GrabPet Returns to Delight Filipino Pet Parents: Bringing Joy to Furry Friends

Grab Philippines officially reintroduces its pet-friendly mobility service GrabPet, giving pet parents better access to safe, reliable and convenient transportation as they move about with their beloved furry, feathered, or even scaly companions.

 

GrabPet, as a specialized on-demand service, is designed to help passengers ferry their pets to various destinations, including veterinary clinics, groomers, pet-friendly cafes, and more with just a tap of a button. Initially available in select areas of Metro Manila, GrabPet-ready driver-partners are all set to onboard dogs, cats, turtles, hamsters, rabbits, and fish on rides.

 

To ensure top-notch transportation for GrabPet passengers, animal-loving driver-partners with spacious six-seater vehicles were purposefully tapped for the GrabPet fleet, even undergoing comprehensive training in handling pet-related bookings. All GrabPet rides also come with added insurance to ensure the well-being of the pets on board. 

 

“As a pet parent myself, I understand how challenging it can be for Filipinos to bring their animal companions to essential services and even leisure trips given the limited transportation options available. As an expression of our dedication to addressing the varying transportation needs of commuters, we have launched GrabPet. It is our firm belief that safe, reliable, and convenient mobility services should be accessible to everyone – even families with winged or four-legged friends,” shares Grab Philippines Chief Operating Officer Ronald Roda. 

 

Working Together for Above-Par, Pet-Friendly Rides

In a bid to safeguard both the safety and convenience of passengers as well as to preserve the pristine condition of the driver-partners' vehicles, Grab Philippines has enforced a set of requirements for individuals utilizing the GrabPet service.

 

●      Pets should be accompanied by human passengers. 

●      Pet owners should also refrain from booking rides for pets with parasites and/or fleas

●      Pet owners can bring a maximum of two small and medium-sized pets or one large pet per ride, subject to the discretion of the GrabPet Driver-Partner. 

●      A maximum of four passengers can accompany the pet(s) during the ride.

●      Pets are also required to be in diapers and inside carriers. 

 

Roda adds, “We are committed to ensuring that owners and their pets are safely and conveniently transported to their intended destination while also preserving the integrity of the vehicle of our driver-partners. A driver-partner’s vehicle is their means of livelihood, hence by collaborating with us in maintaining high hygiene and safety standards during the GrabPet ride, pet parents help in making sure that our driver-partners can go about their day worry- and hassle-free.”

 

For more information and updates on GrabPet, visit this link. 

Elevate Your Wellness Journey at Watsons' Fit Fest: A Holistic Celebration of Health, Fitness, and Self-Care

Watsons, the leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer kicks off the very first Watsons Fit Fest, brought by the Watsons Club on October 13 at The Podium, Ortigas.

 

Watsons is taking an active step in encouraging everyone to have an active and healthy lifestyle through  the Watsons Fit Fest, which aims to Recharge, Reboost, and Renew your health and overall well-being, inside and out. This mindful approach will guide participants to rediscover their paths to holistic wellness.

Spin Bike Session 

Self-care and living well are the topmost priorities for the Watsons Fit Fest. It’s time to get physical and become healthier with revitalizing activities lined up, dubbed as Recharge Your Mind, Reboost Your Energy, and Renew Your Outlook.

Watsons Fit Fest is exclusively held for Watsons Club members. Aside from receiving exclusive discounts and deals in Watsons offline and online stores, being a Watsons Club member also grants you a fantastic experience to empower your health, wellness, and beauty aspirations.

                                                                   Dance Cardio by 808 Studio PH 

 

“Watsons has always been committed to a lifestyle that celebrates self-care, well-being and self-confidence. Brought to you by Watsons Club, the Watsons Fit Fest aims to help everyone discover their wellness goals or recalibrate for those who have been finding new ways to approach their journey. At Watsons, we’ll continue to celebrate health and beauty in all forms, and empower everyone to be the best version of themselves," shared Jared De Guzman, Customer Director at Watsons.

Jared de Guzman, Watsons Phiilippines Customer Director

 

 

At the Watsons Fit Fest, it’s time to discover your Watsons Health & Beauty Formula by taking part in various activities where you also have the chance to win exclusive vouchers and Watsons Club points.

 

The event aimed to integrate and promote the importance of beauty both inside and out, with the goal of further enhancing the wellness and health of the participants and helping them get back into great shape. The activities commenced with an exhilarating dance cardio routine led by 808 Studio PH, followed by a calming yoga session and a relaxing breathing exercise with Certified Calm.

There were also simultaneous physical activities such as Spin Bike (with Cyclehouse), Rope Flow (with Rope Flow), and Circuit Training (with Kinetix Club). And finally, to wind down after the activities, participants enjoyed a Skincare Refresher activity prepared by Watsons.

 

Guests Club Members were able to enjoy exclusive promos and freebies from Watsons and studio partners to continue discovering their Health and Beauty Formulas. They received free Watsons swag bags and earned more Watsons Club points. Participants also had the chance to win studio-partner vouchers from Kinetix Club, Rope Flow, 808 Studio PH, and Cyclehouse. 

 

Participating brands include Y.O.U, Garnier, Myra, Fortima, Nutrabliss by Watsons , Acne Aid, Difflam, Cleene Clio, Cherifer, Enervon, Conzace, Solmux, Poten-Cee Collagen, Vantelin, Aveeno , Listerine , Herbal Essences and Vitress.  

Watsons PH Customer Director Jared De Guzman (middle)  together with Watsons Executives and Officers during the Watsons Fit Fest held in Podium Hall 

 

Live Well and Get Rewarded with Watsons Club! Not yet a member? Register now and join the most exciting and rewarding membership club at https://www.watsons.com.ph/membership-registration. 

 

You may also visit the Watsons Online Store or any of the 1000+ Watsons stores nationwide or pick up your orders at your nearest Watsons store in 30 minutes or less via Click & Collect. Another option is to have your purchases delivered to you in 3 hours through Express Delivery*.

 

For more information, follow @watsonsph on Instagram, like @WatsonsPH on Facebook, and follow @watsonsphilippines on TikTok.

Here’s how you can inject more fun into your Halloween party with loved ones

The Halloween season is one of those occasions where kids, teens, and adults can get creative and have fun together. Whether it’s dressing up for a Halloween costume party or sharing candies you’ve gathered while Trick or Treating, there are a number of ways you can bring smiles to each other during this spooky occasion.

 

Here’s how you can inject more fun into your Halloween party with loved ones:

#1 Paint your spookiest and cutest looks

Level up your costumes with attention-grabbing face painting, which you can do at home with your family. You can go the creepy route and help turn ate or kuya into a zombie or skeleton, while bunso can be a cute kitten. You can also let the kids paint on your face to let their creativity shine. Don’t forget to take a family photo to preserve the fun Halloween memory!

 

#2 Bond over horror movies & ghost stories

Bring an extra spooky vibe to your Halloween parties with a movie marathon of horror movies and sharing ghost stories with loved ones. You can also put on family-friendly Halloween movies for the kiddos. Of course, don’t forget to prepare treats you can enjoy, like soft Lush candies.

 

#3 Get your dose of Trick or Treat sweets

Complete your Halloween with Trick or Treat activities. Let your kids experience Trick or Treating within your neighborhood or participate in fun Halloween activities at a nearby mall. You can also bring packs of Lush Strawberry Milk and Chocolate to bring smiles to other kids and adults alike at these events.

Make your Halloween gathering with family and friends even more fun by sharing a pack of Lush candies. Their deliciously sweet Chocolate and Strawberry Milk flavors will bring smiles to anyone you share them with. These are also great treats to have for your Trick or Treat needs. Enjoy!

 

Lush is available at your nearest supermarket and sari-sari store, as well as URC’s official stores in leading E-commerce platforms. You can also order now and have it delivered to your doorstep via Shopee for only Php38.00 per pack of 50.

 

 

Crafting Masterpiece-Worthy Stories: Atom Araullo's Journey with the Xiaomi 13T

There's an age-old saying that a photo can tell a thousand stories. Multi-awarded journalist Atom Araullo doesn’t just document moments around him, he gets deep into it by immersing and familiarizing himself with his surroundings and the people living in it.

 

Since starting his career as a reporter in 2004, Atom caught the attention of Filipino viewers with his compelling reportage and hard-hitting interviews. He also has an acting background, which has helped fuel his passion for storytelling.

 

“I spend a lot of time in the field to see what’s happening, get to know the people that I cover, and deepen my understanding about their experiences. I love sharing what I’ve learned through the stories and images that I create,” Atom says.

Multi-awarded journalist Atom Araullo always immerses himself in his experiences to understand the experiences of everyday people.

 

Atom adds that he always has his Xiaomi 13T with him. Being a journalist, it’s almost ingrained in him to have a reliable device ready to record important details and to contact sources when he needs to. On his days off, Atom finds the Xiaomi 13T a great companion to record his own experiences by snapping gorgeous photos and videos with its 50MP rear camera that can shoot for up to 2160p resolution. Likewise, its 20MP front camera can capture high-definition photos and 1080p resolution videos.

 

Powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 8200 Ultra chipset and 5000mAh battery, the Xiaomi 13T’s pro-level camera features allow users like Atom to capture masterpieces in real time. Through the lenses of his Xiaomi 13T, he’s able to illustrate the bonds that connect  people with each other and the places they call home.

 

“In today’s age of social media and rapid content creation, anyone can be a storyteller. A single photo can convey so many emotions, showcase the beauty and dignity in our daily lives, and even bring about change,” Atom says.

Atom wants to tell so many stories, and the Xiaomi 13T enables him to captures masterpieces in sight 

“There are so many stories waiting to be told. The Xiaomi 13T enables me to capture masterpieces in sight.”

Like Atom, you can also take your photography and videography to the next level with the Xiaomi 13T series.  Bring your masterpiece to life: Shop for the Xiaomi 13T starting at Php 26,999 and Xiaomi 13T Pro starting at P37,999 via Xiaomi’s online stores on Lazada, Shopee, and Tiktok Store and authorized Xiaomi stores.

 

For more information, visit Xiaomi's official Facebook page and Xiaomi’s official website

Kojie.san in Indonesia: A Decade of Revolutionizing Beauty

Kojie.san, one of the top beauty brands in the Philippines, is thrilled to mark a monumental milestone–more than a decade of empowering women in Indonesia to take ownership of their choices and their definitions of beauty, at a time when different voices in society tend to dictate and impose what is beautiful.

 

A brand synonymous with confidence, boldness, and the celebration of diversity, Kojie.san, along with other brands under BEVI (Beauty Elements Ventures Inc.), has become one of the leading names in the skincare industry in Indonesia, now readily available in thousands of leading health and beauty stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores, attaining remarkable year-over-year growth.

Through innovative and effective products that enable its users to feel good in their skin, Kojie.san made its way to Indonesian hearts since its arrival in 2012–when the brand officially partnered with PT UICCP Indonesia, BEVI Philippines' local distributor in the country.

 

As BEVI celebrates its more than ten years in the Indonesian market, the company is not just paying tribute to the past, but reshaping the future of revolutionary beauty.

 

Coinciding with the successful launch of new products in Manila, the celebration of Kojie.san’s first decade in Indonesia took place on October 2, 2023, at Bengkel Space, one of the renowned event spots in downtown Jakarta's Central Business District.

 

Jun Matos, BEVI Corporate Managing Director, expressed his thoughts on the occasion in his opening remarks, "Bringing Kojie.san to the shores of Indonesia seemed impossible to me, given the limited knowledge about its culture and business environment, and its consumers. All we have is confidence that our product, Kojie.san, will work its very best for consumers, and it will be widely-accepted.”

 

“Tonight proves our commitment to our mission: to continue to build and innovate phenomenal brands that will have an impact on our business and most especially, on consumers," he adds.

(L-R) Jazmine Estorninos, BEVI Beauty Elements Ventures Inc. Global Sales Officer; William Djuhadi - PT UICCP Indonesia HR & GA Manager; Fanny Chandra, PT UICCP Indonesia Brand Executive; Ms Jazz Burila, BEVI Beauty Elements Ventures Inc President & CEO; Andreas Maliwa, PT UICCP Indonesia President Director; Limneo Matos Jr., BEVI Beauty Elements Ventures Inc. Corporate Managing Director and Redge Burila, Beauty Elements Ventures Manufacturing Inc. President

 

As part of this remarkable milestone, BEVI also launched a range of new products in the Indonesian beauty market: Kojie.san Skin Lightening Super Serum, Kojie.san Tinted Sunscreen SPF50+ PA+++ and Kojie.san Suncare line: Kojie-San SunProtect SPF50+ PA+++, Defensil Pimple Defense products, Danarra Aromatic Massage Oils, and Beauty Prime Skincare Concentrates, a promising skincare brand that will soon be introduced in the Philippines.

 

Jazz Burila, BEVI President and CEO, promises that the company will remain a driving force in empowering women to take ownership of their beauty, saying, "Moving forward, we are poised to commence the next decade-long journey with definite determination; we are dedicated to pushing the limits in crafting products that will establish a profound connection with the Indonesian market."

 

During the event, BEVI also treated its guests with exciting raffles, games and prizes, and performances from Yovie & Nuno, a much-loved Indonesian brand.

 

As Kojie.san marks its more than a decade in Indonesia, it continues to inspire and empower, by making more beauty choices accessible, thereby enabling individuals to define their own standards of beauty.

 

With a steadfast commitment to push for beauty that commands, Kojie.san looks ahead to an even brighter future, where beauty is timeless, and knows no boundaries.

ASUS solidifies commitment to sustaining an incredible future

 

ASUS culminates its partnership with the nonprofit organization CORA after a successful three-phased project that involved ASUS employees, partners, dealers, and the public in its thrust toward sustainability and reducing plastic waste.

 

ASUS solidifies its commitment toward an incredible, sustainable future and its thrust toward a circular economy and collected a landmark 1.67 tons of plastic and other recyclable wastes through a series of activations in partnership with nonprofit organization Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA). The ASUS x CORA sustainability campaign spanned three phases, each focusing on and involving various stakeholders for a holistic approach toward promoting eco-friendly products, reducing waste, intensifying awareness about circular economy and climate action, and educating people on how to lead an eco-conscious lifestyle.

“At ASUS, we believe that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. As we continue innovating our products, we strive to be more sustainable. We are immensely thankful for everyone, including our partner CORA, the ASUS Philippines employees, our partners, dealers, and all the Filipinos who helped us in this meaningful mission to protect and save our environment through recycling plastic and other everyday waste, giving them a second life, and promoting a sustainable and incredible future for the people and the planet,” ASUS Philippines Country Manager George Su said.

In 2007, ASUS launched its first sustainable notebook, the ASUS Bamboo Series. It received numerous environmental certifications and accolades for its revolutionary engineering and design. Early this year, ASUS launched the most sustainable Zenbook ever, the Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304), underscoring the company’s 2025 Sustainability Goals and its commitment to environmental stewardship. Taking a significant step toward circular product design, the Zenbook S 13 OLED is an EPEAT Gold registered product with a positive environmental impact across the entire product lifecycle, from material use and manufacturing to assembly, use, and end-of-life. 

Circular economy starts with us

ASUS held a knowledge-sharing activity with its employees dubbed ASUStainable Solution: Circular Economy Starts with Us. CORA and its Circular Center Women Champions (CCWC) presented the country’s current plastic situation. They educated ASUS employees on how they can contribute to a circular economy by recycling typical household wastes, such as plastic bottles. Aside from instilling personal change, the workshop encouraged employees to disseminate what they learned to their family and friends. After the seminar, a two-month recycling activity among ASUS employees was held, where they collected plastic bottles, soft plastics, sibak, colored paper, and cartons. These office and home wastes were collected through CORA’s Eco-Ikot Center pop-up, where dedicated trash bins were set up in the ASUS office. ASUS employees generated 840.6 kg. total waste. The waste collected was then brought to CORA’s partner Sentinel Upcycling Technologies to transform them into high-quality products such as benches, school chairs, and mobile trash bins.

Under the innovation and value creation pillar of the ASUS 2025 Sustainability Goals, ASUS also donated two ASUS Zenbook laptops to CORA to aid them in their administrative tasks. This includes recording data from their Eco-Ikot Center in Parañaque City and managing other programs and campaigns with public and private organizations.

The CORA Eco-Ikot Center is an inclusive and holistic recycling system that allows communities to exchange recyclables for points, which can be redeemed for various incentives. The first of its kind in the Philippines and the world, CORA’s Eco-Ikot Center provides a sustainable solution to the plastic pollution crisis.

ASUS x CORA Mall Caravan

For the second phase, ASUS installed CORA Eco-Ikot Center pop-ups in three ASUS Exclusive Stores, making it accessible for Filipinos to recycle and reduce plastic waste. Filipinos got to take home ASUS and CORA merchandise in exchange for clean and dry plastic bottles. The CCWCs educated them and other mallgoers what is circular economy and the benefits of recycling common plastic waste.

Mallgoers were also able to experience the Zenbook S 13 OLED and learned the importance of supporting and using eco-friendly products, further cementing ASUS’ sustainability thrust.

The ASUS x CORA Mall Caravan collected over 1,100 plastic bottles, equivalent to 28.5 kg. It was held at SM Cyberzone in Megamall, North EDSA, and Mall of Asia.

Celebrating International Coastal Cleanup Day

 

For the final leg, ASUS celebrated 2023 International Coastal Cleanup Day by combing the shore of Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) of trash and debris led by Zenbook S 13 OLED Ambassador and CORA Founder Antoinette Taus, together with volunteers from ASUS employees, media, influencers, partners, and dealers. This joint effort of 75 volunteers collected 646.2 kg. of plastic waste, Styrofoam, rubber materials, and stuffed toys. The trash accumulated was turned over to the Parañaque City Local Government Unit for proper waste disposal.

The data collected during the event will help CORA and government agencies address the dire waste problem in Manila Bay. The LPPWP is part of the Manila Bay coast and was reported to carry an estimated 9.46 billion pieces of plastic waste.

United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and CORA Founder Antoinette Taus also shared, “We need to reduce our waste overall and make sure that the waste we do produce ends up in the right places, to the circular economy.”

The collective efforts of ASUS Global and its local markets contributed to the significant strides in sustainability focus areas. In the recently announced ASUS 2022 Sustainability Report, the global technology leader detailed that it exceeded ENERGY STAR standards by 34%. Its eco-friendly products also accounted for 87% of total product revenue. These and more led ASUS to bag multiple 2023 Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards and receive international recognition. ASUS will continue to create local and global initiatives toward being a net-zero enterprise in 2050.

HATASU ebike continues to grow its influence in the local market In time for its first year anniversary

HATASU ebike is a mobility solution brand that aims to provide safe, value-for-money, and

sustainable products that meet the daily riding needs of Filipinos. With its current line-up of

two-wheeler and three-wheeler products, HATASU ebike aims to be the forerunner towards the move to a sustainable future and transform the riding lifestyle of every Filipino.

Getting the full HATASU experience

The brand recently hosted its first-ever HATASU experience last October 12, 2023 at Puerto Real, Intramuros Manila where they provided the media partners an opportunity to try their current ebike line-up. They also teased an upcoming new model this November as well as their future roadmap to enter the eMotorcycle category by next year.

 

“We are truly honoured to have received such warm welcome from our media partners and of

course from our Hatasukis (HATASU ebike owners and fans) who gave their trust and support for us to achieve the milestones we have despite being a young brand. We are excited to see HATASU ebike grow in the local market and we cannot wait to expand our line-up of products to provide the best riding experience for all Filipinos,” says Austine Huang, Chief Marketing Officer.

HATASU ebike achieves nationwide reach in less than a year!

 

Having only been in the local market for only almost a year, the brand has already achieved

nationwide coverage through strong partnership with some of the biggest automotive and

technology dealerships including but not limited to: Cellboy, Cell City, EMCOR, Guanzon, Home Along, K-Servico, and more. 

 

To date, HATASU ebike is now available in over 500+ Authorized Dealer Stores and has established 9 Concept Stores in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. You can check out the complete list of stores that carry HATASU ebike in this link.

On top of this, the brand is working with key financial providers such as Aeon Credit Service and Home Credit to provide financial support to its customers. HATASU is also solidifying its After Sales effort by providing home service repairs and collaborating with its dealers.

PLDT Advocates Responsible Use of Smart Home Tech and AI for Families: Empowering Safer, Smarter Living

Now more than ever, digital technology is changing the world at a faster pace, with that change happening right at our doorstep with the growing availability of Smart Home solutions and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Smart Home solutions and AI offer a variety of benefits to consumers, including convenience, comfort, productivity, and security. These breakthroughs are seen to further diversify and continuously impact people’s lives standard of living.

As access to Smart Home technology and AI applications increasingly becomes universal, consumer education on responsible use gains greater importance. Consumers need to understand these technologies, particularly digital solutions that connect into their homes and interact with their families and loved ones.

Recognizing its role in enabling families to foster meaningful connections at home and in line with its commitment to do business responsibly, PLDT held a session called “Family Perspectives on Smart Home and Artificial Intelligence” at this year’s Philippine Digital Convention at the Manila Marriott Hotel.

 

Together with PLDT Home ambassadors Edric and Joy Mendoza, industry partners Microsoft Philippines’ PR and Communications Head Josh Aquino and eufy and Anker’s Assistant Brand Manager Marinel Emeres Pascual, as well as technology advocate Ramon Isberto, PLDT Home’s Evert Miranda led conversations about the impact of Smart Home technology and AI to family life, parenting, and home security. The brand also talked about their 24/7 cyber security operations and highlighted the importance of responsible use of these technologies.

 

“As we enable access to these evolving digital solutions, our thrust at PLDT is to ensure that each connecting customer and end-user gets to fully maximize the benefits of technology, while being safe and protected from potential threats and harms online,” said Angel Redoble, First Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at PLDT.

This session aligns with the PLDT Group’s agenda for Sustainability, particularly supporting focus areas on digital inclusion, cyber security, customer welfare, and child protection.

 

“Sustainability for PLDT is not just about managing our environmental impact and taking action on climate, it is also about staying true to our purpose of delivering meaningful connections to our customers, helping narrow the digital divide among Filipinos, and doing business responsibly,” said Melissa Vergel de Dios, First Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Head of Investor Relations at PLDT.

 

“A digital and sustainable future is one that makes use of technology to enhance our way of living, fosters responsible use of our shared natural and digital resources, and thrives on collaboration among generations and across sectors,” she added.

 

The PLDT Group continues to enable the transformation of the Philippines into a Smart Nation, by building smart cities and starting with one smart home at a time.