ones. If your dearest and nearest aren’t fond of any material gifts, why not consider giving them things they are truly passionate about? There are a lot of workshop vouchers such as cooking and pottery classes or magic shows and performances scheduled this holiday that you can choose from.  

 

Regardless of what experience or workshop you pick for them, they need a reliable device like the vivo V25 Series whose battery capacity, performance, and camera specs will not disappoint, especially when it’s about time to take a snap of their final outputs or the highlight of the experience. 

 

Equipped with a 64MP OIS rear camera, the vivo V25 Series will surely give your loved ones crisp and clear photos and videos of their personally-made delicacy or their intricately-made ceramic masterpiece. For a Potterhead brother who willingly stayed home to immerse himself in the fantastic world of magic and illusion, you may ask him to send a happy selfie receipt in your family group chat so everyone can bond over the contagious joy on his face. Thanks to vivo V25 Series’ up to 50MP Eye AF Selfie shooter, his happy face will surely be as bright as daylight.

 

The vivo V25 Series’ all-day  battery will also keep the fun going as it promises all-day battery life and give them enough battery juices to do other digital adventures this festive season. 

 

When it comes to the design, the vivo V25 Series Photochromic 2.0 Technology is equally festive as it also radiates colors and adds fun and magic to the vibrant spirit of the Yuletide season, giving your loved ones a technological masterpiece that’s both durable and aesthetically appealing. Simply expose the device in the sunlight and watch the beauty unfold as it changes into mesmerizing hues.

 

Hunt for Christmas sale and freebies

If ever you want to give more but have a conservative budget, don’t fret because a lot of Christmas promos and treats are definitely up and running. More often than not, curated gift sets are already available at packaged prices so that eases you from the burden of thinking what else could go best with your gift box. 

 

Just stroll around your favorite mall or website to catch these Christmas sales. vivo has also rolled out its Paskong La vivo Loca Christmas festival where the brand is giving away almost Php 2M worth of prizes. Discounted vivo smartphones plus other exciting prizes including a brand new vivo V25 are up for grabs!

 

This holiday season can go by quickly, so make sure not to waste it by stressing too much about what gifts to buy but on creating meaningful moments with loved ones and immortalizing them with the vivo V25 Series. 

 

Now available nationwide, the vivo V25 Pro in Surfing Blue and Starlight Black is priced at PHP 29,999 while the vivo V25 and vivo V25e sporting the mesmerizing Sunrise Gold and Diamond Black colorways retail  at PHP23,999 and PHP 17,999 respectively. Filipino fans can also purchase the vivo V25 Series through Home Credit for up to 18 months or credit card options for up to 36 months payment terms both with 0% interest on installment.  Customers can visit vivo’s official website, Shopee, Lazada and all vivo stores and kiosks nationwide to get their hands on the vivo V25 Series.

 

For more information on vivo’s latest news and updates, please head to vivo’s official Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTubechannels.

 

       

Zara and Uniqlo topped Carousell Philippines’ most-searched for secondhand items

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, leading multi-category platform for secondhand in Greater Southeast Asia Carousell Group released the Carousell Recommerce Index (10th Anniversary Edition) revealing the sustainability impact its collective community has made by buying and selling secondhand items. 

 

Over the past decade, Carousell Group’s users have extended the life cycle of millions of items, including: 76.8 million fashion items; 33.9 million electronics; 26.6 million hobby items and toys; 11.1 million home items and furniture; and 10.6 million babies & kids items. 

 

To further illustrate the impact, the number of used fashion listings can provide 70% of the population in the Philippines with an outfit. Additionally, assuming all used electronics listed are iPhone Xs, the height when stacked together is the equivalent of over 1600 times the height of Mount Pulag. 

The report also highlighted key trends in each market, specifically for the Philippines:

●     Top 3 most popular categories to sell secondhand items are Fashion, Hobbies & Toys, Babies & Kids

●     Top 3 most popular secondhand category to browse are Fashion, Hobbies & Toys, Electronics 

●     All-time top 3 most-searched keywords for secondhand items: Zara, Uniqlo and iPhone

Recommerce refers to the selling and buying of previously-owned products, including both new and used in condition. The report covers data from 9 of Carousell Group's family of brands across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan markets — Carousell, Cho Tot, Laku6, Mudah.my, OneKyat, One Shift, Ox Luxe, Ox Street, and Refash.

 

Since its inception in 2012 as a mobile-first app to make selling and buying underutilised items easier, Carousell has grown from a C2C classifieds marketplace into a multi-category platform for secondhand goods in Greater Southeast Asia. To accelerate the next decade of recommerce, the Group has been working on additional capabilities to offer more features and services to users that make buying secondhand items as trusted and convenient as buying brand new items.

 

Djon Nacario, General Manager, Carousell Philippines, said, “As Philippines slowly recovers from the financial impact of the Covid pandemic, we see more and more consumers considering and buying secondhand as their first choice. The Carousell Recommerce Index serves as a crucial guide to help us better understand the fast-changing consumer behaviors in the post-Covid era, and how we can explore developing additional features to help improve the marketplace experience, and provide even more frictionless ways to drive recommerce growth.” 

 

The Carousell Recommerce Index (10th anniversary edition) is available for download on http://press.carousell.com/carousell-green.

 

Spread holiday cheer by gifting the festive Cuckoo and Weeshee Bags from Oishi!

 

Filipinos love to share and spread cheer and happiness, especially during this season of giving. 

From our loved ones, to friends, and people with whom we share small moments with every day, we try to let them know they matter.

Spread holiday cheer by gifting the festive Cuckoo and Weeshee Bags from Oishi! Filled with childhood favorites and new yummy discoveries from Oishi, they are perfect for sharing and munching on during the holiday break. And believe it or not, these festive bags start at just P87! Just head to your nearest supermarkets to buy these Christmas goodies.

To spread more joy this season, Oishi is also giving you discounts when you purchase online. Get Php 160 off for every bundle of 8 Cuckoo Bags and Php 105 off for every bundle of 8 Weeshee Bags when you check out from Oishi’s official store in Shopee and the flagship store in Lazmall!

Add them to your cart now at Shopee Mall: https://bit.ly/OishiXmasShopee22 and Lazmall: https://bit.ly/OishiXmasLazada22

The discount is valid until December 31, 2022 so catch them while they are still available!

For more information, visit Oishi Philippines’ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/oishi.ph.

 

Watsons’ Alagang Pangkalusugan gave the wonderful present of a medical mission to a community in Calamba

 

The gift of health is the most precious of all and for the holidays, Watsons’ Alagang Pangkalusugan gave the wonderful present of a medical mission to a community in Calamba, Laguna.

The Department of Health’s goal is for all Filipinos to have access to a primary care facility within 30 minutes. As the country’s leading health retailer, Watsons is committed to its Environmental, Social, and Governance goal of helping to uplift the health and wellbeing of the community. Watsons continues to do good for others by helping to provide free diagnostic tests and medications to areas in need through its medical missions.

For the Calamba, Laguna medical mission, Watsons gave the residents of the community free doctors’ consultations and free medicines prescribed by doctors. The health retailer also provided the residents of Calamba with free BP monitoring, ECG, blood glucose monitoring, uric/hemoglobin/cholesterol tests, skin analysis, bone screening, audiometry, hair analysis, eye check-up, and chest X-ray.

In April, Alagang Pangkalusugan also held a medical mission in Las Pinas with 430 beneficiaries. The Calamba medical mission had 450 beneficiaries.

“Since 2013, Alagang Pangkalusugan has benefited 6,549 Filipinos. Watsons’ Alagang Pangkalusugan not only provides beneficiaries of these medical missions with free doctor’s consultations and diagnostic services, we also gives them free medicines. Watsons is very proud to be a partner of Filipino families in their journey to good health. We’re also very happy that our employees are taking part in this. For Calamba, we had 104 volunteer employees!” said Viki Encarnacion, Watsons PR and Sustainability Director.

Because doing good is not something that Watsons can do alone, the retailer enlisted the help of its supplier partners. Among those who made donations for the medical mission are Organica Nutrition Inc., GCRM Philippines Inc., North Summit, Bayer, Ritemed, Pascual, Lifestrong, Fine Nutrition, Unilab, Torrent, Natrapharm, Viatris / Pfizer, IMDS, Philusa, Watsons Generics, DMI, Hofer Development Corp., Intelligent Skin Optimum Solution, Monheim, Pinoy Jamu / Bionutria, JLC Miller, ADP Pharma, OMRON, One Touch/DKSH, House of Branded Lifestyle, and Medchoice.