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October 30, 2021

Are you ready for this? The Witcher Season 2 premieres December 17 on Netflix

During a panel, today at the Lucca Comics & Games Convention in Italy, The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, cast members Joey Batey (Jaskier) and Kim Bodnia (Vesemir), Production Designer Andrew Laws, and Costume Designer Lucinda Wright delighted fans with a surprise drop of the highly anticipated main trailer and key art for The Witcher Season 2.


Accompanying the trailer, Netflix also released a new set of first look unit images from the series, which premieres globally on Netflix on Friday, December 17th.



About THE WITCHER

Based on the best-selling fantasy series of books, THE WITCHER is an epic tale of fate and family. The story of the intertwined destinies of three individuals in the vast world of The Continent, where humans, elves, witches, gnomes, and monsters battle to survive and thrive, and where good and evil is not easily identified.

Season 2 Logline

Convinced Yennefer’s life was lost at the Battle of Sodden, Geralt of Rivia brings Princess Cirilla to the safest place he knows, his childhood home of Kaer Morhen. While the Continent’s kings, elves, humans, and demons strive for supremacy outside its walls, he must protect the girl from something far more dangerous: the mysterious power she possesses inside.





Visit : 


Instagram @witchernetflix



Watch the trailer here

Follow these Self-Care Tips to Keep Yourself Happy and Healthy During the Busiest Time of the Year

Treat yourself to wellness items at Shopee’s Oct 30 Payday Sale and enjoy free shipping with no minimum spend, 30% bills cashback, and 30% off vouchers

The holidays bring us joy, but the season also marks one of the busiest and most demanding times of the year. While we look forward to our loved ones’ company, there are still plenty of tasks at hand: virtual parties to plan, a holiday shopping list to organize, and work to wrap up before we go on vacation.

If you want to maximize the holiday festivities, take some time to focus on your well-being. This is supposed to be the happiest time of the year, after all! Take it slow, decide which tasks to prioritize, and ask for help if you’re struggling with all the responsibilities on your plate.

Here are a few other tips to help you take it easy during the holidays:

Get enough sleep

A good night’s sleep equips you with enough energy to face the day. Wake up to better mornings by indulging in a luxurious at-home massage with Rest Easy Massager, which comes with an advanced heating function. Then snuggle in bed and relax any tense muscles with the ergonomic Hosh Memory Foam Pillow. Lastly, improve the air quality and add a relaxing ambiance to your room with the Fresh Air Wooden Humidifier


Get your mind off work

It’s difficult to relax when your phone keeps pinging. If you can, disable notifications after working hours and try out new hobbies to take your mind off work. For instance, spend more time outdoors and try gardening. Ace Hardware Garden Tool Set, which includes a trowel, transplanter, and pruning shear, is perfect for budding green thumbs. If you’ve always wanted to explore the art of baking, Oster 6-Speed Hand Mixer will make each culinary experiment easier with its powerful 250-watt motor and chrome-plated beaters and dough hooks. Meanwhile, those interested in dabbling in photography should invest in Paperang Portable Thermal Printer for high-quality instant photos


Build a self-care routine

Each day, take the time to pamper yourself and melt the stress away with personal care products. With glowing, hydrated skin, you’ve got one less thing to worry about! Start your skincare routine with the Garnier Cleanse Glow Trio. This serum, micellar water, and day cream set contains a concentrated Vitamin C formula to help even out your skin tone. Don’t forget to treat your legs and arms to some loving too. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion protects dry skin with natural colloidal oatmeal blended with rich emollients.


Indulge in guilt-free me-time

Sometimes all you need to destress is leisurely me-time. Take a much-needed breather and release your pent-up stress using Nintendo Switch Console V2. Its new system features a vibrant seven-inch OLED screen, wide adjustable stand, dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio. Or sit back and binge-watch your favorite K-dramas on Avision Smart Digital LED TV, which features a 1366x786 display resolution. For quality audio, you can’t go wrong with Xiaomi 11T Pro. With its Dolby Atmos dual speakers, you can unwind while listening to your relaxation playlist. 


Self-care means getting the best bang for your buck, too! To enjoy more deals at Shopee’s Oct 30 Payday Sale, check out with ShopeePay for safe and cashless payments. Get free shipping vouchers with no minimum spend, 30% off discounts, and 30% cashback on your self-care purchases, exclusively with ShopeePay.

You can also use ShopeePay to buy load, pay bills, and scan to pay at thousands of merchants nationwide. Get up to 50% discount on load for all networks. Pay your bills with ShopeePay to avail of the special 30% cashback this Oct 30 Payday Sale. You can use it to pay Meralco, Maynilad, PLDT, BPI, and a growing list of partner billers. Lastly, buy ShopeePay ₱1 Deals on the app and enjoy exclusive discounts when you pay via ShopeePay QR at Puregold, Potato Corner, Bonchon, Fruitas, and other partner merchants. Make sure to activate your ShopeePay wallet and cash in through online banking, debit card, and over-the-counter partners to enjoy these exclusive perks.

For more deals this payday, visit https://shopee.ph/m/payday-sale.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

10 steps to get your online store ready for the 2021 year-end shopping season

Historically, the last quarter of the year is when most Filipino online sellers make the most sales. By now, most Pinoys are already in a Christmas-y mood, so you better make sure you’re there when shopping activity starts to pick up. With more and more Filipinos shopping online, you can be sure the season is going to be crazy.

Preparing for the holiday rush? To end the year strong, here are some tips from Ninja Van!



1. Prepare your storefront

Ensure that your product descriptions are accurate and detailed enough for customers to make an informed decision - this will save you the trouble of needing to answer potential questions. On top of this, double-check your inventory and item availability, and make sure you’re using high-quality photos, and that they showcase your products’ best features.

If you’re selling through your own website, make sure it works properly and looks good. Don’t forget to test and ensure that your website can handle a surge in traffic! Do a stress test using load testing tools.

It's also important to plan your product prices. You can do this with the help of a spreadsheet. By listing down your cost, usual product price, and sale price, you’ll be better able to track your profit margins per product. You can also include space for dates so you can stay on top of sale period start and end dates, discount codes, and campaign types.



2. Stock up on your best-selling products

If you plan to sell your in-demand products at discounted rates, let your customers and social media followers know early. This way, you’ll get a head start on competitors and avoid drowning in the marketing clutter in the days leading up to major sale events.

#NinjaTip: You could retarget customers who previously bought these products, viewed the products on your website but didn’t actually make a purchase or have these items sitting in their Lazada or Shopee carts.

3. Use data to understand sales trends

To get a better understanding of which products will sell and which won’t, use data analytics. Check out tools like Google Trends or Better Lemonade Stand’s Instant Product Evaluator Tool. You could also tap analytics to reveal your top sales channels

4. Cyberstalk the competition

Stalking doesn’t need to be creepy. It pays to check what your competitors are selling, what their pricing looks like, and how they’re engaging with their customers. Visit their website and ecommerce shops incognito. On your computer’s browser, go into incognito mode or open a private browsing session. On Shopee or Lazada. Visit their social media pages, too. This will give you a better idea of what you’re up against and will allow you to adjust accordingly.

Better yet, become their customer. Buy something from them and see what the experience is like.

#NinjaTip: Try to keep your pricing within the range of similar stores’ prices to stay competitive.

5. Supercharge your promotions

Announce discounts and promos early to give your customers something to look forward to. As they say, “Daig ng maagap ang masipag (being early beats working hard).”

6. Make the most of social media

About 65% of internet users in the Philippines go on social media to research brands, so it should go without saying that having an active social media presence is so important for sellers. Post quality content regularly on your platforms of choice and talk to your followers. Maybe even explore TikTok if that’s where your customers hang out. Create attractive graphics with simple and free tools, like Canva.

But don’t just focus on your own social media channels; be visible on others’ pages, too. Consider engaging with influencers who are a good fit for your brand, and foster relevant, mutually beneficial brand partnerships.

7. Proactively engage your customers

44% of Filipino shoppers chat with sellers before making a purchase. As such, it’s important to leave a good impression. Answer their questions thoroughly and respond promptly, politely and cheerfully.

#NinjaTip: Consider deploying chatbots or hiring customer service agents to help ensure quality customer service throughout the shopping season. Don’t be scared of automation: turns out 55% of Pinoy shoppers surveyed are comfortable with talking to a bot for online store transactions.

8. Offer free shipping

Offering free shipping is one way to win customers and stand out in a sea of sellers. It could also prevent “abandoned carts”—sometimes, customers intend to buy something but change their minds after seeing how much the shipping will cost.

9. Pack your items properly

Seal everything and pack items tightly to prevent damage during transit. A good rule of thumb is to have three layers of packaging: the primary or innermost layer; the secondary layer, which is typically sturdier than the primary layer and helps protect the package from damage during delivery; and the outermost layer, which has details about the package to help logistics providers sort items.

#NinjaTip: Reinforce your branding in the primary packaging by adding your shop name, logo, and other relevant brand elements.

10. Ship orders out on time

Customers hate late deliveries and will make sure to let you know in their reviews. Make sure to hand over your parcels to your logistics providers on time. Actively managing customers' expectations is key. Because sale season is going to be super busy, shipping will definitely be delayed.

#NinjaTip: Try adding 3 more working days to the expected delivery date. If it arrives earlier, great! If it arrives later, then it's not as bad.

For reliable service, partner with trusted names in last-mile delivery, like Ninja Van!

Navigating the online business world with the Ninja Van blog

Get a head start and make the most of the year-end shopping frenzy by preparing early. By offering great products and a stellar customer experience, you’ll be helping your customers end the year with their hearts—and their carts—full. Visit the Ninja Van blog to know more useful tips and tricks for your online business!

October 29, 2021

Enjoy free cash in plus up to P450 cashback on your purchases! Robinsons Supermarket group offer more ways to cash in to PayMaya for FREE


There are now more ways to cash in to your PayMaya account for FREE as PayMaya and Robinsons Retail team up to allow free cash in at your go-to grocery stores, convenience stores, and drug stores under the Robinsons Supermarket group.

Going cashless is so much more convenient and hassle-free because you can easily cash in to your PayMaya account without additional charges at your go-to stores like Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Easymart, Shopwise, The Marketplace, No Brand, and Southstar Drug branches.

These establishments are the latest addition to the over 90,000 touchpoints that allow users to cash in to their PayMaya accounts for FREE. These cash in channels include BPI and Unionbank online banking via linked account, Ministop, Smart Padala agents, TrueMoney and now, hundreds of  Robinsons group supermarkets, convenience stores, and drug stores nationwide. You can also receive a P20 cashback covering your transfer fee when you cash in to PayMaya via Instapay.

Cashing in at Robinsons Supermarket is easy – all you have to do is follow these simple steps:
  1. On your PayMaya app, select the "Cash In" icon on the home screen.
  2. Select the Robinsons Supermarket via Cashier icon
  3. Enter the desired amount then select "Continue"
  4. Go to a Robinsons Supermarket branch and inform the cashier that you want to cash in to your PayMaya.
  5. Present the generated barcode along with your payment to the cashier.
  6. Wait for an SMS confirmation before leaving the store.
Once you already have funds in your PayMaya account, you can now enjoy safe and convenient contactless transactions for your everyday needs – including purchasing your essentials in these Robinsons establishments where payment via PayMaya QR is accepted.

As an added treat, Robinsons Supermarket is also giving you an exclusive reward of P150 when you cash in at least P2,000 to your PayMaya account and #ScanToPay for your groceries worth at least P2,000 until December 31, 2021. You can enjoy this added perk once a month during the promo period to get up to P450, in total! Now, cashing in and shopping with your PayMaya is not only safe and convenient, it's also made even more rewarding with this added perk!

“Our latest initiative with the Robinsons group is part of our continuing mission to make cashless payments even more accessible for Filipinos. With more free cash in channels available for our PayMaya users, we’re making it easier for people to use digital payments in their everyday transactions, especially for their daily needs,” said Pepe Torres, Chief Marketing Officer at PayMaya Philippines.

"Contactless payments is essential in providing our customers a safe and hygienic environment whenever they shop in our stores. We're glad to work with PayMaya in promoting contactless transactions in our establishments with our free cash in channels and exclusive rewards for PayMaya users," said Stanley Co, Managing Director of Robinson’s Supermarket Corporation.

Now that cashing in and paying with your PayMaya account is this easy and hassle-free, it’s time to get in on cashless payments! 

Download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 and register an account to start enjoying safe and convenient payments today. 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government.    

It provides more than 38 million Filipinos access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 300,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 55,000 partner agent touchpoints serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country, including "every day" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants, as well as government agencies and units. 

Check Out These Frightfully Fun Halloween Activities at the #MarketMarketBOOlevard!

Also enjoy discounts of up to 70% from your favorite stores until October 31, 2021.

The Market! Market! Frightfully Fun Halloween Festivities are underway, promising awesome deals and irresistible treats for everyone, from October 25 to 31, 2021. Shop for all your Halloween needs, and get up to 70% off from select stores. Join the different Halloween activities at the mall, and online, to win special treats and prizes, too! 

Here are some of the activities, promos and discounts you can look forward to at Market! Market! this Halloween. 

Trunk or Treat

Celebrate a frightfully fun Halloween at the #MarketMarketBOOlevard, and get your very own Market! Market! Trunk Picnic Set filled with loads of treats.

To redeem a picnic set, customers must present P3,000 worth of receipts, single or accumulated, dated October 25-31, inclusive of any Coca-Cola product from any Market! Market! store. For receipts amounting to P6,000 and above, a maximum of 2 picnic sets may be redeemed by each customer. Picnic sets may be claimed from the Redemption Booth at the Market! Market! Activity Center from October 25-31, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Customers also have the option to register for Trunk and Treat, and pick up their Trunk Picnic Sets at DriveBuy near Breadtalk on October 30, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Prefer to shop from home? Pick-a-Boo, let ANA shop for you! Spend at least P3,000 through ANA (Ayala Malls Neighborhood Assistant), and she will deliver your Trunk Picnic Set together with your purchases. Simply send your shopping list to ANA through m.me/ANAMarketMarketandSerendra to make a purchase. You can also get P30 off or P40 off on your Lalamove delivery fees from October 25-28, and free delivery on October 29-31. 

You may view the complete Trunk or Treat mechanics here. 

More Frightfully Fun Halloween Activities at Market! Market!


Set yourself up for an awesome DIY celebration at home, and check out the Fright & Fun Fair at the Activity Center for all the creepy costumes, spooky decor, and thrilling treats you need this Halloween.

Give yourself a much-needed break, and indulge in a wicked feast at the Central Plaza al fresco dining area. You can also Eats Spooky at home by ordering in via FoodPanda. Use the promo code AYALAPICKUP to get P100 off on your FoodPanda delivery.

Get the chance to win a Metro GC worth P2,000 by joining the Market! Market! Creep Me Out on TikTok Challenge! Post a TikTok video wearing your Halloween costume from October 25-30 to participate. Don’t forget to tag @ilovemarketmarket, and include the hashtag #MarketMarketBOOlevard when you post. 

Use the promo code TRIPORTREAT when booking a GrabCar to and from Market! Market! from October 25-31, and get P50 off on your ride. Also enjoy free delivery when ordering your Halloween treats through ANA from October 29-31.

Celebrate Halloween with your fashionable furbabies at the Howl-O-Ween Paw-Levard. Strike a PAWS, share a picture of your furbaby, and the photo with the most number of likes wins a prize. Join the TikTok PAWshion Contest by posting a 15-second video of your pet using the hashtag #PAWlevardatMarketMarket, and get gift certificates from Pooch Park. Dress up your pets in their best costumes, and be part of the Howl-o-ween PAWshion Contest at the Barkyard on October 31, 2021. The first 50 pets who arrive will receive special treats from Nutrichunks and Protect Plus Gold.

Start getting ready for the holidays, and shop til you drop at the Market! Market! mall-wide Sale! Sale! from October 25-31, 2021. Enjoy up to 70% off on awesome selections from your favorite stores during the sale. 

Market! Market! continues to be a fun and safe place for shoppers this Halloween, and to maintain everyone’s safety, all mall-goers are reminded to strictly adhere to IATF protocols whenever you visit the mall.

For more information on mall activities, schedules, and promotions at #iLoveMarketMarket, like and follow Facebook.com/MarketMarket, @ilovemarketmarket on Instagram and TikTok, and @MarketMarketBGC on Twitter. You may also visit www.ayalamalls.com. 


Check Out TikTok's Campaigns That Encourage The Love For Reading and Photography Through #BookTokPH and #PhoTokGraPHI

Share your videos and stand the chance to win great prizes from TikTok!

TikTok, the leading destination for short-form mobile video, continues to keep users engaged and encourages them to post and share original content on their love for reading and photography, using the hashtags #BookTokPH and #PhoTokGraPHI


Gear Up For National Reading Month with #BookTokPH

The Philippines celebrates National Reading Month every year in November, culminating with the "Araw Ng Pagbasa" (Day of Reading) on November 25th. Leading up to National Reading Month, TikTok's #BookTokPH Campaign hopes to promote the love for reading by inviting users to share their book recommendations with others on the platform.

To join, users must share their videos containing book reviews and recommendations, book ratings, and even reading tips and techniques, using the hashtag #BookTokPH. Videos should be at least 15 seconds long, and may use the app's Text Feature and Greenscreen Sticker to add more information. Videos may be sent in until 11:59 PM of October 31, 2021.

One video is equivalent to one entry, and each creator is allowed to submit multiple entries for this campaign. At the end of the campaign, 15 creators with the most-liked #BookTokPH videos will win Fully Booked Gift Cards from TikTok. The top creator will receive a gift card worth Php 10,000, while creators in 2nd to 5th place will get Php 5,000. Creators of the 6th to 15th most liked videos will each get gift cards amounting to Php 2,000. Winners will be announced on TikTok on November 5, 2021.


Join the More Creative, More Interactive #PhoTokGraPHI 2.0


Presented by the TikTok Photographer Community, #PhoTokGraPHI 2.0 is a campaign that invites users to stitch a video with any of the featured TikTok Photographers, Mark Kelvin, Dave Graciadas, Karl Patacsil, and Sev Ballesca, for the chance to win a real-life photoshoot with them.

Videos must use the soundtrack, NYANDA BARASA, and should be posted using the hashtag #PhoTokGraPHI. Creators may use TikTok's Text Feature and Greenscreen Sticker to add more information to their videos. Entries may be posted until 11:59 PM of October 30, 2021.

One TikTok video is equivalent to one entry, and multiple entries may be submitted by each user. Creators with the four most-liked videos at the end of the campaign will get a real-life photoshoot from the photographers. Winners will be announced on TikTok on November 3, 2021.

Don't miss this chance to be part of #BookTokPH and #PhoTokGraPHI 2.0! Download TikTok on your iOS and Android devices to get started.

Shopee Introduces Audio and Video Call Feature on Shopee Live to Elevate Seller Engagement for the 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

Sellers now have more ways to interact with Filipinos shoppers online

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues to push for innovations that aim to improve the e-commerce experience for both the seller and consumer. With sellers preparing for some of the biggest holiday sales of the year such as Shopee’s 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, Shopee introduces the ‘Livestream Call’ feature on Shopee Live to enhance customer experience and improve engagement during a live stream session. During a Livestream call, sellers can entertain inquiries via audio or video call while other viewers listen in.

Shopee Live has been a go-to for sellers on Shopee to connect with users and attract more sales. With the pandemic driving the digitalization of businesses, Shopee pushes for innovation that will help local MSMEs adapt to the evolving global retail landscape. E-commerce continues to gain momentum in the Southeast Asia region, with a projected value of US$132 billion by the end of 2021 - and it is expected to double after five years. With more consumers turning to online platforms for their needs, entrepreneurs strive to adopt digitalization to sustain their businesses and capture opportunities in the new digital economy.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “The needs of our sellers are always evolving, and we are committed to providing the necessary tools for them to improve their methods of engaging with shoppers. As more shoppers turn to Livestream to learn about brands, products and interact with sellers, we are glad that the new Shopee Live features will also enhance their shopping experience. We will continue to innovate and make improvements on existing tools to support the growth of businesses on Shopee.”

Shopee launched several initiatives that aim to further improve the overall e-commerce experience for sellers and shoppers with Shopee Live. Earlier this year, Shopee rolled out the co-streaming feature which allowed live stream hosts to co-stream with one of their viewers for a more interactive streaming session. The Livestream Flash Sale was also introduced to help sellers gain more viewers and boost their sales during streaming sessions on Shopee Live. With this, sellers can promote their discounted products, attract more views, and boost orders during a live stream. The In-app Business Insights features gave live streamers access to the number of unique and total views, total likes, and confirmed orders from the live stream, letting streamers gauge what their audience wants.

11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

Shopee continues to bring more joy to Filipinos with the Shopee 11.11-12.12 Big Christmas Sale happening today until December 12, 2021. Shoppers can enjoy over two months’ worth of exciting promos such as ₱1 deals, free shipping with no minimum spend, and 10% off daily vouchers at Shopee's biggest sale of the year.

Buy Load, Pay Bills, and Scan to Pay with ShopeePay. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

High-speed data for less: DITO launches DITO 39 and Starter Pack

Get 3GB data valid for 15 days and more with DITO’s new value-for-money deals

Heeding the call of Filipino consumers for more affordable data promos, DITO Telecommunity announced the launch of its DITO 39 and DITO Starter Pack offers. Available from October 15, 2021 to January 31, 2022, these two ‘sulit’ deals provide high-speed data and more at value-for-money prices so that everyone can enjoy stronger connectivity for all their surfing needs.

For those who are looking to move to DITO, the DITO Starter Pack is for you! For only P49, you can get your DITO SIM card and 3GB of high-speed, open data, unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls, and 100 minutes of calls to other networks.

The DITO 39 on the other hand is perfect for DITO subscribers on a budget. For only P39, you can enjoy 3GB worth of data, unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls, and 100 minutes of calls to other networks. What’ good about both offers is they are valid for 15 days!

What are you waiting for? Head out to the nearest DITO Experience Store and retail partner or add to cart on Lazada and Shopee to avail of these ‘sulit’ deals from DITO. Aside from the DITO Experience Stores and retail partners, you can also avail of the DITO 39 promo via the DITO App, MyDITO, SMS 185, Alipay, and WeChat.

For more information, check out www.dito.ph or @DITOPhOfficial on social media.

PLDT Home empowers Filipino arts, launches support for #TheFutureIsCreative campaign with new single “Muling Pagbangon”


Creative talent is the very fiber of Filipino culture, which ultimately also fuels the engine of Philippine economic growth. Following the pandemic’s heavy blow to the country’s creative industry, telco leader PLDT Home is expressing support for the sector’s recovery through its “The Future is Creative” campaign. To kickstart the initiative, it collaborated with young Filipino-American hip-hop prodigy Alex Bruce and the internationally acclaimed Philippine Madrigal Singers for an OPM anthem of hope titled Muling Pagbangon.

Muling Pagbangon inspires optimism for a brighter tomorrow when Filipinos rise triumphant over the present adversities, through passion and creativity.

“Despite the Philippine Arts industry being one of the sectors that have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Filipino artists are coming together to show how important art can be in empowering our pandemic-stricken fellowmen. For us, this proved that nothing can stop Filipinos from forging stronger collaborations, making even more meaningful, greater art, and preparing a nation for a future full of creativity that’s nurtured from home,” said Al S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT and Smart.

The song and its music video, shot entirely by the artists in their homes, debuted at the recent “The Future of Cities is Creative” virtual conference, a collaborative project of various government agencies and private sector organizations, the Philippine Creative Cities Network (PCCN) initiative of the League of Cities of the Philippines led by Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia, Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Bloc led by Rep. Christopher de Venecia, and supported by PLDT Home, to rally support for Pinoy artists who endured economic dislocation.

At the digital conference, cultural icons like Lea Salonga, Virgilio Almario, Vilma Santos, Kidlat Tahimik, as well as Carlo Ople discussed the unifying role of digital technology in the nation’s cultural life and the artist’s economic prospects. They say, more than just serving as a venue for connecting Filipino artists with their worldwide audience, the strong internet connection now available to homes can also serve as a meeting ground for Filipino creatives and city executives to come up with innovative solutions to local community problems – even amid lockdowns.

Part of the topics discussed during the conference are programs that city executives could put in place to prepare for becoming a creative city, which includes enabling local communities with first-rate internet connectivity, nurturing their local creatives, and leveraging creative industries to drive sustainable economic growth.

#TheFutureIsCreative with PLDT Home. Watch the “Muling Pagbangon” OPM video via this link.

Safe and Sound: Everything you need to know about the Cherry Anti-Bacterial UV Humidifier

As cool and cozy as it goes off, your “sweater weather” may not exactly be very friendly to your little one. Days starting with too much heat that eventually end with harsh rains is but perfect formula to colds, sore throat, and dry skin. Yes, parents, that definitely sounds much like a disaster!


Good news, the Cherry Anti-Bacterial UV Humidifier comes to your rescue with features that aren’t only optimal for you but especially for your mini. It has 4L capacity and is carefully crafted with high-frequency vibrations, producing finer water mist to relieve congestion as well as other symptoms of colds. It is also efficient for soothing irritation and flare-ups caused by skin dehydration.

It boasts of UVC Sterilization so you can ensure that your whole family will only breathe in cleaner and healthier air. If you miss the scent of hotel lobbies, feel as if you’re lounging in one with your infant as you can also use this humidifier with your favorite essential oils. Now, creating a more relaxing atmosphere at home is made totes easier.

Finally, there’s no trouble putting your bundle of joy to a good night’s sleep as this also highlights easy and silent operation, perfect for evening use.

Rock parenthood by making your sweet pea’s growing days safe and relaxing. Get the Cherry Anti-Bacterial UV Humidifier now for just P2,490.

For more information, visit: Cherry Shop PH: www.cherryshop.com.ph

October 28, 2021

TECNO’s ‘Movie Master’ Camon 18 Series To Be Released In The Philippines Featuring A Stabilized Gimbal Camera and MediaTek’s Helio G96 Chips

International smartphone brand, TECNO Mobile, just confirmed that it will feature MediaTek’s Helio G96 chipset in its Camon 18 series, which is set to launch this October in the Philippines. The new MediaTek Helio G96 chipset is ideal for powerful 4G smartphones designed for the mainstream market, and is equipped with enhanced technology features that boost display and photography experiences.
TECNO’s Camon series was first launched in 2015 with a commitment to bring pioneering camera technologies to its consumers. It has since grown to be one of the most popular camera phones in the Philippines, after it was introduced in the market. The Helio G96 chipset will allow the TECNO Camon series to further enhance its position, as it provides cutting edge display and photography capabilities.

TECNO is the premium brand from TRANSSION Holdings dedicated to bringing innovative camera technologies and stylish designs. Its Camon series is known for its photography feats, having broken a Guinness World Record, and having previously collaborated with international partners like National Geographic. MediaTek’s latest chip offering, combined with TECNO’s AI Vision Optimization Solution (TAIVOS), promises to create smoother, sharper, and clearer photos and videos for the digitally native generation.

The MediaTek Helio G96 SoC ensures premium everyday user experiences with its support for 120Hz displays with up to FullHD+ resolution for notably smoother scrolling of web pages and animations in apps. Helio G96 120Hz display support has no limitation in DDIC supply, C-phy or D-phy interface, and supports both LCD or AMOLED displays. Combined with support for up to 108 MP cameras for the most detailed images, fast Cat-13 4G LTE WorldMode modem integration, dual 4G SIM and VoLTE and ViLTE services, as well as its Intelligent Resource Management Engine and Networking Engine, MediaTek’s Helio G96 brings an impressive breadth of features and capabilities to 4G smartphones.

Camon 18 is already being called The Movie Master, and Camon 18 Premier’s Stabilized Gimbal Camera is definitely a feature to watch out for.

The pre-order period for Camon 18 Premier in the Philippines is from November 6-10, 2021, while pre-order for Camon 18 and Camon 18P is from November 6-19, 2021. Camon 18 will be available online via the TECNO Mobile PH Official Store in Shopee Mall, Kimstore, MemoXpress, Rulls, Ephone Shopee, Ephone Lazada, and Wirecomm.

With this soon-to-launch smartphone series, TECNO makes it possible for all Filipinos to experience mobile technological innovations that can help improve the way they work, learn, play, and live, at a fraction of the price offered by other brands. Through this latest offering, TECNO Mobile stays true to its commitment to bring innovation to global emerging markets, as the premium smartphone brand for all.

Be sure to stay updated on all the latest promos when you like and follow TECNO Mobile Philippines on Facebook. Visit www.tecno-mobile.com/ph to learn more about your favorite TECNO Mobile smartphones and gadgets.

Smile API’s secure employee-owned data fast-tracks applications for financial services

Businesses, workers, and banks connect for wider financial inclusion

Applying for a loan or financing, whether it’s for a car, a business, a house, etc. is a tedious, time-consuming process that requires the heavy involvement of the applicant, their employer, and the concerned financial institution or vendor. Smile API is a digital platform that fast tracks that process by facilitating application approval (or rejection) within just a few seconds. As a result, it delivers significant value to workers who need to secure financial and/or related services; employers who can recover operational time lost to the cumbersome paper trail; and banks and financial institutions that can experience fast, secure transactions in the many moribund application procedures.

During the recent company launch, Smile API CEO Jerome Eger explains the all-too-common situation that bogs down businesses: “We did a survey and found that on the average, for every 100 employees in any given company, there are three to five requests for certificates of employment per week. A person in HR handles this, and it takes company time that can be better used for other business matters. While they need to do this, this process has no value for the employers.”
Smile API CEO Jerome Eger at the Philipine launch of Smile API; "Smile API empowers people to have their own data, and to use that data for their own good."

Eger adds, “What we offer becomes not just a win but a win-win-win solution for businesses, their employees, and mostly for third-party providers like banks, financial institutions, and other vendors whose services are made more accessible to potential customers.”

Individuals register first through the Smile-API-using companies they regularly deal or interact with. They agree to transmit their encrypted employment data which then passes from their employer through Smile API to the bank or vendor in seconds, when they apply for loans, financing, deferred payment terms, employment, or financial services.

It is important to note that this is a one-time transaction. Smile API gets the encrypted data from the employer, and passes it on to the institution or the vendor. It does not hold on to the data afterwards. This process happens in seconds, and the applicant, their employer, and the related banks are spared the loss of unnecessary manhours and effort, as well as the stress that comes with waiting for (or working towards) the approval which may or may not be given.

Smile API’s platform was conceived from a simple, yet important truth that affects virtually everyone, especially the workforce, without their knowing it. People can never fully control their personal and employee data. Their employment data---the most relevant to financial institutions, vendors, or even potential new employers---will always need to be obtained from and verified by third parties through documentation, like certificates of employment, payslips, proofs of billing, bank statements, credit card statements, or even academic transcripts of records.

To escape this cycle of inefficiency, Eger asserts that the individual must realize that “having access to data is a basic right. Your data is very important, as data is the oil of the 21st century. The difference is: then few people had oil, now, everyone has data.” In contrast, he adds, “Smile API empowers people to have their own data, and to use that data for their own good.”

Eger likens Smile API to infrastructure that connects, using technology: "We provide bridges that allow data to move quickly between employer to bank or vendor, but the user has complete control of whether or not they cross the bridge. The customer has to grant explicit consent for each transaction, and decides what data is shared with whom and at what time."

Still relatively new, Smile API aims to provide a service unlike any in the country. Just recently, they received funding from two established fintech investors: Credit Ease, a diversified conglomerate with a global footprint; and Plug and Play Singapore, a global venture capital firm with a strong regional presence.
Top row, from left: Smile API CEO Jerome Eger; Senior Ventures Analyst at Plug and Play Singapore Ziheng Li; Middle row, from left: MoveForward Inc. CEO Johanne Lim; Event host and media personality Mimi Ong; Bottom row: Head of Strategic Investment and M&A from Credit Ease, Kevin Aok.

Kevin Aok, Head of Strategic Investment and M&A from Credit Ease, explains why Smile API is eyeing the Philippines first: "We are looking for markets with a higher potential growth rate. Many Filipinos have stable income and the Philippines is largely English-speaking."

Ziheng Li, Senior Ventures Analyst at Plug and Play Singapore, shares why Smile API is the right API for the region at this time: "Unlike other global markets such as the US and China, where employer data APIs are common, there is no API or service similar to Smile API in the region."

As early as now, Smile API is already forming alliances in the Philippines with like-minded innovators. One such partner is Johanne Lim, the CEO of MoveForward Inc. (MFI)., an online buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) provider for the unbanked in the country.

Lim elaborates on what Smile API’s revolutionary technology has done for the industry: "With the Philippines becoming more of a gig and freelancer economy, the problem is that we have no centralized system in the country that provides reliable employment information. With Smile API, we are keen to gain an understanding of our new market."

Eger says, “Smile API is all about empowerment and financial inclusion, especially for those who have to suffer through seemingly endless red tape. Our solutions relieve you of the stress of application and enable you to achieve your goals, personal and professional.” he adds. "We are very excited to see how innovative companies in fintech and even beyond, build on the infrastructure we are developing at Smile API in the future."

ShopeePay Partners with GHL to Drive Digital Payments Ahead

ShopeePay and GHL extend their services for contactless payments that are safer and more convenient

ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, partners with GHL Systems Berhad, to expand digital payment acceptance in the Philippines, bringing cashless payment solutions for businesses and consumers to over 83,000 merchant points nationwide.

GHL, ASEAN’s leading payment solutions provider, with a vast footprint of 383,600 payment touchpoints across the region, teams up with ShopeePay to drive digital payments in the Philippines as more Filipinos continue to shift towards safer and more convenient options. ShopeePay users can now pay at establishments such as Phoenix Petroleum, Family Mart, Three Sixty Pharmacy, Prince Retail, and more chains nationwide.

The future of digital financial services in Southeast Asia sees great potential. The region’s gross transaction value will experience a 15% increase, expecting to reach U$1.2 trillion dollars from digital financial services by 2025. With more Filipinos embracing cashless payment methods, the total transaction value for digital payments is expected to have an annual growth rate of 14.67% in the next four years. With this, ShopeePay continues to expand its roster of partner merchants to serve more individuals anytime and anywhere.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of ShopeePay Online Philippines, said, “As more consumers adopt digital and contactless payments, it’s essential for ShopeePay to provide easier ways for our consumers to transact online. With our partnership with GHL, we can scale up our network of partners and offer our customers access to a wider variety of partner merchants. We will continue to collaborate with other organizations to support Filipino consumers embracing digital payments.”

The collaboration between ShopeePay and GHL aims to encourage Filipinos to embrace digital payments. ShopeePay will work with new partners to boost both financial and digital inclusion throughout the country, and will push for initiatives that will support the easier adoption of finance digitalization.

Rey Maria R. Chumacera, Chief Executive Officer at GHL Systems Philippines, said, “Adding ShopeePay to our range of digital payment acceptance is definitely the way forward to allowing our merchants to reach a larger consumer base. With ShopeePay’s expansive reach, we can continue growing together, reaching immense scalability in time. At the end of the day, consumers are the clear winners from an enhanced payment experience.”

Users can activate and cash-in their ShopeePay wallets through online banking, debit card, and over-the-counter partners to enjoy a safe and rewarding cashless experience. For more information about ShopeePay and its perks and benefits, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

BINI and BGYO go all-out in joint concert on November 6, 7


After launching their chart-topping debut albums “Born to Win” and “The Light” this month, P-pop sensations BINI and BGYO will perform their original songs live for the first time in their two-night virtual sibling concert, “One Dream: The BINI & BGYO Concert” on November 6 and 7 on
KTX.PH, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV.

P-pop’s first sibling concert promises a setlist of 40 songs that will also include fan-favorites and covers, with each show offering a unique repertoire.

Anticipation for the concert by BLOOM and ACEs, the fan groups of BINI and BGYO, has been tremendous as their exclusive limited-edition concert merchandise sold out in only ten minutes after it was made available to the public last week.

Aside from BINI and BGYO, fans can look forward to electrifying performances by guest artists AC Bonifacio, Kritiko, and KZ Tandingan in the November 6 show. On November 7, meanwhile, BINI and BGYO will present more live collabs, sub-unit performances, powerful vocal showcases, and a fan meet on KTX.PH.

Fans can buy the SVIP tickets priced at P1,950 or US$39.99 to watch the two shows and join the fan meet on KTX.PH. VIP tickets, meanwhile, are sold at P1,490 or US$29.99 on KTX.PH, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV and will provide access to the two shows.

Both groups hit new milestones recently as BINI already reached over one million streams on Spotify, while its new, retro-tinged single “Golden Arrow” has recorded 290,000 YouTube views since its release.

Meanwhile, BGYO’s full album “The Light” has already hit the five-million stream mark on Spotify, with the latest single “When I’m With You” gaining over 400,000 Spotify streams and 400,000 YouTube views.

These achievements follow the sibling groups’ remarkable album launches, as BINI’s “Born to Win” and BGYO’s “The Light,” which were released a week apart, reached the number one spot on the iTunes Albums Chart in the Philippines. All of the tracks from both albums also entered the top 20 on the iTunes Songs Chart Philippines.

After their sibling concert, BINI and BGYO will also be performing live for their international fans at the 1MX Ultimate Music Festival in Dubai on December 3.

Purchase your tickets now to watch “One Dream: The BINI & BGYO Concert,” on November 6 and 7 on KTX.PH, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV. Get regular updates by following BINI_ph and BGYO_ph on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and subscribing to their official YouTube channels, BINI Official and BGYO Official


Move: Stronger Together - IABC Philippines officially opens the 19th Philippine Quill Awards

The 19th Philippine Quill Award is now officially open!

Hosted by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines, the Philippine Quill Awards is the country’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication. A Communication Olympiad which highlights the gold standard in communication, the program fosters a spirit of friendly competition, unity and a sense of community amongst Philippine communications practitioners in pursuit of a common goal – communications excellence.


The Philippine Quill and the Philippine Student Quill Awards honor exemplary communication research, programs, skills, and creative work. Each entry is evaluated using IABC’s highest global standard that measures and determines the finest, the sharpest, and the brightest in the business communication industry among professionals and students. The Quill has been bestowing the seal of approval to the most reputable organizations and corporations in the nation for almost two decades, emphasizing the use of excellent communication to achieve business goals and to make a difference in society.

This year’s theme Move: Stronger Together highlights the power of communications in shaping the future. Times may have changed and will continue to change but IABC Philippines is encouraging communicators to use their voice to move the next normal to something bigger and better – setting the direction and moving people towards action and positive change.

“Excellence knows no season. Last year we broke records with our first virtual Quills. This year, I have no doubt we will see proof of the resiliency, creativity, and commitment to excellence of our peers through their various initiatives and examples of the very best in business communication. I call on everyone, student and professional, to inspire and motivate us once again. Together, we will conquer the uncertainty of tomorrow. Let’s MOVE!,” said IABC Philippines President and Football for Humanity Founder Belle Tiongco.

“This pandemic has only cemented the integral role of communicators in organizations and in society. As we forge ahead amid the challenges that we continue to face, we are confident and hopeful that the ‘next normal’ can be a better normal for all of us. This edition of the Philippine Quills aims to honor the outstanding work of our peers - recognizing their valuable contribution to our collective efforts to move together, stronger, into a better future,” said Abigail Ho-Torres, IABC PH’s Chair of the Philippine Quill Awards and Assistant Vice President - Head of Advocacy and Marketing Department of Maynilad Water Services.

The Philippine Quill is open to all Philippine-based communications practitioners – from companies, organizations, marketing communications agencies, and for the Philippine Student Quill, students from Philippine schools nationwide.

“Time and time again, the Filipino youth have shown that they have a powerful voice when it comes to the future of our country and that they are very active in efforts to effect change in our society. They are proof that we are the change we wish to see,” said Ferdinand Bondoy, IABC PH’s Co-Chair of the Philippine Student Quill Awards and Regional Integration & Chief Executive Director of COMCO Southeast Asia. “We are inviting them to be a part of the Philippine Student Quill to honor and highlight the exemplary programs and activities they have created to make the next normal a better one for all of us.”

Professionals and students can now submit their Quill entries until November 15, 2021. Those wishing to avail of the early bird promo can make their payments until November 5, 2021.

For more details, interested participants can visit the Quill portal at www.philquill.com, which will include a line-up of the different divisions and categories communication programs or tools can be entered in. As with last year, entries related to the Covid-19 response will be accepted. All entries should have started, run, or finished within January 2020 and July 2021 to qualify.

To know more about IABC Philippines and the 19th Quill Awards, please visit https://www.facebook.com/iabcph or e-mail iabcphilippinesat30@gmail.com.

IABC Philippines is the first IABC country chapter in Asia. It is an association of top business, industrial and organizational communicators and professionals that supports the highest professional standards and practice of exceptional quality and innovation in organization and business communication. It advocates for continued professional growth, learning, and communication excellence, linking Filipino practitioners with colleagues and best practices worldwide. Its two major communication excellence industry awards are the Philippine Quill and the Philippine CEO EXCEL Awards. IABC is a member of the Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management.