9 Ways to Celebrate The Love Month on a Budget

 

February is a special month to celebrate love and affection with your significant other.

Despite the notion that grandiose dinners and lavish gifts are necessary to mark the occasion, there are other simpler yet memorable ways to spend this special day. 

 

This is also the perfect time to take advantage of promos and discounts that many retailers and companies (e.g restaurants, hotels, salon, wellness centers) usually offer during this period to give some love to their customers like you. 

 

Indulge in an intimate home-cooked meal, wander amidst nature's splendor on a scenic walk or hike, and explore our list of 9 pocket-friendly ways to celebrate Valentine's Day: 

1. Cook a romantic dinner at home

 

This is a perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day on a budget by cooking your favorite dishes in the comfort of your own home. Use your RCBC credit or debit card to shop for special ingredients and take advantage of promos like the Tap & Go with Mastercard where you can get a chance to shop all you can up to P200,000. The promotion is open to all principal and supplementary cardholders of Mastercard credit, debit, and prepaid cards issued in Philippines. 

 

2. Plan a picnic in a nearby park 

 

Pack a basket of your favorite snacks and drinks, grab a blanket, and head to a local park for a romantic picnic. Enjoy each other's company while taking in the natural beauty around you. Surprise your loved one with fresh flowers during your date. A lovely bouquet need not be expensive with RCBC’s 20% off promo plus free shipping if you use your credit card to buy from FlowerStore.ph. 

 

 

3. Have some R&R with your partner

 

Valentine’s day is also about giving your loved ones the much needed “me-time”. Give your loved one that much-needed Rest and Relaxation (R&R).Treat them to a relaxing massage, foot spa or pedicure for a 10% discount at Breeze Oriental Spa and Massage, using your RCBC Credit card. The promo runs until April this year.

 

 

4. Take a scenic walk or hike together 

 

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and explore a nearby scenic trail or hike. This is a great way to get some exercise, spend quality time together, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

 

5. Visit a local museum or art gallery 

 

Take a stroll through a local museum or art gallery and appreciate the beauty and creativity of the exhibits. Learn something new, spend quality time together, and experience the cultural richness of your community.

 

6. Make a DIY gift for each other 

 

Get creative and make a unique and personal gift for your significant other. Give her or him anything from a piece of jewelry to a handmade card.

 

7. Go stargazing at a local observatory or a secluded spot 

 

Take a break from the bright lights of the city and go stargazing at a local observatory or a secluded spot. Appreciate the beauty of the night sky and spend intimate time together.

 

8. Go on a Romantic lunch date for two

 

Skip your kitchen preparations and just treat yourself and your partner to a luxurious hotel buffet!  Using your RCBC Credit Card, you can enjoy 40% off on your total bill for a lunch buffet at Spiral, Sofitel, or get up to 50% off at Seven Corners and Xin Tian Di, Crowne Plaza. Take advantage of the exclusive dining offers your RCBC Credit card has to offer.

 

9. Have a game night at home with your favorite board games 

 

Host a game night at home with your favorite board games. This is a great way to have fun and enjoy each other's company in a relaxed and low-key setting.

 

From cooking a romantic dinner at home to indulging your appetite and your senses, the options are endless. Take advantage of the various promos and exclusive discounts and make the most out of your budget. Whether it's a cozy night in or an outdoor adventure, the most important thing is to spend quality time together and create lasting memories. So, make the most of this special occasion and let the romance unfold.

To know more about the offers that you can enjoy with your RCBC Credit Card, visit rcbccredit.com.

Maxene shares #herfirstlove story with PLDT Home

There was a time i felt exactly like Maxine.

I was also young and I too had thought that i had found the one for me, and the only one who objected was my tatay.

 

But with youth often comes inexperience, haste, defiance, and when you add "love" to the mix you can add blind foolishness as well.

 

I thought i was a princess being rescued from the holds of a tyrannic king and all i wanted was to escape

 

When in reality. tatay was just protecting me, he just had a different way of showing it..

 

It was too late when i realized that and I regret not speaking with him for some time.

 

Looking back, now that he is in his 80's, im sure he already forgot about it as Oftentimes he doesn't event recognize me.

 

But now i know, we may fall in love and out of love many times, but our tatays will always be the first to love us.

We can find all kinds of love in this lifetime, but nothing compares to a first love. Sometimes, it’s not the first person that gave them kilig, nor the puppy love that gave us butterflies when we were kids—for some of us, our first love actually began at home. 

 

For most of us, our parents are the ones who loved us first, unconditionally. Actress, host and meditation teacher Maxene Magalona realizes this meaningful truth and shares it with everyone in a new Valentine’s Day video from PLDT Home. 

 

In the video, she pens a letter to her late father, the iconic and legendary master rapper Francis Magalona. 

 

Maxene describes how her father taught her the true meaning of love. “For you, love is about acceptance and non-judgment. You love others the way you want to be loved—by just letting you be who you are,” she writes. 

 

 “The love my dad showed me is my first love. He was a very genuine person. He showed everyone sincerity and respect. And to me, that’s love – accepting people for who and where they are,” Maxene says.

Love, indeed, is patient and kind. Maxene continues to live on the love that her dad taught her. “The love you experience at home is the love that you model,” she shares. “Love is a safe space where you will be accepted and not judged.” 

 

In her letter, she mentions how her dad showed her unconditional love through his actions. “You always tell me what I need to hear, but in a kind and gentle way,” she writes. “You would laugh and giggle as you tell me that heartbreak and pain are a natural part of life.” 

 

This Valentine’s Day, Maxene shares #herfirstlove story with PLDT Home. “I’m very honored to be part of a project that speaks of this kind of love. When you experience that kind of love at home you’re able to share it with others. I’m happy and honored that PLDT Home chose me to share this message to others,” she says. 

 

She adds that her favorite part of the video is the love letter for her dad. “I get to reconnect with him even if he’s not here physically. It was a comforting and heartwarming experience because it makes me remember that even if I am physically alone, love really knows no bounds. My dad’s love lives in me. I want to continue that legacy of his love.” 

 

Maxene concludes the letter by declaring that despite the painful heartbreaks, she’s not afraid to love again. “I will never give up. I will never lose hope. I know deep in my heart that I will find my true love one day because you showed me what true love is about. Thank you, Pop. I found my first love at home.”  

 

Watch Maxene Magalona’s heartwarming video on PLDT Home’s Facebook page or YouTube channel.

The official trailer of Viva’s “Martyr or Murderer” immediately went viral and controversial

As expected the official trailer of Viva’s “Martyr or Murderer” immediately went viral and controversial since it was launched a few days ago. 

The movie which takes a deeper look into the lives of two of the most polarizing figures in Philippine history -- Ninoy Aquino and former president Ferdinand Marcos, was sure to create a buzz from both devotees and critics of the two personalities. At the end of the said trailer, the voice of the country’s current president BongBong Marcos could be heard telling his sister Imee: “Dinaya ako ni Leni.”

Whether that conversation took place or not, it certainly made the film a lot more interesting.

At the mediacon Director and writer Darryl Yap said  “I want to provoke viewers. I want them to react. Kahit ano. Kahit papuri man ito o batikos,” he said.

But he made clear, “I won’t create illusions while at it. I won’t create lies. Mas maganda kasi ang totoo at yun ang ipapalabas namin dito.”

He then ended, “Mabait na version pa nga yan e.” saying VIVA Films, the producer of the movie had to consult its lawyers first before approving the said trailer.

History is still written. The story of Maid in Malacañang continues…

 

“Martyr or Murderer”, the sequel to Darryl Yap’s Mega Blockbuster hit “Maid in Malacañang” is showing in cinemas on March 1, 2023. And as expected, there is great rejoicing over this film coming from the director’s followers and supporters who made #MOMTheOfficialPoster trend for two days upon its official release on Monday, January 30.  

 

On his Facebook post, Yap expressed his gratitude for the hype and enumerated the numbers of the reactions and shares that the poster received in just 2 days: nearly 200,000 accumulated reactions on all postings across mainstream media, 54,000 reactions on Vincentiments official pages, 17,000 shares, and 6,400 uploads on personal accounts and pages.

“Martyr or Murderer” recounts what happened to the family before and after EDSA Revolution, a sneak peak to their life in exile, and a brave discussion on the intrigues surrounding Imee Marcos’s exploits in Morocco. Did she really go into hiding and forge passports? How did her siblings cope with the sudden turn of events? How did the ailing patriarch and his Imeldific wife carry on with their lives after being stripped of power and dignity?

 

Furthermore, the film aims to provide answers to the unending hows and whys involving President Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos and his greatest nemesis, Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino, Jr.

 

How did all the strife between them start? How was Ninoy Aquino perceived by the people around him? Why was his death blamed on the Marcoses?  

 

And all these questions lead to even bigger ones: Who is the real martyr? Who is the real murderer?

 

Cristine Reyes, Cesar Montano, Ruffa Gutierrez, , Diego Loyzaga, and Ella Cruz reprise their roles as Imee Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos, Imelda Marcos, Bongbong Marcos and Irene Marcos.

 

Isko Moreno plays Ninoy Aquino. Jerome Ponce plays the young Ninoy. The powerhouse cast also includes Marco Gumabao as the young Marcos Sr., Cindy Miranda as the young Imleda, Elizabeth Oropesa and Beverly Salviejo as the remaining maids of the Marcos Family, and Rose Van Ginkel as Maricar, Imee’s confidante during in Morocco.  

 

Their story continues to unfold on the big screen. Watch “Martyr or Murderer” March 1 in cinemas nationwide.

mWell launches mWellMD app

Fresh from its win as as the Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life in the 2023 Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards in Barcelona, Spain, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s (MPIC) mWell launches the mWellMD app—a virtual clinic designed by doctors, for doctors.

In an event dubbed mWellMD Live, the Philippines’ healthcare mega app, introduced a tool that empowers doctors to grow their practice and serve patients anytime, anywhere with its fully digital features. mWellMD allows doctors to attend to patients on their mobile phone 24/7, easily manage schedules and patient records and be notified of upcoming patient schedules. Built with the doctor experience in mind, it provides a seamless experience from sign-up to consultation.

MPIC President, Chairman and CEO and mWell Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan says, “We’re committed to delivering innovative healthcare solutions not only for mWell app users but also for our partner-doctors.  mWellMD’s future-proof platform empowers Filipino doctors to reach more through the power of technology.”

MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer and mWell CEO Chaye Cabal-Revilla says,                    “mWell not only cares for our users but for our partner-doctors as well. A smooth doctor experience is an important part of mWell’s operations. We make it a point to listen to them and respond to their needs. Through the mWellMD app, we are able to deliver a seamless end-to-end journey which will allow them to conveniently consult and grow their practice. With help from our partner-doctors, mWell’s fully integrated digital healthcare ecosystem will be able to offer our countrymen here and abroad convenient access to quality healthcare.”

The clinic doctors can carry 

The mWellMD app is loaded with tools that will allow doctors to manage their practice-- from patient records, consults, billings, and professional fees—right on their mobile phone. They can even communicate with their staff and refer patients to other doctors. Practice data and patient data are accessible anytime, anywhere. With just a click of a button on mobile, they can utilize an efficient appointment booking system for their online clinics and conveniently do online consultation for patients who are using the mWell app. Soon, enhanced features and a wider range of tools will be made available for doctors via mWellMD Advanced.

Seamless doctor experience guaranteed

Doctors were engaged to create the platform, test the system to make sure that the whole application is seamless, intuitive, and user-friendly. 

“The best healthcare platform tries to involve not only the growing needs of doctors but also of the industry,” says mWell Chief Technology Officer Dr. Mike Muin. “We are going beyond telemedicine – we are building solutions for doctors to make their practices and their lives better.” As a medical doctor with over twenty years of healthcare IT experience, he says doctors like him will always look for better solutions to respond to constant challenges in healthcare. 

Reliable operations and tech support 

For mWell, every doctor is a VIP.  To provide the assistance they need, tech experts are on-call 24/7 to assist partner-doctors and respond to their questions at the soonest possible time. Doctors can also depend on a dedicated operations team for regular training sessions and updates to ensure that they will always have a smooth experience on the mWellMD platform.

With its holistic cybersecurity strategy and end to end cybersecurity operational framework to Predict, Prevent, Detect and Respond to all cyber threats, backed by sophisticated technologies and highly skilled cybersecurity professionals, mWellMD is following global security standards to ensure the security and protection of all Personal Information that are stored, processed, and transmitted in its system belonging to both the doctors and patients.  Angel Redoble, mWell Chief Cybersecurity Officer and PLDT Group and Smart Communications FVP and Group CISO said “mWellMD went through rigorous vulnerability tests and security audits. It completed and passed all requirements to bring down all cyber related risks to the lowest level.”

Easy sign-up

Now is the best time for family doctors, specialists, and mind health experts to sign up as an mWell partner-doctor and grow their practice using the mWellMD app.

Doctors may register in as fast as 30 minutes. No joining fees. Only PRC ID is required. They get 100% of their professional fee without any commission from mWell—no deductions.  

To ensure smooth virtual practice, mWell is also offering partner doctors with an exclusive high-speed internet plan from PLDT Home Fibr: 100mbps for only P1499.

The mWellMD app for doctors is now available on Google Play Store and Apple App store. 

mWell, the only healthcare app among the convenor organizations and supporting companies of the GoDigital Pilipinas (GDP) movement, shall continue harnessing the power of technology to bring healthcare closer to more Filipinos anytime, anywhere. 

As part of the MPIC Group, mWell is committed to work towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. It also supports the MVP Group’s Gabay Kalusugan advocacy focusing on quality and affordable healthcare.

To consult with partner-doctors and access a wide range of wellness features, simply download the mWell PH app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and register. Follow mWell on Facebook and mwellph on Instagram for more updates.

Experience all that White House Taguig has to offer for you and your loved ones this Valentines Day

Dine in style with your loved one this Valentine's Day. Experience all that White House Taguig has to offer at lunch or dinner, with a special menu prepared just for you and your date.

The pandemic, as we all know, has brought about so much challenge to our daily lives and many business industries. For some, it meant the end of services that once thrived and for others, it was a golden opportunity to pivot and flourish – and such is the story of White House Taguig.

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Simple, elegant and inspired by all things beautiful, this all-new restaurant located in the heart of Taguig is a place that instantly reminds you of home. The century-old heritage house of which Chef Bruce Lim is at helm boasts of bright and inviting interiors, perfect for taking a break from work.

His restaurant comeback couldn’t have come at a better time – the middle of the pandemic. “It was a blessing in disguise of sorts as the partners decided to pursue kitchen and dining staff training while in the middle of a lockdown,” quipped Chef Bruce. 

“Everything went on in the midst of uncertainty and this foresight truly motivated everyone and gave them inspiration. And by the time White House Taguig had the opportunity to finally open, with restrictions slowly easing out, everyone was fully prepared and eager.”

Under the management of those behind La Luna Café, White House Taguig has put together a menu of favorite dishes from the various travels of its partners around Asia. It’s like taking a tour and being immersed in a certain place or country with its food speaking about richness and culture. 

“When travelling, it’s really through food that one truly experiences and learns about the places being visited,” Chef Bruce explains. Indeed, White House Taguig’s well-curated Pan-Asian menu is a testament to that. With appetizing dishes that include Thai Som Tum Salad, Malaysian Ba Kut Teh, Stir-Fried Gai Lan or Chinese Broccoli, and Hong Kong Chow Mein or Crispy Noodles, the experience will already leave you thinking of scheduling your next visit while sampling them. 

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Chef Bruce’s Malaysian Beef Rendang version will make one forget about lessening rice intake. And the surprise of a dish is the Soy Sauce Chicken -- it’s everything a soy chicken dish should ever be! Enjoy with their most refreshing Tamarind Juice and finish off with the Mango Sticky Rice and Vietnamese Latte.

Another discovery within the White House compound is a new free-standing dining area which will transport you all the way to Japan. Surrounded by a Japanese garden and Koi pond, this space allows guests to book private functions wherein you can enjoy authentic Teppanyaki cuisine with up to 20 persons, with a minimum consumable to book the whole Japanese area.

And, don’t even worry about safety at White House. They also take it to heart with air purifiers and sanitizers in each table.

White House Taguig is located at ML Quezon Avenue, Brgy. Hagonoy, Taguig. For reservations, call 0960 3224823.

Sean Duca shares insights on how ChatGPT can be used to hack humans with AI-as-a-service

Science, technology and all its components have strongly benefited the human race over generations. By definition, it is the search for new knowledge to improve the quality of life.  However, everything has the potential of being good or bad depending on the people who are behind it. 

 

The relentless quest to mimic and decipher the human mind has ushered an era of Artificial Intelligence. ChatGPT, a text-based artificial intelligence (AI) bot has made headlines for its use of advanced AI. From accurately fixing a coding bug, generating cooking recipes, creating 3D animations, to composing entire songs, ChatGPT has showcased the mindblowing power of AI to unlock a world of incredible new possibilities and new risks.

 

Since its launch on November 2022, tech experts and commentators worldwide have been concerned about the impact AI-generated content tools will have on cybersecurity. 

 

In the recent Black Hat and Defcon security conferences, a demonstration of hacking humans with AI-as-a-servicerevealed howAI can actually craft better phishing emails and devilishly effective spear phishing messages than people.

Sean Duca, Vice President and Regional Chief Security Officer for Asia Pacific & Japan at Palo Alto Networks

Researchers using OpenAI's GPT-3 platform in combination with other AI-as-a-service products focused on personality analysis generated phishing emails that were generated customised using their colleagues' backgrounds and characters. Eventually, the researchers developed a pipeline that refined the emails before hitting their targets. To their surprise, the platform also automatically supplied specifics, such as mentioning a Singaporean law when instructed to generate content for people in Singapore.

 

The makers of ChatGPT have clearly suggested that the AI-driven tool has the in-built ability to challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate requests. While the system apparently has inbuilt guardrails designed to prevent any kind of criminal activities, however, with a few tweaks, it generated a near flawless phishing email that sounded ‘Weirdly Human’. 

 

This could mean more trouble for markets that are highly vulnerable to phishing attacks such as the Philippines. In fact, the enormity of phishing campaigns in the country prompted the government to begin investigations. This resulted in the approval of the SIM Card Registration Act, a law that mandates users to register personal information upon SIM card activation and purchase in an effort to encourage responsibility and give law enforcement an identification tool for resolving crimes.

 

Sean Duca, Vice President and Regional Chief Security Officer for Asia Pacific & Japan at Palo Alto Networks, said, “Considering the looming threats of an ever smarter and technologically advanced hacking landscape, the cybersecurity industry must be equally resourced to fight such AI-powered exploits. In the long run, the industry’s vision cannot be that a swarm of human threat hunters try to sporadically fix this with guesswork.” 

 

The need of the hour is to take intelligent action to neutralise these evolving threats. On the positive side, Autonomous Response is today significantly addressing threats without human intervention. However, as AI-powered attacks become a part of everyday life, businesses, governments and individuals impacted by such automated malware must increasingly rely on emerging technologies such as AI and ML to generate their own automated responses.

 

As AI continues to be developed, businesses will continue to face a number of challenges in navigating the AI cybersecurity landscape. In particular, there is considerable focus on finding the balance between machines, humans, and ethical considerations. 

“Establishing corporate policies is critical to doing business ethically, while improving cybersecurity. We need to establish effective governance and legal frameworks that enable greater trust in AI technologies being implemented around us to be safe, reliable, and contribute to a just and sustainable world. The delicate balance between AI and humans will therefore emerge as a key factor towards successful cybersecurity in which trust, transparency, and accountability supplement the benefits of machines,” Duca concluded.

Viber’s new storage management functionality allows users to clean the cache from their entire Viber app

Rakuten Viber, the global leader in private and secure messaging and voice-based communication, has announced its new storage management function, allowing Viber users to conveniently control their storage and free up space when needed. Users with devices that have limited storage will be able to use the Viber app more efficiently.

 

Since media messages have massively increased in size due to videos, AR Lenses, images, and other forms of interactive communication, it makes it challenging for older versions of mobile devices to handle the data. According to statcounter GlobalStats, approximately 40% of mobile and tablet Android users use version 11.0 or lower, leaving a significant amount of people affected by low storage.   

Viber’s new storage management functionality allows users to clean the cache from their entire Viber app or choose which chats need space cleared. As a mobile-only feature, storage management helps users see how much space Viber takes up on their device; how much total storage space they have; how much free storage space is left; and how much each chat uses.

 

Users can delete unnecessary files by selecting the files they wish to remove per chat. This will delete any media content from the chat, such as videos, images, or files, for just the user performing the action, while the media files for the other participants in the chat will be unaffected. If users have already downloaded the files received on the app, those files will remain safely stored on the user’s device. 

 

"We are excited to announce our new storage management feature that will allow the Viber app to be even more accessible worldwide. We want all our users to be able to send as many messages as they want to family and friends without needing to have the latest high-tech devices," said Ofir Eyal, CEO of Rakuten Viber. "We believe this feature will be a game changer for our users and will provide them with a great experience in freeing up space on their device."

 

For more information, please review Viber Storage Management support article: https://help.viber.com/en/article/viber-storage-management

 

For iOS, the feature will be available starting version 19.3.0, and for Android, it will be available from 19.4.