Experience the Flip Side at Samsung’s Flip Street at BGC this October 13-22

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Samsung is taking over One Bonifacio High Street Park at BGC to give everyone a taste of the Flip Side with Flip Street, happening from October 13 to 22, 2023.

Created for those who want to know what the flip side is all about, the Flip Street allows you to  experience the incredible features of the newest Galaxy foldables - the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 - along with the Galaxy Watch6 series and Galaxy Tab S9 series. Bring home exciting giveaways in this 10-day open-for-all event. And good news – it's free and totally IG-worthy so bring your friends and family for a journey through the Galaxy!

A walkthrough of Flip Street

Start your journey with a life-sized Galaxy Z Flip5 located along BGC’s 5th avenue, welcoming you to an adventure in self-expression. Flaunt your best poses beside the giant phone and slay that urban vibe right below BGC’s 3D-LED billboard. Use the hands-free capturing capabilities of the Galaxy Z Flip5 or Z Fold5 or use the Camera Controller feature of the Galaxy Watch6 to get your best shot.

Walk a bit further and you’ll see the next stop: the Mirror Selfie station, where you can flex your best angles using the installed Galaxy Z Flip5. Capture your OOTD or have a cute barkada group shot at this aesthetic mirror set-up that will definitely make you glow.

After slaying it at the Mirror Selfie station, walk your way towards the #TeamGalaxy installation where you can turn your fan mode on and go all out with posing with your favorite BTS and local #TeamGalaxy members.

Take it all in at the Flip Side Lounge

Want more of the Galaxy experience? Situated right in the middle of One Bonifacio High Street Park, The Flip Side Lounge is where everyone can express their true selves, ensure maximum productivity, and celebrate local culture with Samsung’s latest foldables and smart watch while collaborating with local artists.

As you enter the lounge, you’ll see a product display where you have the chance to explore the different devices from the Flip Side and try out their features. You can find out which one resonates with you; or better yet, it might just inspire you to complete your Galaxy Ecosystem experience.

Afterwards, visit the Samsung X You Personalization Corner, where you can customize your devices, while celebrating the works of local artists Bea Policarpio, Soleil Ignacio, and Jappy Agoncillo customized specially for Samsung, while the You Make Zone gives you a chance to personalize your Samsung into your own unique statement and let the real you shine with the different cases or Flipsuit cards for your Galaxy phone and straps for your Galaxy watch.

A little scooch behind and you’ll be at the Flex Pillar, where you can see more designs that can match your phone to your mood. You’ll also enjoy doing a lot more with just the palm of your hands by trying the Flex Window and just being on the go with the Galaxy Z Flip5’s top-tier pocketability.

There is also the Galaxy Ecosystem area featuring the Galaxy Watch6 series and Galaxy Tab S9 series. Here, you can take photos on the Sleep Up Bed and experience the multi-tasking power of Samsung DeX Mode.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 promotes healthy sleep through its variety of sleep monitoring and sleep coaching features and with its partnership with the world’s leading direct-to-consumer sleep brand, Emma Sleep. Meanwhile, the Samsung Dex Mode on the Galaxy Tab S9 allows you to use your tablet just like a PC with just a tap at the Quick panel—you can open multiple windows, drag and drop and right click for more functions—making productivity more mobile than ever.

Self-expression never stops with the Photo Wall, a perfect background for another set of snaps or you may opt to shoot a quick TikTok video. Make every angle your best angle and post your content in your social media accounts! Don’t forget to tag Samsung using the #JoinTheFlipSide and #FlipSideBGC.

Join the flip side at Flip Street, happening at One Bonifacio High Street Park until October 22, 2023 and  purchase the Galaxy Z Flip5, Z Fold5, Tab S9 series, and Watch6 inside the Flip Side Lounge. Bonus: If you purchase your Galaxy Z Flip5 here, you’ll get to take-home custom-made freebies featuring the artworks of the featured local artists.

To know more about these Samsung Galaxy products, you may visit the following pages.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5: https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-z-flip5/buy/

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5: https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-z-fold5/buy/

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: https://www.samsung.com/ph/tablets/galaxy-tab-s9/buy/

Samsung Galaxy Watch6: https://www.samsung.com/ph/watches/galaxy-watch/galaxy-watch6-40mm-gold-bluetooth-sm-r930nzeaasa/buy/

Unpack joyful gifting opportunities this holiday season with Pluxee, a Sodexo company

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Over the past two decades, Sodexo Benefits and Rewards Services has enabled rewarding experiences for over 4,000 corporate clients and their employees in the Philippines. This year, the company brings an extra sparkle to gift-giving with its first Christmas campaign carrying its new brand, Pluxee.

Pluxee, a Sodexo company, launches the “Magical ConneXions” campaign

for a more joyful holiday season

Pluxee, a Sodexo company, ushers in the holiday season with a range of promotions to make it easier for corporate clients to upgrade their rewards and recognition efforts, and open up a world of opportunities for their recipients.

Dubbed "Magical ConneXions," the campaign aims to bring more joy to employees, partners, and consumers with a focus on convenient, relevant digital gifting solutions. “As Sodexo Benefits and Rewards Services transitions to Pluxee, clients can count on our heritage of expertise and global perspective on innovation to elevate employee experience and engagement. The wordplay in Magical ConneXions is an ode to the ‘X’ in Pluxee which represents the importance of our relationships with clients, merchants and consumers in everything that we do,,” said Marketing Director Sharon K. Velasco.

Discounts on top of rebates and waived fees for corporate clients

New clients can enjoy up to 75% on service fees, rebates on total orders, waived portal fees worth Php 30,000, plus free API integration if required. Additional discounts are also available with Christmas products such as vouchers for ham, baskets, and cakes. Existing clients can enjoy all these, plus flexible pay later terms.

Ham-azing Deals at GC Regalo

From October 9 until December 31, Consumers and MSMEs ordering as low as P4,500 from Pluxee’s e-commerce store, GC Regalo, at www.GCregalo.sodexo.ph, can get free digital gift certificates (GCs) of Purefoods Ham.

Next-level gifting by Pluxee

As the pioneer of paper gift certificates in the country, Pluxee, a Sodexo company, was also the first to offer SMS and email based gift certificates and the only provider of app-based GCs. The email and SMS based GCs sent as codes to recipients’ mobile numbers and inboxes via user-friendly web portal. These are API enabled for easy integration with clients’ systems and can be customized for specific products and brands. Additionally, the app-based GCs can be partially redeemed, sent as credits to other users, and used to redeem vouchers at popular e-commerce stores like Grab, Lazada, and Shopee.

“In keeping with our tradition of launching industry milestones, we continue to evolve together with our stakeholders in a fast-paced digital landscape. We put in careful thought in enhancing UX across our products and platforms, actively expand our merchant network and touchpoints in key cities nationwide, and invest in technologies to develop solutions for tomorrow. Today, we are investing in the brand to let the world know that the best is yet to come from the most trusted rewards and benefits provider,” CEO Mert Cetin shared.

In the Philippines, Pluxee is a proud partner of the country’s largest retail network, SM. Pluxee powers SM’s official GC, the SM Gift Pass, and has recently launched the digitally-powered SM Gift Pass Choice, accepted at all SM Store branches and affiliates.

This Christmas, let your recipients enjoy what truly matters with Pluxee, your global partner in gift-giving this season and beyond.

IKEA now accessible to all Filipinos with Nationwide Parcel Delivery

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Starting October 13, Filipinos anywhere in the Philippines can get their hands on affordable and quality home furnishings from IKEA with its parcel delivery service expanding to all areas in the Philippines.

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Swedish home furnishing brand expands to reach the many Filipinos 

through IKEA.ph starting at ₱170

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By visiting IKEA.ph, the only official online store of IKEA in the Philippines, Filipinos from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao can now shop products online through parcel delivery. With this, Filipinos can shop home furnishing accessories and small to medium sized furniture items from IKEA for up to a weight of 30 kg and a maximum length per item of 1.8 meters.

“With our parcel delivery now opening to more than 7,000 islands of the Philippines, we are one big step closer in bringing a better everyday life to the many Filipinos. We are excited for the Filipinos in Visayas and Mindanao to discover our quality and affordable home solutions.”, says Jarek Lesniewski, Country Fulfillment Operations Manager at IKEA Philippines.

Parcel delivery fees start at P170 for Metro Manila and have been made even more affordable in select areas in Luzon. Below are the parcel delivery fees in all other areas:

● ₱170 for Metro Manila

● ₱200 (previously ₱350) for Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon

● ₱400 (previously ₱450) for Pangasinan, Baguio, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Mt. Province, Batanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay

● ₱560 for Visayas and Mindanao

IKEA also currently offers 50% off on truck delivery fees starting at ₱600 for all orders in Luzon until November 5, 2023. Click & collect, online planning services, assembly services, and installment payment plans via major credit cards are also offered in select areas for a convenient omnichannel shopping experience.

Shop IKEA online from anywhere in the Philippines today, visit www.IKEA.ph or download the IKEA Shopping app on Google Play or App Store. For more details on delivery and other services, visit www.IKEA.ph/delivery.

HONOR Philippines overachieves 2023 target, expands with new HQ

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After launching back-to-back viral smartphones, HONOR Philippines welcomed yet another big milestone following its comeback in 2022; the unveiling of its headquarters in the country.

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HONOR has celebrated another huge milestone as it opened its new office in the Philippines, located at Glas Tower in Ortigas!

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“This has been a long time coming and we are just very proud to finally open our doors for more opportunities to provide better service to Filipinos. We are equally grateful and we would like to share this feat with our loyal HONOR fans,” said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines.

The intimate yet momentous event was officiated by HONOR Philippines’ Country Manager Sean Yuan, Vice President Stephen Cheng, and GTM Manager Steven Yan.

It is remembered that HONOR Philippines started the year with a bang, launching its first viral smartphone HONOR X9a 5G and the leading smart devices provider has been unstoppable since then. Powerful devices under its X series – HONOR X8a, HONOR X7a, MagicBook X laptops – were also introduced shortly after.

HONOR Experience Stores were also unveiled in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, making the brand a nationwide success.

Its flagship smartphone HONOR Magic5 Pro was also introduced in June, another viral hit with its powerful camera and IP68 water resistance rating, the highest among the smartphones available in the market now.

Who would forget also forget the massive success of HONOR 90 5G and its 200MP Flagship Camera that really captivated the hearts of many Filipinos – making it sold-out just days after its launch.

Lastly, the recently launched HONOR 90 Lite 5G with the new addition to X Series – HONOR X6a, HONOR X5 Plus, and HONOR Pad X9 really captured the students and budding professionals in the country.

All of this, you can still get at an exciting deal during the HONOR 10.10 Sale. Get over Php 10,000 discount on HONOR products, just head on to Shopee (bit.ly/HONORShopeeShine99), Lazada (bit.ly/HONORLazadaShine99), and TikTok (bit.ly/HONORTikTokShine99) from October 10 to 14, 2023!

For more updates and announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.

Experience Elevated Productivity and Entertainment with the OPPO Pad Air

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With today’s seemingly never ending hustle, the amount of work we need to do has been a measure of how to make use of our time which leads to endless multitasking.

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Your new daily entertainment and productivity companion comes

with bigger storage, and all-around capability

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And with most of these tasks requiring the help of technology, we all need a device that’s designed to be an ideal partner in finishing our work even when on-the-go and at the same time allows us to enjoy it for when we need to take a break.

Seamless performance for work and play

The OPPO Pad Air is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon® 680 Chipset which delivers long-lasting and seamless interactions. With 8 CPU cores, and AI System Booster 2.1, the tablet is designed to get through with all your work, no matter how many they are happening all at once. In the same manner, the OPPO Pad Air allows you to switch apps in social media, play mobile games, and view photos or videos with ease. The OPPO Pad Air is also capable of External Memory Support MicroSD of up to 512GB.

Part of OPPO Pad Air’s seamless performance is its ColorOS 13.1 Android system that lets you effortlessly cast your phone screen to the tablet for an immersive viewing experience and productivity across devices.There’s also a file drag and drop function by simply touching and holding a file, letting it float, and effortlessly drag it to another app for seamless processing. This can be best paired with the OPPO Reno 10 Pro + 5G.

Massive Battery and  Fast Charging Feature

The OPPO Pad Air has a massive  7,100 mAh battery that allows you to be powered the whole day. Whether you’ll be on several video meetings  or just binge-watching your favorite series, no matter where you are, the OPPO Pad Air has you covered. The 18W battery is designed for high-speed charging ensuring you stay powered up without long waits. This is very helpful when you are always on-the-go or outdoors doing your work or just killing time with a nice movie to watch.

Bigger and Brighter device with a stylish design

The OPPO Pad Air provides an immersive viewing experience with ultra-narrow bezels and an 83.5% screen-to-body ratio. Perfect whether you are hooked on watching your favorite series or reading an exciting e-book. Not only that, its Dolby Atmos quad-speaker system presents true symmetrical stereo sound that gives you a superb sound.

For the ultimate viewing experience, the OPPO Pad Air also boasts of a 2K HD eye care display ​​making the screen brightness  softer and less dizzying  at night. It also has dual eye comfort certification that protects your eyes from harmful blue light emissions, plus reduces eye strain caused by prolonged usage.

OPPO Pad Air’s superb features are packaged in an aesthetically slim and lightweight design. Measuring only 6.94mm in thickness and weighing just  440g, its ergonomic design offers unparalleled user experience through comfort and portability. The OPPO Pad Air is designed to be a trusted gadget that you can take anywhere with ease whether at school, in your office, or on a long road trip.

The ideal tablet for your productivity and entertainment fix is here and comes at an affordable price! The OPPO Pad Air is priced at PHP 11,999 and is available in the Fog Gray colorway. The OPPO Pad Air also sports the OPPO Glow that involves a 5-layer coating giving an avant-garde texture.

To know more about OPPO Pad Air, visit OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com.ph/ or its official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

ASUS solidifies commitment to sustaining an incredible future, collects over one ton of recyclable waste with CORA

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ASUS solidifies its commitment toward an incredible, sustainable future and its thrust toward a circular economy and collected a landmark 1.67 tons of plastic and other recyclable wastes through a series of activations in partnership with nonprofit organization Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA). 

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

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The ASUS x CORA sustainability campaign spanned three phases, each focusing on and involving various stakeholders for a holistic approach toward promoting eco-friendly products, reducing waste, intensifying awareness about circular economy and climate action, and educating people on how to lead an eco-conscious lifestyle.

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

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

Circular economy starts with us

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

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

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

ASUS x CORA Mall Caravan

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

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

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

Celebrating International Coastal Cleanup Day

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

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

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

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

Experience worry-free travel with SafetyWing

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Travelling takes you on a journey into new worlds that you would have never been exposed to, allows you to meet people of different cultures, with diverse traditions and distinctive lifestyle, gives you thrill, exposure and excitement of adventure.

With or without much of planning, travelling becomes an adventure with uncertainty and the excitement of delving with the unknown. Regardless of how careful you are, it is important to prepare for the unforeseen. Even the most carefully planned travel, experiences can go unexpectedly wrong.

To have a medical and travel insurance is a must. To give you the peace of mind and comfort when you are traveling during these times, SafetyWing offers a range of products tailored to the needs of different travelers. 

What is SafetyWing

SafetyWing is the world’s first international travel medical insurance to cater to the needs of entrepreneurs, remote workers and travelers, traveling or living abroad worldwide.

Understanding SafetyWing

SafetyWing offers :

Nomad Insurance

• A travel and medical incident insurance built specifically for digital nomads. It can be purchased while already abroad, covers home trip visits and operates like a monthly subscription.

Remote Health

• Remote Health insurance is a fully fledged health insurance for remote teams and entrepreneurs. It gives global companies a truly flexible solution that no other insurance company offers.

Remote Doctor

• See a doctor from anywhere around the world, no matter where you are. Get premium medical care from the comfort and privacy of your own home (at a much lower rate).

Remote Retirement

• A retirement product for globally distributed teams that works in any country to help ensure your employees’ futures.

Why SafetyWing is a reliable choice for the adventurous traveler.

Insurance for nomads

• Nomad Insurance is a global travel medical insurance that covers people from all over the world, while outside their home country – COVID-19 coverage included. You can buy it even if you are already abroad.

Insurance for remote teams

• Remote Health is a global health insurance to cover your employees and contractors worldwide under one plan, regardless of where they live. Add or remove members through a user friendly dashboard.

SafetyWing offers various insurance plans for digital nomads and remote workers/teams. Their Nomad Insurance plans cover people from all over the world, even when traveling and living outside their home country. SafetyWing has affordable rates, depending on which coverage you choose and what your deductible is.

This insurance fits you best. SafetyWing  gives you peace of mind against the various risks of life.

SafetyWing insurance solutions can even be tailor-fit to your various needs depending on where you are in life. Visit  SafetyWing as they help you experience worry-free travel with its plans.

Stay safe  and enjoy the wonderful world, travellers!

Sing your heart out at Ortigas Cinema’s ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ premiere

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You don’t need to fly abroad to experience Taylor Swift’s history-making The Eras Tour. Ortigas Malls is making Swifties’ “Wildest Dreams” come true with the premiere of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Film at Ortigas Cinemas on October 13, 2023 in Estancia Mall, Pasig City.

Swift’s The Eras Tour is an ongoing concert tour where she performs her greatest hits from her entire discography spanning over 17 years and 10 albums. Swifties all over the globe flock to her shows to experience this cultural phenomenon.

Filipino Swifties can finally watch The Eras Tour on the big screen at 4F East Wing of Estancia. On October 15, there will be a Meet and Greet with a Taylor Swift look-a-like, fun games, and merchants where you can get colorful friendship bracelets for you and your friends. Don’t forget to show off your “Style” with your Eras Tour-inspired outfits!

Don’t miss out on this “Enchanted” experience and book your tickets to Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Film at Estancia via Ortigas Cinemas’ website. Regular tickets retails for P550, while The Screening Room is P750.

Here's your one-stop app for all your Larger Than Life experiences: Sign up for the Ortigas Community Card via the Ortigas Malls app to get first dibs on amazing deals, discounts, and perks.

For more information and updates on Ortigas Malls’ events, download the Ortigas Malls app, like Ortigas Malls on Facebook and join Ortigas Malls’ Viber Community.

This Dolly de Leon, Zanjoe Marudo, and Elijah Canlas Starrer is the Quintessential Netflix Family Drama this Holiday Season

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Grab your lumpia & ready the tissues for this heartwarming family dramedy!

Christmas lights are on, bibingka vendors are lining up the streets, and the family holiday plans are abundant – that’s right, Pasko na naman! And what better way to tide the family holidays over than with a heartwarming film that’ll surely hit all the right notes (pun intended)?

Keys to the Heart is the Filipino remake of the beloved Korean film of the same name, starring Zanjoe Marudo as Joma. He plays the role of a washed-up boxer whose life takes an unexpected turn when he is suddenly reunited with his estranged mother Sylvia, played by Dolly de Leon, and his brother Jayjay, portrayed by Elijah Canlas. Recently fired from his job, Joma reluctantly agrees to stay at his mother's house, where he is eventually left to care for his special-needs brother, a piano virtuoso preparing to participate in a prestigious music competition.

Aside from top-notch acting and the chaotic (yet oddly familiar) family plot line, here’s why you should add Netflix’s Keys to the Heart to your holiday watchlist.

It shows that families aren’t always perfect – and that it’s okay.

At the heart of Keys to the Heart lies its central theme: the reconciliation between Joma and his mother, Sylvia, whose awkward reunion is shadowed by a shared tragedy from decades past. Joma, hardened by years of living on his own, is suddenly thrust into an unconventional family unit, attempting to find his place alongside a mother he barely knows and a brother he had never intended to connect with. In a world often dominated by idealized images of family dynamics, the film beautifully portrays the complexities and raw emotions that come with reuniting fractured families. It provides a refreshing reminder that real families are far from perfect–and that it’s absolutely okay. We’re reminded that familial love – in all its messy, unpredictable, and sometimes heartbreaking nature – can thrive amidst these imperfections.

It touches on the theme of forgiveness.

Christmas is often associated with themes of giving, kindness, goodwill, and most importantly, forgiveness – which masterfully portrayed in Keys to the Heart. Over time, even the gritty Joma finds himself becoming protective of a brother he initially wanted nothing to do with and showing concern for a mother he despised. We witness his journey of letting go of the grudges and letting in compassion and understanding – virtues some of us might struggle to embrace, especially during the holiday season.

It emphasizes the magic of and in music.

And what’s Filipino Christmas without music? Or better yet, what are Filipinos without music, period? One of the most significant aspects of the film is embedded into Jayjay’s musical ingenuity; it underscores the enchanting magic of music, laced throughout the narrative and into the lives of its characters. These transformative melodies bring healing and solace – not only for the characters but also for the viewers. Keys to the Heart reminds us that music, as a universal and unifying language, has the extraordinary power to touch and transform the hearts of people.

It teaches us the value of perseverance.

An effective Christmas movie not only brings joy to the viewers, but also imparts valuable lessons that carry into the new year. And what better way to show that but with tenacious protagonists who carry on and persevere amid their circumstances? There’s Joma and his dedication to his craft – even after years of being stripped of his boxing license – and Jayjay with music and how he, in his own ways, pushes through in spite of his special needs. Together, the two remind us of possibilities and the strength and power of resilience.

It is simple yet comforting–a perfect watch for the holidays!

As the holiday season nears, we seek the cozy embrace of heartwarming films that capture the spirit of togetherness paired with the magic of the season, and Keys to the Heart effortlessly captures that through moments of laughter, tears, and heart-stirring moments. With a beautifully uncomplicated storyline, it offers a much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of the season – and of life, really.

Prepare to be moved, entertained, and inspired by this Filipino remake. Watch Keys to the Heart, now showing on Netflix. Check out the trailer below:

Keys to the Heart | Official Trailer | Netflix Philippines

The 12th Regional Travel Fair Heads North For A Three-Day Event in Ilocos

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The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), will hold the 12th Regional Travel Fair (RTF) in the Ilocos region. Businesses and consumers can discover the best that the region offers, as the event takes place from October 13 to 15, 2023.

The RTF is one of the signature events of the TPB being held in different parts of the country to give host regions an opportunity to present their rich local culture and their unique tourism offerings to the public.

“The 12th Regional Travel Fair is a great opportunity for people to learn what there is to love about the Ilocos region. Through this fair, both businesses and consumers can discover the unique attractions awaiting them in the northwestern part of our country. I’d like to invite everyone to join us at this significant tourism event, so that we can discover and explore the different sides of Ilocos,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.

The first day of the event will be an onsite Business-to-Business session with at least 50 local buyers and 70 sellers/exhibitors. This B2B session is a platform that provides an opportunity for both buyers and sellers to develop travel-related business operations and expand their business networks in the region. The buyers and sellers will also participate in a post-event tour that aims to keep them up to date with the different attractions that can be found in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.

A two-day Business-to-Consumer (B2C) fair will also be conducted at Robinsons Laoag to allow interested local consumers to purchase tourism offerings. The public can get discounted domestic tour packages, airline tickets, accommodation, and other tourism-related products and services. On top of that, this fair will feature exciting activities that can ignite one’s interest in the Ilocos region, such as product demonstrations of local artisans, samples of local cuisine, live selling of products, and educational interviews.

TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles further stated that, “The Ilocos region deserves the spotlight for the 12th Regional Travel Fair because it is rich with well-preserved historical sites and pristine nature attractions.”

Ilocos Norte offers majestic sand dunes for adventurous travelers, while San Juan in La Union serves as a surfers’ paradise in Luzon. On the other hand, Vigan City in Ilocos Sur takes tourists back into the past through its Spanish colonial architecture. Pangasinan also wows travelers with its centuries-old churches and white-sand beaches.

Discover all the things that will make you love the Ilocos region by joining the 12th Regional Travel Fair. Great travel deals await you at the fair, so register now at https://rtf.tpb.gov.ph/!

Cover Story: The Philosophy of the OPPO Find N3 Flip’s outer screen

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When OPPO launched the Find N2 Flip, it had the largest cover screen of any flip phone in the market. With an impressive 3.26-inch large display, it brought a revolutionary upgrade to the experience of the Flip phone.

After the Find N2 Flip, OPPO saw the entire industry following their lead in this direction, with the size of cover screens on flip phones getting larger and larger.

With the announcement of the OPPO Find N3 Flip, OPPO once again sets the standard in the user’s overall experience by introducing enhancements in its latest flip smartphone.

Vertical is Better

OPPO had a choice when making the OPPO Find N3 Flip: follow the trend and try and make the biggest cover screen once again, or think differently.

They went back and took a serious look at what kind of cover screen provides the best user experience.

Considering the daily scenarios users encounter and OPPO's in-depth understanding of its global users, they still believe that "Vertical is Better."

Selfies with Vertically No Crop

When you use the cover screen to take selfies, you can see the full preview.

It's so familiar – the same orientation as your smartphone screen. It’s also the same orientation as the phone's camera sensor. This means it captures photos with virtually no crop. What you literally see is what you get.

Compared to other products, although they can display more now by increasing the size of the cover screen, it is still evident that whether it's people or the background, the vertical cover screen of the OPPO Find N3 Flip can provide a better preview of more content, helping users compose their shots more effectively and confidently.

Bigger is Better

Most Android apps are designed to work on a vertical screen. Therefore, the vertical cover screen of the OPPO Find N3 Flip gives a more natural and intuitive experience. The bigger screen can also display more information.

Compared to other products, the OPPO Find N3 Flip can provide previews of more text messages and emails (e.g.Gmail) and showing more of the conversation details (e.g. WhatsApp).

It can also display more complete social media posts (X/Twitter). Other products can only show a portion of the text. The OPPO Find N3 Flip allows users to see both text and the entire four accompanying images.

These differences are not solely determined by screen size but are the most noticeable efficiency disparities users experience in their daily lives.

The Next-Level Cover Screen Experience

Over the past few months, OPPO has been working with its partners like Google to fine-tune the experience for each app to make sure all the supporting apps scale as well as possible on the cover screen.

Out of the box, the OPPO Find N3 Flip will support dozens of the most popular apps on the cover screen. This includes Google apps like Phone, Maps, Keep, and Gmail, as well as other popular apps social media, short video, music streaming and food delivery apps, and car-hailing services, maps, online payment solutions and more.

Answer the phone with Google Dial, play a fun GameSnacks game, hail a taxi with Grab, navigate with Google Maps, check your social media – swiping through posts and videos, or even reply to messages in Telegram with a Google keyboard, and you can do all of that without having to open up the phone.

More apps will be added on OPPO Find N3 Flip’s powerful cover screen through future software updates.

With the new app support, OPPO believes users will experience the next-level cover screen experience on the OPPO Find N3 Flip.

For more information and for more updates on the OPPO Find N3 Flip, visit OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com.ph/ or its official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises brings back the authentic storytelling roots of Blogging, awards winners of Write to Ignite Season 3

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Global award-winning communications group COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises has finally concluded “UNMASKED: The COMCO Mundo Write to Ignite Initiative Season 3” with the announcement of the program’s Top Storytellers in a virtual awards night held recently.

Following the success of its first and second seasons, the initiative recently returned for a third season to continue empowering storytellers across the nation by collating and amplifying their powerful stories that champion the human spirit. Write to Ignite Season 3 brought to light amazing stories that were previously untold, unheard, or underrated.

By pushing participants beyond their comfort zones and asking them to feature tales of triumph, success and perseverance from other people they are connected to, work with or know, the initiative was able to pull back the mask of everyday heroes from various walks of life and to share their heartwarming journeys and inspiring perspectives in life.

Numerous participants from all over the Philippines participated in the challenge, with 40 finalists emerging to lead the journey. These finalists were invited to a Virtual Awarding Ceremony, where the top 20 storytellers were declared.

Iris Acosta of Pinay Ads from Caloocan City emerged as the Grand Champion for her entry “Unmasking Strength: A Journey of Resilience and Hope” about her mom’s battle against cancer. Other winners in the top 5 include 1st runner-up Gretchen Filart of Our World in Words from Sta. Maria, Bulacan for her entry “Championing Biodiversity Against The Odds: Environmentalist Celine Murillo, Unmasked” which is about the journey of environmentalist Celine Murillo and her advocacy for the conservation of biodiversity and natural heritage through storytelling; 2nd runner-up Katrina Rivera of Kwento ni Kat from Talisay City, Negros Occidental for “Wrist Tags, Bananas in Pajamas, Masks, and All the Things That Can Keep Us Alive” which is about her friend Nikka and her battle with lupus; 3rd runner-up Mauie Flores of The 24-Hour Mommy from Cainta, Rizal for “UNMASKED: The Amazing Faith and Courage of a Fabulous Ausome Mom” which is about her churchmate’s journey raising her three children in the autism spectrum; and 4th runner-up Marjorie Pineda-Uy of Woman in Digital from Quezon City for “UNMASKED: God Loves You ‘As Is’” which is about her aunt’s experience living with disability.

The top 5 winners were also given an opportunity to support their selected accredited non-government organization through donations as part of the prizes they won. Grand Champion Iris Acosta chose to support Save the Children Philippines, 1st runner-up Gretchen Filart picked Philippine Eagle Foundation, 2nd runner-up Katrina Rivera selected Make-A-Wish Foundation, 3rd runner-up Mauie Flores partnered with SOS Children’s Villages, and 4th runner-up Marjorie Uy identified Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) as beneficiary.

The Grand Champion won PhP 40,000 and two international round-trip tickets from airasia. The rest of the Top 5 winners won cash prizes, PhP 20,000 for the 1st Runner-Up; PhP 15,000 for the 2nd Runner-Up; PhP 12,000 for the 3rd Runner-Up; and PhP 10,000 for the 4th Runner-Up. The Top 6 to 20 finalists are bringing home cash prizes while all the Top 40 Finalists are receiving merchandise items from sponsors and participating brands.

“We started the Write to Ignite initiative amid the pandemic. It was timely back then, and it still is up to now. At a time when our social media has become a tool for the proliferation of fake news, trolling, organized bashing, hate campaigns, and black propaganda, we go back to the very essence and roots of blogging, which is authentic storytelling. This is what a real blogger does. We trust and believe that they uphold the very essence of the practice, sharing the truth through inspirational writing and storytelling. This is why we are proud of the Write to Ignite bloggers, content creators, and storytellers as once again, they were able to demonstrate that the platforms they use can be, and should be, used for positive social change," said Ferdinand L. Bondoy, the Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder of COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises.

"It was a challenge to have to write someone else's story, but our Write to Ignite storytellers were able to accomplish that and even exceed expectations. All entries and stories were very valuable and worthy of being read, shared, and recognized," shared Mr. Bondoy.

UNMASKED: The COMCO Mundo Write to Ignite Initiative Season 3 is created and organized by COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, with airasia as a major sponsor / brand partner; with Babyflo and PHILUSA Corporation, Century Tuna, Licealiz and Lamoiyan Corporation, Rémy Martin, and Uratex Monoblock as sponsors / brand partners; with Make-A-Wish Philippines, Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Philippine Eagle Foundation, Save the Children Philippines and SOS Children's Villages Philippines as NGO partners; and with SEA Wave Pop Culture Magazine as the official media partner.

To know more about COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises and Write to Ignite, visit www.comcomundo.com or follow https://www.facebook.com/comcomundo/ on Facebook and https://www.linkedin.com/company/comcomundo on LinkedIn.

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About COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is the parent company and umbrella group for all of COMCO’s existing and upcoming ventures and initiatives, a collective of agencies and programs dedicated to advancing the communications profession and related disciplines such as digital, media, advocacy, training and education, and entrepreneurship, among others; to be a force for social change; to nurturing talent growth, craftsmanship and workplace community culture; and to championing borderless collaboration. The COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is comprised of COMCO Southeast Asia with a network of affiliates in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, COMCO Middle East & Africa, TARO AOX Inc. Digital + Integrated Communications, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program and Alumni Society, and Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program.

COMCO has been awarded Medium Consultancy of the Year in Asia Pacific at the PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association) Awards, thrice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Quill Awards; Agency of the Year – Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards; twice as Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, Marketing Interactive’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, and the global CIPR Excellence Awards; and 150 metals from various local, regional and international award-giving bodies.