Grab launches its latest transportation service Advance Booking

Hitting the road whether for leisure travel across the Philippines or sealing business deals overseas can be a daunting endeavor. The pre-travel stress between the epic suitcase shuffle and the documents paranoia can be too much to handle – and this is even without considering the challenge of getting to the airport on time or arranging transportation.

 

Understanding this dilemma, Grab – the partner of every Filipino for safe, convenient, and reliable mobility – launches its latest transportation service Advance Booking. Grab Advance Booking guarantees on-time rides to the airport via the GrabAirport fleet, ticking off yet another item on the travelers’ checklist. 

 

Grab Philippines Head of Mobility EJ Dela Vega shares, “Having served the Philippines for over a decade, we at Grab have deepened our understanding of the distinct needs of our Filipino passengers. One such need that stands out is their requirement for reliable airport transportation. Recognizing this, we are enhancing the experience of airport rides on Grab with the launch of Advance Booking. Our new Grab Advance Booking product goes beyond offering mere airport transfers – it provides travelers the peace of mind they deserve. This new service has been engineered to have guaranteed on-time rides every time, enabling every Filipino traveler to leave their homes with the confidence they'll have a ride to make their flight on time.”

 

Grab Advance Booking: Guaranteed On-Time Rides, Every Time

The worries about catching a flight in the wee hours of the morning or during the peak of the metro bustle are a thing of the past with Grab Advance Booking. This new Grab mobility service touts guaranteed rides every time.

 

●      Plan as early as 7 Days ahead:  With Grab's Advance Booking feature, passengers can effortlessly plan their journeys well in advance. The reservation window is flexible, allowing bookings to be made as early as seven days or as late as two hours before the scheduled ride. 

●      Stay Stress-free with On-Time Pick-up Assurance: The Grab Advance Booking driver-partners are guaranteed to be on time. In instances of service disruption, the Grab platform swiftly and seamlessly reassigns the ride to an alternative driver-partner, ensuring a successful completion of the trip for the passenger. To ensure fairness, a Php-100 courtesy credit will be offered to passengers if the driver arrives late for a pre-scheduled ride. 

●      No need to panic with extended wait time: Further enhancing passenger convenience, a 15-minute grace period is implemented for Advance Booking rides. This allows drivers to accommodate minor delays, while passengers encountering unforeseen circumstances have additional time to reach the pick-up location. 

Booking in a Breeze

Accessing Grab Advance Booking is a walk in the park. Passengers can select  “Advance Booking” under the Grab transport page. They can then enter the date and time of their ride, along with their pick-up location and the specific airport terminal for drop-off.

Advance Booking passengers will also be receiving regular updates and reminders about the status of their ride leading to the scheduled pick-up time. 45 minutes prior to the scheduled trip, passengers can already chat and check in with their assigned driver in-app. 

As safety and convenience remain paramount for Grab, Advance Booking rides can only accommodate a maximum of three passengers with three pieces of luggage.

Safeguarding our Driver-Partners

Grab has also implemented protective measures to safeguard the income of the dedicated fleet for Advance Booking. These measures are designed to mitigate the impact of last-minute cancellations by passengers, specifically those made less than an hour before the scheduled pick-up time. During such cancellations, the passenger will be charged the full fare of the ride. The same policy applies when a passenger is unreachable or hasn't arrived 15 minutes past the scheduled time.

However, there will be no charge for any passenger cancellation done at least one hour before the scheduled pick-up time, 

A worry-free airport transfer

The Grab Advance Booking eases the overall experience of leisure and business travelers going to the airport, allowing them to relax as they begin their trip. This new service from Grab is currently exclusive to trips going to Metro Manila airports via its GrabAirport fleet, which was launched last year in conjunction with the MIAA. Its availability in cities and regions outside of the National Capital Region is expected to transpire in the second half of 2024. 

For more information on Grab Advance Booking, passengers may visit the Grab Help Center.

Sun Life Philippines has been recognized at the prestigious Gold Quill Awards for its excellence in communication

Sun Life Philippines, the longest-standing and #1 life insurer in the country, has been recognized at the prestigious Gold Quill Awards for its excellence in communication. 

 

The company won an Award of Excellence for its Brand Health Journey and an Award of Merit for its Freedom to Live Brighter campaign. It also received the Team of the Year Special Award for its Client Experience & Marketing Departments.

 

Sun Life’s Brand Strategy and Management Head Don Aaron Peji and Digital Marketing and Advertising Head Ila Muriel Lucmayon received the awards. 

Sun Life's Don Peji and Ila Lucmayon at the Gold Quill Awards held in Chicago, USA

 

Sun Life as the Top-of-Mind Life Insurance Brand in the Philippines

Sun Life aimed to retain its position as a trusted brand globally, and this was sustained in the Philippines by consistently topping the brand awareness, familiarity, and consideration scores against competitors. The company cemented its position in 2023 as a top-of-mind brand by mounting a series of brand campaigns and activations to encourage more Filipinos to secure their health and wealth. Both campaigns were executed using digital and traditional advertising and communications, ensuring a wider reach and a more impactful outcome.

 

Freedom to Live Brighter: A Next Gen Financial Literacy Advocacy

After launching the Philippines’ first ever multimedia campaign on financial literacy back in 2010, the company endeavored to refresh and update its advocacy to appeal to young audiences. This was done through the "Freedom to Live Brighter" campaign, which featured four digital films ideated and written by Sun Life’s very own team Gen Z multimedia artists. A landing page was likewise created as a one-stop hub that shared tips and solutions for various life stages and needs. The campaign successfully refreshed Sun Life's financial literacy advocacy and expanded the company's appeal to the younger generation, as shown in the significant increase in awareness among the younger age group.

 

Team of the Year Special Award

Sun Life Philippines' Client Experience & Marketing Department was also honored with the Team of the Year Special Award, which highlights the highest-scoring entries submitted by an agency or organization. The awards were evaluated based on the number of winning submissions from a particular entrant.

 

Organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), the Gold Quill Awards is considered the most prestigious recognition for professional communicators around the globe. Hundreds of entries are submitted every year, all of which are evaluated by seasoned professionals who not only undertake training but also adhere to strict guidelines in assessing each entry.

 

"We are truly grateful and humbled by this recognition from the Gold Quill Awards. We share this achievement with our Clients, who always inspire us to be creative and innovative in the way we communicate Sun Life’s purpose. We also thank our partners and stakeholders who help us bring our advocacy and campaigns to life,” said Carla Gonzalez-Chong, Chief Client Experience & Marketing Officer of Sun Life Philippines. “We will continue to strive for excellence in communication as we strive to help Filipinos achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.

AirAsia MOVE advises travelers to plan their Christmas holidays and upcoming vacations in advance

Amid the recent announcement of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) about lower fuel surcharges in July, AirAsia MOVE advises travelers to plan their Christmas holidays and upcoming vacations in advance during this time. 

AirAsia MOVE, a one-stop-shop travel booking app, says the fuel reduction is a timely opportunity for vacationers to enjoy significant savings, especially for those traveling in groups or those who are planning multiple trips.

From level 6, CAB is lowering the fuel surcharge to level 5. This means that the fuel surcharge cost will go down by up to 800 pesos for international flights.

For domestic travel, fuel surcharge will go down for up to PHP542 on level 5 from PHP665 on level 6. 

This reduction, effective from July 1 to 31, 2024 provides a timely opportunity for holiday travelers to take advantage of lower fares for peak seasons as it applies to AirAsia and all other flights from 700 airlines on the AirAsia MOVE app.

Weng Rivera, AirAsia MOVE Philippines Head of Travel said: “We are thrilled with the government’s decision to lower fuel surcharges as it aligns perfectly with our commitment to provide affordable travel options for everyone. We encourage everyone to book early and take advantage of the reduced costs, so they can use their savings from this on other travel expenses or however they wish to use it.”

To make flight purchases even more affordable, AirAsia MOVE is offering discounts on top of the already low fares for all airlines available on the app.

Apart from flight discounts, AirAsia MOVE is also offering exciting discounts on hotel bookings.

Travel Hack from AirAsia MOVE

For travelers looking for affordable getaways on top of low fares and discounts, AirAsia MOVE recommends booking domestic flights for September to October travels as these are non-peak seasons for air travel, so flights are cheaper compared to other months. Although not necessarily cheap, the ideal time to travel in Asian countries is during the latter half of the “Ber-months” as the weather is usually more favorable during this time.

AirAsia MOVE says booking early is the best way to score cheap flight deals as prices tend to go up as it closes in to the actual travel dates. Booking early also provides ample time to plan other aspects of the trip, such as accommodations, transportation, and activities. 

P&G PH supports equality with employees at Pride March 2024

(P&G Philippines employees during the 2024 Pride March)

 

As Pride Month culminates in the Philippines, numerous companies showed their support for the recent Pride March held at Quezon City Circle. Among them was Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines, trusted consumer-goods companyand a top employer recognized for its commitment to equality and inclusion. P&G is committed to creating an inclusive workplace environment where everyone can be their authentic selves, succeed and thrive.

 

“At P&G, we value the talent and diversity brought by our LGBTQIA+ employees. We celebrate this and champion creating a workplace where everyone feels values, included,and have equal opportunities to succeed. Participating in the 2024 Pride March is one of the ways we demonstrate this.” said Vince Dizon, P&G Philippines’ Country Human Resources Leader. 

 

For the third consecutive year, P&G Philippines actively participated in the Pride March by serving as a Diamond Sponsor for this year’s event. Around 700 P&G leaders, employees, and their loved ones joined the march, proudly celebrating equality and inclusion. P&G Philippines also activated its beauty brands Olay and Pantene by hosting face painting station by Olay and a mini salon by Pantene. P&G products and merchandise were also given to Pride March participants. 

 

(P&G Philippines Booth during Pride March 2024)

 

For more information about P&G’s equality & inclusion efforts, visit: https://ph.pg.com/equality-and-inclusion/

 

Deel announces the global launch of its physical spend card

Deel, a global HR company, today announced the global launch of its physical spend card, now accessible for contractors in 20 countries, with many more planned to land soon. This brings contractors one step closer to accessible global purchasing power, allowing them to gain instant access to their earnings, shop worldwide, pay securely, and hold their money in a more stable currency. 

The Deel Card acts as a spend card (both virtual & physical), empowering contractors to make purchases and payments with ease wherever they are, and avoiding the hassle of waiting for funds to clear in their bank account before they can access them. Now, with Deel Card, they can start spending their hard-earned income immediately.

Contractors usually face challenges when it comes to managing finances. Deel Card gives them the flexibility to spend their funds the way they want. Furthermore, receiving funds and spending them in USD can be difficult for those without a US-based bank. Now, the Deel Card can allow contractors to hold their balance in USD, providing greater stability and flexibility, no matter where their life (or work) takes them.

The Deel Card is a global VISA card powered by Airwallex, a leading global payments and financial platform for modern businesses. Airwallex’s infrastructure allows Deel to set up accounts in multiple locations, and issue local cards to customers in Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and several other markets. By issuing a card locally, Deel contractors can take advantage of lower costs and higher acceptance rates when making purchases compared to international cards. 

“Our focus at Deel is to offer contractors the best payments experience possible and that includes flexibility and speed. Now with Deel’s physical card, they’ll be able to access their money faster and in USD, no matter their location,” says Dan Westgarth, Chief Operations Officer at Deel.

“The ability to operate across borders can unlock substantial growth for companies of all sizes – by accelerating international expansion, optimizing supply chains, or attracting the best talent,” said Ravi Adusumilli, Executive General Manager, Americas, Airwallex. “Deel and Airwallex have a shared goal of shaping the future of work, by allowing contractors to receive and spend their earnings anytime, anywhere, and in their preferred currency.”

How does it work?

Requesting a Deel Card is as simple as a few taps on the Deel app. Once approved and delivered, contractors will be ready to use it for all their physical transactions. A virtual card option is also available for online transactions.

With the Deel Card contractors can:

- Access money faster: No more waiting for funds to hit their bank account—get instant access to their income.

- Hold their balance in USD: Enjoy the stability of holding your balance in USD; perfect for international contractors with less stable currencies.

- Spend securely: Every transaction made with the Deel Card is secure, giving peace of mind with every payment.

- Accepted around the globe: Wherever contractors go, the Deel Card makes the perfect companion for any journey.

Netflix announced the following cast members will appear in roles in the upcoming second season of ONE PIECE

("Courtesy of Netflix")

• Daniel Lasker (Raised by Wolves) as Mr 9

• Camrus Johnson (Batwoman) as Mr. 5 

• Jazzara Jaslyn (Warrior) as Miss Valentine

• David Dastmalchian (Late Night With The Devil) as Mr. 3 

(Courtesy of Netflix)

• Werner Coetser (Getroud met rugby) as Dorry

• Brendan Murray (Raised by Wolves) as Brogy

• Clive Russell (Game of Thrones) as Crocus

(Courtesy of Netflix)

• Callum Kerr (Monarch) as Smoker 

• Julia Rehwald (Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures) as Tashigi

• Rob Colletti (The Many Saints of Newark) as Wapol

• Ty Keogh (24 Hours To Live) as Dalton

• Additional cast and roles to be revealed at a later date.
  

• ONE PIECE is a live action pirate adventure created in partnership with Shueisha and produced by Tomorrow Studios (an ITV Studios partner) and Netflix. 

• Co-Showrunners / Writers / Executive Producers: Matt Owens & Joe Tracz

• Executive Producers:  Eiichiro Oda, Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements through Tomorrow Studios, Tetsu Fujimura, Chris Symes and Steven Maeda    

• Starring: Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji

• About Season One of ONE PIECE: Based on Japan’s highest-selling manga series in history by Eiichiro Oda, ONE PIECE is a legendary high-seas adventure unlike any other. Monkey D. Luffy is a young adventurer who has longed for a life of freedom since he can remember. Luffy sets off from his small village on a perilous journey to find the legendary fabled treasure, ONE PIECE, to become King of the Pirates! But in order to find the ultimate prize, Luffy will need to assemble the crew he’s always wanted before finding a ship to sail, searching every inch of the vast seas, outpacing the Marines, and outwitting dangerous rivals at every turn.

Gutsy Filipino starrers that will make you feel proudly Pinoy to binge-watch

So many titles, so little time! Streaming platforms are offering countless classics and current movies and series that it can get overwhelming when deciding what to watch on our limited free time. Where do you even begin?

 

To really make the most of what’s out there, PLDT Home is offering StreamTV for only P299 a month with access to your favorite streaming apps. StreamTV is a device that lets you watch shows and movies, listen to music, and control all your smart devices at home. It features an Android TV, two microphones and speakers, Google Assistant support and Chromecast technology, letting you conveniently control your content hands-free. With PLDT Home’s fast and reliable internet connection, you and your family can surely enjoy binge-watching your movies and shows uninterrupted.

 

There are several movies, series, and even sporting events that showcase high quality production, clever writing, and thrilling moments – altogether bringing pride to the Philippines in different ways. 

Here are some of PLDT Home’s recommended titles that you may want to include in your watchlist.

 

On the Job on HBO GO

The neo-noir crime thriller directed by Erik Matti is chilling not only for its premise but because it was allegedly inspired by a true story in the Philippine prison system. Written by Filipino-Japanese Michiko Yamamoto, the 2013 blockbuster tells the story of two prisoners who double as hitmen that get temporary freedom when they are contracted to execute enemies of their “client,” military general Pacheco, played by Leo Martinez. 

 

The movie is a deep, dark, and swift descent into the inhumanity of humans. It banners Joel Torre (Mario) and Gerald Anderson (Daniel) as the incarcerated individuals – Mario’s only reason for accepting his situation is to send money to his daughter and ex-wife, while Daniel also sends “remittances” to his family. Joey Marquez (Acosta) and Piolo Pascual (Coronel) star as law enforcement officers. 

 

The four men’s lives intersect when the hitmen kill a drug lord and a woman named Linda. Linda’s husband reveals to Acosta that these killings were carried out by prisoners and ordered by Pacheco, who’s running for the Senate, and his congressman friend Manrique (Michael de Mesa). 

 

The critically-acclaimed film On the Job presents a tangled web of corruption and murder and a story of utter despair that reaches a heartbreaking end.

K-Love on Viu

It’s fun to watch a TV series that could very well be about you and your group of friends who adore Korean entertainment, and somehow your lives mirror their intricacies and lighthearted moments. The series K-Love is about five millennials navigating life, love, career, loneliness, and friendship in Manila, starring Iza Calzado (Tish), Isabelle Daza (Sheila), Sue Ramirez (Val), Jake Cuenca (Jay), and Gabby Padila (Fran).

 

They meet up weekly to watch their favorite K-dramas, and we get to know their struggles and what makes them happy. From the pilot episode – the one where Tish feels pressured to get married because her ob-gyne tells her that her biological clock is ticking very fast – we get glimpses of their character: one is competitive, another positive, others are restless, funny, perfectionist, insecure, and hopeful.

 

One of the most enjoyable episodes is Episode 7 – the one where our squad goes to K-pop idol Jin Ho’s exclusive fan meet. Now, what would a real K-pop fan do? Of course, they’d sneak into the VIP tent, which is exactly what Fran and Val try to do.

 

It is only through two seasons and 18 episodes (all of them now on Viu), and the situations they find themselves in that we get nuances of their characters – when they’re caught in ethical dilemmas, their strength and vulnerabilities rise to the surface. Issues such as risking a friendship for a relationship, lack of self-confidence, and dealing with a breakup are all too real.

 

Escape Plan: The Extractors on Lionsgate Play

Asian representation in Hollywood movies and series is no longer a rarity. And this makes Pinoy sighting fun when streaming content. One Hollywood actor you may not be aware as being part-Filipino is Dave Bautista, whose Escape Plan: The Extractors – from The Extractors franchise – is currently streaming on Lionsgate Play. The movie puts Bautista on equal billing with action movie legend Sylvester Stallone, seasoned actor Devon Sawa, and rapper 50 Cent.

 

Bautista plays Trent DeRosa, who helps Stallone’s character Ray Breslin to rescue a kidnap victim. A Hong Kong tech mogul’s daughter and her entourage are abducted, and he hires Breslin and his team to work with her former bodyguard to rescue them from the top-secret black site they are imprisoned.

 

DeRosa and Breslin find out that the heiress is being held in a prison compound in Latvia. The two, along with Breslin’s girlfriend Abigail, travel to Latvia. The film is filled with several thrilling action sequences that you’d expect from Stallone and Bautista starrers.

 

AVC 2024 on Pilipinas Live

Pilipinas Live broadcasts live and on-demand games and highlights, news, and exclusive videos from top sports leagues in the Philippines; tournaments where the Philippine national teams compete; and various other sports that Filipinos love.

 

Are you a volleyball fan? You can relive the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup 2024 – held in Manila (women’s) and Bahrain (men’s) – all on the Pilipinas Live app.

 

The cup being intense is an understatement. Manila welcomed 10 all-female teams – Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, and the Philippines – from May 22 to 29. Matches were held at the iconic Rizal Memorial Coliseum and broadcast live on the Pilipinas Live app. Ultimately, Alas Pilipinas, the Philippine national women’s volleyball team, defeated Australia to nab the bronze. Kazakhstan took the silver, and Vietnam brought the gold medal home. Meanwhile, the men’s tournament was held at the Isa Sport City Hall in Manama, Bahrain from June 2 to 9, with the Philippine men’s team finishing 10th.

 

Watch all these and more on your favorite streaming apps for free when you purchase a StreamTV device until June 30, 2024. Enjoy 4 months of Lionsgate Play, 3 months of HBO GO, 3 months of Viu, 1 month of CignalPlay, and 1 month of Pilipinas Live with your purchase. Visit pldthome.com/streamtv to know more.

The TechLife Pad hits the shelves of both offline and online stores beginning June 27!

The TechLife Fam better get ready for a new and easy entertainment experience as the TechLife Pad hits the shelves of both offline and online stores beginning June 27. The TechLife Pad has incredible features built mainly to simplify and enhance day-to-day entertainment and productivity. 

For users who love to use a portable gadget that isn't a laptop but needs a bigger display than a standard smartphone, the TechLife Pad can guarantee entertainment on the go thanks to its lightweight metal body paired with a 10.36" large 2K Display. This makes it much easier to enjoy movies and series anywhere—whether at the coffee shop, on vacation or even beating the traffic during rush hour. 

Meanwhile, the Quad Stereo Speakers is surely the life of the party. Each side of the Pad has two speakers to deliver crystal-clear and loud audio that easily fills the room. If turning up the party is the goal, just play the number one song of the summer on max volume and let the TechLife Pad spread good vibes.

Of course, the large display and stereo speakers complement the 7000mAh Massive Battery to ensure entertainment isn't cut short. The TechLife Pad offers up to 15 days of standby time and 5 to 6 hours of continuous use, such as browsing social media and reading ebooks, ensuring it keeps up with the busiest days.

Available in stylish Graphite Blue and Graphite Gray and priced at just P8,999, the TechLife Pad is the new favorite gadget for all things fun and functional.

First Selling Promos

The official first selling period of the TechLife Pad is until June 30, so better hurry up and go to the nearest TechLife Store to catch an exclusive freebie because, for every purchase of the TechLife Pad, customers will get a free TechLife Keyboard for Pad worth P1,099.

The TechLife Pad is also available on TechLife’s TikTok Shop, Lazada Flagship Store, and Shopee Official Store for those who love online shopping. From June 27 to June 30, online shoppers can enjoy an exclusive discount of P500 by utilizing the available platform vouchers, and they can also get FREE TechLife Wireless Earbuds.

But wait, there's more! For easy installment plans at 0% interest, credit card users can avail of 6 or 12-month payment plans, while Home Credit offers installment plans for 6 or 9 months. Both are available from June 27 to July 31, 2024. Now, owning the TechLife Pad is easier and more affordable than ever.

Here’s a comprehensive table summarizing all the exciting TechLife Pad has to offer:

Channels	Deals and Freebies	Promo Duration
TechLife Stores	FREEBIE of TechLife Keyboard for Pad	June 27 to 30, 2024
TechLife TikTok Shop	P500 OFF + FREEBIE of TechLife Wireless Earbuds
TechLife Lazada Flagship Store
TechLife Shopee Official Store
Credit Card promos are available at authorized TechLife Stores	6 months or 12 months installment at 0% interest	June 27 to July 31, 2024
Home Credit promo available at authorized TechLife stores	6 months or 9 months at 0% interest

To learn more about the TechLife Pad and other announcements from TechLife, follow its official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.