How to live a #SmartLife at #SmartUnbox event

Smart held another big event for media as it introduced some new and innovative digital services at the very first Smart Unbox event held at Shangri-la at The Fort on July 13.

Everyone get excited with their new Smart android phone as guests downloaded Smartlife app to their brand new phone with a free load of php130. With the SmartLife app, you can quickly discover exciting perks and enjoy free digital content right at your fingertips. This is one way to upgrade your digital lifestyle.

The Smartphone Prepaid Kit is only P1,288, making it easier for Filipinos to connect to mobile Internet and get accustomed to using online apps and services.

“Smart has built a legacy of bringing mobile innovations into the life of all Filipinos, and with the digital wave upon us, we have come up with innovative products and services to bring the real-life benefits of connectivity to as many Filipinos as possible,” said PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan.

PLDT/Smart Chairman, President and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan talks about the newest line-up of digital services at the first Smart Unbox event.

“Our multi-pronged efforts range from bringing the smartphone to the hands of more digital newbies, to providing the most awesome content for young digital natives, to making sure that everyone will enjoy the best data experience. Our goal is to make sure no one gets left behind by this digital shift,” said Smart Wireless Consumer Operations Head Katrina Luna-Abelarde, who led the aptly titled Smart Unbox presentation at Shangri-la at the Fort.

For those with multiple gadgets, sharing connections is also now lot easier with Smart Bro Pocket WiFi, available at only P888.

#SmartUnbox3
Get Rewards by downloading the SmartLife App on Android and iOS
Because speed and size matter in the online world, Smart also announced its Super Speed LTE SIMs as well as Giga Surf 50, its biggest data offer with 1GB data for surfing and apps, plus free 300MB for video streaming on YouTube and iflix, valid for three days at only P50. As an innovative feature, this 1GB data can be shared with other prepaid subscribers through the Smart’s Pasadata service.#SmartUnbox4

Putting customers first

Keeping customers at the center of everything it does, Smart has teamed up with Twitter to further enhance its customer experience via @SMARTCares with live feedback and a faster response system. Smart is the first brand in the Philippines to use Twitter as its main Customer Service touchpoint for customer care needs and account inquiries in real-time.

To help subscribers maximize their data experience, Smart is powering Marty the Smarty, everyone’s go-to guy for all kinds of questions and concerns about mobile data and the Internet, accessible via his website www.martythesmarty.com and official account on Twitter @martysmarty.

Smart also further enhanced its My Smart mobile app so prepaid and postpaid subscribers can manage their accounts 24/7 – anytime and anywhere. Downloadable on Google Play Store and iTunes, this simple and convenient app also allows subscribers to register and check the status of promos, load up their account and even redeem perks.

Creating rich digital and real-life experiences

To create rich experiences for subscribers, Smart unveiled its “Own It” campaign, a platform that encourages everyone, especially the youth, to share their passions to the world, giving them a voice larger than themselves.

Under this campaign, Smart has teamed up with YouTube for Smart Launchpad, a program to help budding content creators upload their own work and broadcast it to the world via Upload Stations all over the country. Smart will be tapping industry experts for workshops that will lead to a selection of the most deserving content creators to fly to LA for a once-in-a-lifetime experience of collaborating with the biggest YouTube Stars.#SmartUnbox1

Along with MCA Music, Smart also kicks off Smart Music Live! on July 14 in a free-for-subscribers concert featuring Ely Buendia, Up Dharma Down and Nathan Sykes at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Smart Music Live will also feature perks and meet and greet events for upcoming concerts of hit artists like Selena Gomez’s on July 31; In the Mix featuring Third Eye Blind, Panic! At the Disco, James Bay, Elle King and Twin Pines on August18; and Shawn Mendes’ in October.

Rounding off Smart’s major announcements is the Smart Life app, a breakthrough app featuring daily exclusive digital perks, videos, music, and games for mobile users.#SmartUnbox2

Currently on its initial phase, the app will roll out exciting new functionalities as well as host top-rated content from D5 Studio, feature sports coverage such as FIBA and the upcoming Olympics, and other compelling digital content created for and by users for even more delightful experiences.

Most extensive and data-capable network

PLDT/Smart Chairman, President and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan at the Smart Unbox event to launch Smart's newest line-up of digital services to empower Filipinos in their daily lives.



“At the center of all these new products and services is our effort to transform our networks into the country’s most extensive and data capable infrastructure, so we are able to deliver faster, more reliable and more affordable Internet services across the country,” Pangilinan added.

La Maison Cointreau presents the winning cocktail at Belle and Dragon

Cointreau, the French orange spirit brand established in France (Loire Valley) over 165 years ago, recently presented the Philippine edition cocktail competition of La Maison Cointreau.

Winning cocktail: Gossip by Cedric Cello

An exclusive, by-invitation only competition, La Maison Cointreau sought out the best innovative talents in Manila’s hot cocktail scene and together in one night were tasked with the featured Cointreau challenge “The Muse’ –- to create a serve based on an iconic French muse that inspires the entrants – along with other brand challenges. This year’s La Maison Cointreau is also a full portfolio competition bringing to fore, the family of brands together under the La Maison Cointreau roof.

These are Cointreau, Remy Martin cognac, Mount Gay rum, Bruichladdich single malt whisky and The Botanist gin with focus on the unique aspects of each brand to bring new and challenging tasks for the bartenders hoping to claim the title.

-  Sean Carlo De Vera of Mandalay Whisky and Cigars

The evening was electric as final judging commenced with the very popular Belle and Dragon on Carlos Palanca street, Legaspi Village serving as the perfect venue. Part of the excitement were the identities of the judges being kept secret, only to be revealed right after the competition scores were tallied. This means that the contestants must serve their original cocktails with every guest treated like a judge.

-   Joey Pineda, Cheryl Tiu and Lee Watson

Norman Bagao of Long Bar at Raffles

The challenge for each of the finalists would be to serve their original Cointreau based cocktails with outstanding taste & flavor as a paramount criteria and with technique, presentation and consistency as the clincher for a winning cocktail. “It is a real world competition whereby each of the seven bartender finalists prepped over 100 cocktails for the guests to sample and only one hour to serve their respective concoctions. Each bartender will decorate their station as if it’s their own mini bar.  It’s a high volume bar environment which tests their speed, and their ability to engage the crowd,” enthused competition master Lee Watson.

LuigiTabuena,  Veronica Callanta, Lee Watson, Deanna Rubiano

Inspired by Cointreau Privé in Paris, La Maison Cointreau was first launched internationally in New York City, with the aim to introduce Cointreau as the avant-garde & Parisian style spirit that enables mixologists to explore limitless cocktail variations using Cointreau, the heart of cocktails.

Jessica Lee Nieva, Michael Aviles and Christina Misko

The winning cocktail for this year’s La Maison Cointreau is Gossip by Cedric Cello of Smith Butcher and Grill Room with his inspiration…his Muse: Marion Cotillard. The evening’s judges were Cheryl Tiu, editor at large of Lifestyle Asia; Chef Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara of Mesclun, Paulene Chocolats Suisses, Chuck's Deli, and the well-known Japanese whisky bar, Lit and Mr. KC Queyquep representing Remy-Cointreau.

Misay Mata, Cheryl Tiu and Chef Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara

The Grand Winner of La Maison Cointreau cocktail competition will be awarded a cash prize of PHP 50,000, including a trip to Phuket, Thailand to represent the Philippines and compete in the regional finals of La Maison Cointreau.

The Winning Cocktail:

Gossip by Cedric Cello
Muse: Marion Catillard

The Mix:
Cointreau 30ml; Greygoose L’ Orange 30ml; Basil leaves-3sprigs;
Green mango-30ml; Watermelon-100gms; Giffard watermelon syrup-20ml;
A dash of Angustura bitters; serve in dbl rock glass
Garnish: basil green mango and watermelon
The Procedure:
Muddle 1 slice of fresh watermelon in a dbl rockglass. Add in the mix and shake vigorously, then add some ice.  Garnish with basil, green mango and watermelon

Starbucks celebrates 3rd anniversary with Manila and Cebu new cards!

In celebration of its 3rd year, Starbucks releases three new cards and tumblers designs inspired by each city’s journey from past to present.

The new Philippine edition items evoke a sense of pride about the rich history of the city.

Inspired by “Summer Night in Manila”, the card design focuses on the popular jeepney travelling the busy city at night. (*Available in Metro Manila stores only starting August 8.)

Manila Starbucks Card and Tumbler

Cebu Starbucks Card

Cebu Starbucks Card and Tumbler

Cebu Starbucks Card
The card and tumbler highlights the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and Mactan-Mandaue Bridge as if viewed from the hilltops of Cebu that are decked with the Sinulog flower.Cebu-Starbucks-Card-and-Tumbler

(*Available in Cebu stores only starting August 8. Available for an initial consumable load amount of ₱300.)

In addition, Starbucks is also releasing the SPECIAL EDITION SIREN STARBUCKS CARD
The Siren is at the heart of Starbucks as we evolve without ever losing sight of our heritage. The card will be available in all stores starting August 8 for an initial consumable load amount of ₱300.Special-Edition-Siren-Starbucks-Card_2

Purchase limit of two (2) activated cards are allowed per customer per day.

As an added treat Starbucks customers who reload their My Starbucks Rewards can earn 3 complimentary stars!

1. From July 26 to August 1, customers who reload their My Starbucks Rewards (MSR) account through www.starbucks.ph/card with at least ₱1,000 will earn three (3) complimentary Beverage Stars.
2. The complimentary beverage stars will be automatically credited to their My Starbucks Rewards account after the successful reload transaction.starbucks reload online.

3. Interested customers who do not have an MSR account may register through starbucks.ph/card anytime during the promo period to avail of the promo.
4. Maximum value of ₱10,000 may be stored on any Starbucks Card or account at any given time.
5. Online reloading may be done using a Visa or MasterCard Credit or Debit Card.
6. Visit www.starbucks.ph for details.
7. This promotion applies to both new and existing Starbucks Cards.
8. This promotion is only valid for all Starbucks Cards issued in the Philippines.

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit # 5956, Series of 2016.

Delight in the sweetness of Fresh Mango and Strawberry fruit Jelly Yogurt only at Starbucks!

                             

Everyone knows that yogurt contains probiotics, calcium and protein, which have been correlated with better gastrointestinal health. Mix that with your favorite fruits and jelly and you are good to go! Its a fun healthy way to enjoy your yogurt!

Starting July 26, get that much needed zesty boost with these new beverages boasting a delicious combination of chilled yogurt and fruity swirl blended with ice.

Mango Fruit Jelly Yogurt and Strawberry Fruit Jelly Yogurt. 

“The all new Mango Fruit Jelly Yogurt and Strawberry Fruit Jelly Yogurt Frappuccino Blended Beverages are a delightful combination of fruity taste in a sweet jelly, layered with the smooth texture of yogurt. Reminiscent of a creamy parfait, these Frappuccino Blended Beverages are inspired by our customers’ love of sweet fruit, making them the ideal beverage to lighten up one’s day,” said Keith Cole, head for marketing at Starbucks Philippines.

“Starbucks continues to innovate with new flavor and texture combinations to meet our customers’ expectations for the Frappuccino Blended Beverages,” said Cole. 

Delight in the sweetness of fresh mango or strawberry perfectly balanced by a hint of tartness from the yogurt for a mouth-watering beverage. To energize your day, the Mango Fruit Jelly Yogurt Frappuccino perfectly blends honey-citrus sweet mango sauce with yogurt, topped with a layer of mango fruit jelly with real mango bits. Meanwhile, the equally refreshing and irresistible Strawberry Fruit Jelly Yogurt Frappuccino features a visual treat with the yogurt blended with strawberry sauce puree topped with strawberry jelly with strawberry bits.

Mango Fruit Jelly Yogurt

Strawberry Fruit Jelly Yogurt. 

For a total gastronomic experience, pair these new  beverages with Starbucks featured food item, Triple Chocolate Truffle Cake – a moist buttery white chocolate sponge cake with generous layers of milk and truffle finished with dark chocolate ganache and white chocolate shavings.

Triple Chocolate Truffle Cake

Maple Pecan Danish

You can also go for light but filling new core food items like the Maple Pecan Danish, a light and flaky Danish pastry with maple filling and topped with chopped pecans, perfect for a quick breakfast;

Chicken Cannelloni

Chicken Cannelloni, an al dente pasta filled with chicken flakes and topped with creamy tomato sauce, you can have for your lunch.

Pan Au Chocolat

Pan Au Chocolat, which features two chocolate batons wrapped in 100% French butter croissant dough and finished with chocolate drizzle that will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Philam Life partners with World Vision for Child Sponsorship

International humanitarian organization, World Vision, has been making a profound impact on the lives of children in need. Through the help of sponsors and donors, the organization continues to improve the lives of impoverished children and their communities by giving them access to opportunities for a full and better life.

Philam Life, one of the country’s leading life insurance companies, shares the same sentiment and have since partnered with World Vision to provide sponsors the gift of leaving a legacy by allowing them to help their sponsored child even after the sponsor’s lifetime.

“Here at Philam Life, we’re not just selling insurance, we’re fulfilling our mission of bringing a Philam Life policy to every Filipino family. We are actively taking steps to enrich their lives and secure their future,” explained Philam Life's director of agencies for Corporate Solutions Cary Casipit.

(From left) Philam Life’s agency manager Nelia Laudico and director of agencies for Corporate Solutions Cary Casipit with World Vision’s Executive Director Josaiasdela Cruz and Resource Development director Jun Godornes during the MOA signing




He added, "I was actually excited when I first heard of this partnership. I, myself, am a child sponsor of four kids in World Vision.  Now I am assured that my sponsorship for them will continue even after my lifetime.” 

With World Vision as the beneficiary of this program, sponsor parents are guaranteed that the children they sponsor will be taken cared of and have access to food, shelter, healthcare, education, and safety.

“For almost 60 years, World Vision has been engaging sponsors who pay it forward by sharing their blessings to the country’s most vulnerable children. This endeavor will help transform the lives of children for generations to come,” said World Vision Executive Director Josaias dela Cruz.

Sponsors can subscribe to the life insurance plan through a minimal annual feel. The coverage amount ranges from P50,000 to P500,000, and funds will be used for World Vision’s programs for children and their families.

“This is just the start of a beautiful partnership. We are happy to work with World Vision in investing in the future of our children, and staying true to a commitment to fight poverty through sustainable development,” said Philam Life agency manager Nelia Laudico.

Essilor Vision Foundation supports Eye Fair for Special Olympic athletes

Excitement and laughter filled the air as athletes with intellectual disabilities and their families visited booth after booth of games testing visual acuity, visual memory, depth perception, color vision and eye tracking at “Eye Can Play: A Healthy Eyeffair.” The event was sponsored by Essilor Vision Foundation, one of the philanthropic giving initiatives of Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company.

Held at SM Sucat Entertainment Hall, “Eye Can Play” specifically used an “edutainment” approach to help Special Olympics athletes, their caregivers and their families learn more about the importance of healthy vision through interactive and engaging games. After undergoing quick vision screenings with Essilor volunteers, excited participants played “Pop the Bubble”, “Twister”, “Name It Quick”, ‘Finding Nemo”, “Finding Dory”, “Catch the Marble” and “Eye Can See”.

Brina Maxino and Sashi Montaña, the founders of “Eye Can Play”, saw the need for Filipino athletes with intellectual disabilities to test their eyes as good vision can affect not only their sport scores but also their overall quality of life. The two teens, who are part of the Special Olympics Philippine team, also envisioned the event as a venue to encourage people with intellectual disabilities to excel in sports and games. They presented the project at the 2015 Social Impact Summit, held during the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, California that same year, where it earned a spot in the Top 5 out of 70 proposals.

“Essilor and Essilor Vision Foundation feel passionately that healthy vision is fundamental for every individual,” stated Essilor marketing manager Jinky Navo. “Our mission is to improve people’s lives by improving their sight, for everyone and everywhere. In line with this objective, we want to help people with intellectual disabilities to see the world better so that they can achieve more and aim higher, which is what some of the athletes have already done at the Special Olympics ” she added.

Special Olympics Philippines executive director Kaye Samson remarked, “We believe that youth leaders, through the examples of Brina and Sashi, can be powerful advocates in leading behavioural change in the society towards accepting and respecting our fellow Filipinos who have intellectual disabilities.” She added, “We also thank our friends from Essilor and Essilor Vision Foundation in supporting this event by setting up a booth and deploying a team of volunteers to check our athletes eyesight.”

Play to Learn at Hope Christian High School‘s Pre-School Program

We tend to think of pre-school education as nothing more than supervised play, but  pre-school education has lasting effects. According to research done by W. Steven Barnett, Ph.D. at the National Institute for Early Education Research Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in  2008: “Well-designed preschool education programs produce long-term improvements in school success, including higher achievement test scores, lower rates of grade repetition and special education, and higher educational attainment.” 

At Hope Christian High School’s Preschool, it’s more accurate to call it intelligent play.  Children learn cognitive skills and concepts through play activities.  Young children develop their big muscles and gross motor skills through indoor and outdoor play. Play experiences also allow children to learn cooperative play, sharing, taking turns, and to follow rules and instructions among others. Math and Science concepts are learned through manipulative materials, self-discovery and exploration of their environment.

Educational Field Trips are also part of the curriculum and expose the children to learning and discovery outside the classroom. For example, children get to experience life at a farm and see farm animals up close.  Preschool programs should be designed to develop all aspects of a child’s social and emotional development.

Hope Christian High School’s Pre-School puts a strong emphasis on Christian values and follows an international curriculum. They have seven learning centers that use both English and Chinese instruction. They keep the teacher-student ratio small to be able to attend to the needs of individual students. The school boasts of fully air-conditioned classrooms and facilities, an outdoor playground and an indoor playroom, a gymnasium, and a daycare program.

Apart from acquiring the basic skills in reading, writing and arithmetic, the school believes it is never too early to teach values of love and respect for one’s parents, respect for the feelings of others, and to develop healthy habits.

The foundation of a good education starts with play.

Visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Hope.Christian.High.School. For more details and information, please visit the website at http://www.hchs.edu.ph.


Hope Christian High School is located at 1242 Benavidez St., Sta. Cruz
Manila, you may contact at (+632) 310-8071 to 75.

Priva partners with the ChicDriven Women Empowerment Expo

Priva Assistant Product Manager Karole Santos, Chic Driven Co-Founder Issa Litton, blogger Denise Heredia, Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Phoemela Baranda at the Priva booth

It was an afternoon of fun and information as Priva partners with ChicDriven Women Empowerment Expo last July 16 and 17 and gathered a powerhouse cast of women, like Sharleen Cu-Unjieng of Mustela, Aisa Mijeno of Salt, and Go Negosyo Awardee Michelle Fontelera of ZenZest to share their best advice on to what makes women happy in different aspect of their lives. The event was hosted by Ms.Gelli Victor.

The modern-day woman does not settle for anything less than perfect. From her style, to her look, down to every single detail there is to notice about her, she likes to take things up a notch. When it comes to her personal care products, she expects the same level up. Her intimate care needs are no different. In fact, Priva is made precisely for the woman who wants more—and gets it! From the makers of pH Care, the Priva line is the advanced whitening feminine wash used for everyday care of the modern-day woman’s intimate area with added benefits that specifically address her needs.

The expo was exactly the venue that drew Priva women together: the ones who aspire for more and want to level up. With the “chic driven” woman in mind, the expo intended to “share, inspire, and empower women to truly have it all.” Since Priva‘s latest variant, Perfect Care 2-in-1, highlights that same unbridled and uncompromised need of women to enjoy perfect intimate care, it came in as the perfect partner for the ChicDriven Women Empowerment Expo.

Theta healer, makeup artist and life coach NingTadena; athlete, model and doctor Ian Banzon and fashion writer, stylist and Cosmopolitan Fashion Director Donna Pita at the Priva booth

The ChicDriven Women Empowerment Expo was packed with activities, booths, and workshops all intended to help women amplify the awesomeness in their Priva lives. Part of the exciting lineup of FREE seminars at the ChicDriven Women Empowerment Expo wasa special segment “How To Attract The (Perfect) Life and Love You Want” held last Sunday afternoon, July 17. A powerhouse cast of women, like Sharleen Cu-Unjieng of Mustela, Aisa Mijeno of Salt, and Go Negosyo Awardee Michelle Fontelera of ZenZest all shared their top tips for becoming your own boss. This was immediately followed by a detailed Priva how-to with Image Consultant, Theta Healer, and NLP Practitioner Ning Tadena, where she shared her expert insights for manifesting and attracting your dream life…and dream man. Model, triathlete, and doctor Ian Banzon and happily married celebrity fashion stylist Donna Cuna-Pita joined Tadena in running through the requisites for making your dream a reality.

The Priva booth at the expo was equally as exciting. Aside from being able to pick up your own stash of Priva goodies there, the booth also came with an interactive afternoon module that pushed women to step out from the shadows and into their own limelight through an interactive GIF activity. It was a testament to the fact that Priva supports overall women confidence and empowerment.

Priva is able to satisfy exactly what women want and need precisely because it also stops at nothing short of giving go-getters perfect intimate care. Tested by OB-Gynecologists to be safe and effective for everyday use, Priva is formulated with tried-and-tested ingredients that provide noticeable whitening and smoothening results in as early as 7 days. Plus, it has RevitaCoolTM, which provides a refreshing feeling with every wash.

From the ranks of the ultra-popular Priva  Skin Lightening and Cooling Intimate Wash with glutathione (pink) and Priva Skin Firming and Cooling Intimate Wash with collagen and KwaoKrua (blue), comes Priva's most advanced variant to date for the even more meticulous maven. The NEW! Priva Perfect Care 2-in-1 Intimate Wash(gold) is the first multi-benefit feminine wash specially formulated with glutathione to help lighten dark skin areas and collagen to improve the smoothness of the skin. It provides leveled-up confidence because of its multi-faceted approach of addressing these specific and sophisticated intimate care needs. It is definitely made for the “chic driven” woman.Now, women can truly “have it all.”

The NEW! Priva Perfect Care 2-in-1 Intimate Wash is available in 60mL (P69.00) and 150mL (P149.00), and is available in leading supermarkets and beauty stores nationwide.