Lustre Awards and Metro Fashion Ball: Poised For A Grand Comeback

Tweet

As more events gear up this upcoming holiday season, it's high time for Lustre Awards and Metro Fashion Ball for a resounding comeback after it's successful inaugural show before a two-year hiatus due to a pandemic. 

Slated for a second run on December 12, 2022, multi-awarded fashion designer and founder of Lustre Awards and Metro Fashion Ball, Don Cristobal, together with partners held a media launch to re-introduce the much awaited extravaganza. At the media launch, Beauty Queen Ivanna Kamil Pacis hosted the event. Important personalities who will play a vital part at the fashion and awards night were also introduced. 

The esteemed Lustre Awards 7Stars board of councils were Don Cristobal of Team DC Manila, Miguel De La Rosa of MPLIFY, Jenny Lin Ngai of SunSmart Solar Power Technology Inc., Gibeth Gloria of Crowne Plaza Galleria,, Jed Velasco of Clever Box Events, Arvin Cruz of Scene Zone Magazine, and Jebie Reyes of JR Talents and Events Management. 

On December 12, the two part event will commence with METRO FASHION BALL, a FASHION GALA in the afternoon that will feature the collections of renowned and established names together with the next game changers of Philippine fashion highlighted by the new collections of Don Cristobal and the participating designers and brands, Anna Fuentes Ligaya, Cathy Capistrano , Corps D’Elite Manila, DAX Apparel, DC Models PH, Jot Guardiano, Juvy Fantilanan, Kristoffer Tabili, Luchel Gloriani, Niña Cantiller, Roberth Gallardo III, Sabrina’s Fashion Collection, Shiela Fairytutu, and Zyrill Jane Jacinto.

The LUSTRE AWARDS 2022 will follow in the evening with a formal dinner and awarding ceremony. The latter is a national pinnacle award set to recognize movers and shakers of the Philippine fashion industry, outstanding individuals who excel in their chosen field with their impressive talents, expertise, and leadership skills as well as for being an inspiration and a paragon to society. This will also include acknowledgement of businesses and organizations that define and exemplify excellence through their services, products, and objectives. 

This event also supports important charitable institutions through it's partners Cotmon Community of Polangui, Albay's Educational Programs thru Mplify Cares, Cayabu Integrated School - Tanay Rizal thru PROJECT MISSION 500 of Tagpuan Camp & Eco Park, and Doc Robs SHARE YOUR BLESSINGS Foundation. 

Last 2019, big names in fashion, showbusiness, politics, and diverse businesses graced the event, including Albert Andrada, Leo Almodal, Avel Bacudio, Supermodel Wilma Doesnt, Jojo Bragais, Mario Dumaual, Rodin Gilbert Flores, and Jerome Ponce among others graced the event.

Together with activities and advocacies, it is expected that a visual treat of glitz, glamour, exceptional creativity and of course good food will definitely complete the evening.

Suli-TEN ang BiyaHolidays: 2GO brings back Php10 sale, launches favorite lifestyle brands onboard

Tweet

 

2GO Travel, the Philippines’ premiere sea travel provider, ushers in the BiyaHolidays season with a Php 10 sea sale — one-way fare inclusive of a 50kg baggage allowance — and a shopping and food-trip experience that makes the sailcation even merrier. 

 

The sale runs from Oct. 26 to 31, 2022 for travel  from Nov. 15, 2022 to Jan. 16, 2023, is for voyages from Manila to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Coron, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Ozamis, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Zamboanga, and vice versa. The promo is also available out of Batangas to Cagayan De Oro, Coron, Puerto Princesa, and Tagbilaran and vice versa. 

 

Starting this holiday shopping season, goodies and lifestyle gear from well-known retail and food brands can be purchased onboard. 

 

MINISO’s cute and affordable finds – daily essentials, home living, health and beauty products, bags and digital accessories, toys, stationery and gifts – are  now within reach in 2GO vessels. 

 

A selection of proudly Filipino, locally made souvenirs from Kultura is also available onboard.  

 

Classic products from everyone’s favorite pasalubong -- Goldilocks Bakeshop -- such as cake rolls, egg pie, and its signature mamon are now on offer at the Horizon Café. Brownies and pastries from Brownies Unlimited, best paired with quality coffee, hit the spot for sweet cravings.  

 

Try the 2GO-exclusive milk tea variants and fruittis from Coolblog. Snack Exchange offers nibbles that passengers can enjoy while on the journey. 

 

These holiday treats partnered with the trademark 2GO sailcation experience of spacious and clean accommodations, hot and fresh meals, onboard activities, and views of the country’s beautiful islands from its famous sundeck make the homecoming journeys even more memorable.  

 

“We want passengers to look forward to BiyaHolidays even more with our partnership with these well-loved staple brands. And together with our Php10 sale, it will be a fun, festive travel season with 2GO,” said Blessie Cruz, 2GO Group Head for Marketing.     

 

Tickets may conveniently be booked online at travel.2go.com.ph; on-site at 2GO retail stores, SM Business Centers, any of 2,000 agents nationwide; or call (02)-85287000. 

 

Hosting MICE (Meetings Incentives Conferences & Exhibitions) such as fun team buildings and planning sessions are now possible on 2GO vessels, particularly on MV 2GO Masagana and MV 2GO Maligaya. The two ships serve as unique event venues with meeting and entertainment facilities that can accommodate exclusive gatherings.   

 

Entravision MediaDonuts Reports Strong Growth in 2022, Poised for a Solid 2023

Tweet

Entravision MediaDonuts, an advertising, media, commerce, and ad-tech solutions company with world-class commercial partnerships with Twitter, TikTok, Spotify, Criteo and other tech platforms in Asia-Pacific, is gearing up to fast-track growth and expansion in 2023.

Speaking during a media gathering at Shangri-la The Fort, Pieter-Jan de Kroon, CEO of Entravision MediaDonuts, said that the company continues its strong growth trajectory and expansion in the region, which has only accelerated further since the acquisition by Entravision in July 2021.

“2022 is shaping up to be a stellar year for our company, and the Philippines plays an important role in this growth story,” de Kroon added.

The Philippines is a dynamic and high-growth economy–and the growth rate of the advertising industry, especially digital, is proof of that. A study by eMarketer in March 2022 projects digital ad spend in the Philippines to total USD 585.7 by end of the year. The amount is expected to rise to USD 631.9 in 2023, representing an almost 8% increase year-on-year.

Says de Kroon, “The Philippines continues to be one of the markets driving marketing spend and growth in the region. Filipino advertisers are always open to learning new advertising platforms for that competitive advantage, and that has contributed significantly to this growth.”

Entravision MediaDonuts is firmly founded on 3 pillars

The Entravision MediaDonuts business is built on three main pillars: Social Media, Retail Media, and Performance Marketing.

Social Media continues to command the majority of time spent online by users, and therefore also the majority of investment by advertisers. Entravision MediaDonuts is uniquely positioned as the Exclusive Sales Partner of Twitter in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as TikTok Marketing Partner in SEA. Through geographical expansion, new partnerships, and social commerce capabilities, Entravision MediaDonuts’ expertise can help customers drive success on social media platforms.

Retail Media is expected to grow to a USD 160-billion industry by 2027. Through exclusive partnerships with Criteo, the largest commerce media platform for the open internet; Carousell Media Group, the number 1 recommerce marketing platform in Greater Southeast Asia; and ShopBack, the leading shopping and rewards platform in Asia-Pacific, Entravision MediaDonuts is uniquely positioned to help its clients build sophisticated retail media strategies that drive GMV growth.

Performance marketing remains a major component in the business, and it has evolved towards a mobile app performance business in APAC, driving app installs at scale for fintech, e-commerce, edutech, and gaming apps optimized towards lower funnel goals such as account opening, sales, and in-game purchases.

“We’re seeing strong demand from advertisers to drive online sales both through marketplaces as well as direct-to-consumer,” de Kroon says. “With our Social Commerce capabilities as well as Retail Media solutions, we’re well positioned to help advertisers ride this new wave in digital advertising that is designed to drive actual business outcomes for brands.”

On top of being awarded several high-profile contracts, Entravision MediaDonuts’ operations also expanded in 2022 to include Bangladesh and Cambodia, in addition to its current markets in Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

“We’re very excited to expand into new markets and are very bullish on our prospects in Cambodia and Bangladesh. In 2023, we will continue our geographical expansion with new openings in APAC.”

-------------------------------------------

About Entravision MediaDonuts

Entravision MediaDonuts is a leading advertising, media, commerce, and ad-tech solutions company with world-class commercial partnerships with Twitter, TikTok, Spotify, Criteo, and other tech platforms serving 9 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Entravision MediaDonuts is a business unit of Entravision, a leading global advertising, media and ad-tech solutions company connecting brands to consumers by representing top platforms and publishers. Learn more about our offerings at www.mediadonuts.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Journalist and now entrepreneur and farmer Ces Oreňa-Drilon: ‘It’s really passion that moves you forward.’

Tweet

Ces Oreňa-Drilon has never met a story she wasn’t passionate about pursuing or a challenge she didn’t face head-on with a positive spirit.

Ces Drilon leaves her comfort zone to try new things like digital, farming, \

and starting her own business.

When the former reporter and Bandila anchor lost her job when ABS-CBN’s franchise was not renewed at the height of the pandemic in 2020, Ces turned to farming and entrepreneurship to sustain her. Out of the newsroom, she also explored digital platforms to reach her audiences.

Ces, who was also former Content Acquisition Head of ABS-CBN Lifestyle Ecosystem Group, says, “Leaving the anchor’s chair was my own decision because I wanted to leave my comfort zone and try new things like digital. So, I took the plunge and tried my hand at livestreaming. I was very nervous at first because I was communicating to a younger audience, which I was not used to. But to my surprise it became one of the best things I did during the pandemic. I was so happy, and my fear of having dead air and talking to 20-year-olds was unfounded. It was also a new way of generating income during the pandemic.”

The award-winning broadcast journalist who, for over 30 years, was on our TV sets chasing hard news and feature stories found that there was a whole new world away from the newsroom. It may be a cliché but it’s true that when a door closes, a window opens.

For Ces, it was becoming an entrepreneur, content creator, and a farmer. She founded and launched Provenciana, which produces smudge sticks or bundles of dried herbs that you burn to produce a cleansing cloud of smoke for positive energy; soaps; and other natural home products.

“I learned to adapt and try new things because the road to success is never a straight line. For me the secret to success is enjoying what you do, and also to savor life’s little pleasures. Don’t forget to celebrate living.”

How Ces Drilon manifested her dreams

Ces began her journalism career in 1984. As a rookie reporter, she had to work long hours and be very diligent about the stories she was assigned to do to build credibility.

“I love the craft. I love the challenge of being able to combine words and video, and being able to distil a very complicated issue into two minutes.”

In the end, she says, all this paid off. “It’s really the passion that moves you forward because the job of being a field reporter is very demanding. If you begin early, you reap the benefits of what you sow. Your commitment, your dedication will bear fruit as a reporter, and consistency is key. In the beginning, I was open to a lot of opportunities and challenges without being so conscious about the pay knowing that payback would come later. Alam niyo, success doesn’t come overnight but over time.”

She took new challenges and explored new ground as she worked her way up the newsroom. “Learning new things and new skills is so fulfilling. And it’s good to leave one’s comfort zone.”

Ces Drilon believes FWD Life Insurance’s Manifest, an investment-linked insurance, 

is a wise plan to have.

Like many women, she successfully balanced a demanding career with her other role as a single parent to four young boys. This pushed her to think long and hard about her financial wellbeing.

“I started investing when I was a reporter. I bought insurance for myself and for my kids because I wanted to protect my family. When you have protection, you can take calculated risks with the hope of earning bigger returns. You know, after I lost my job of over 30 years, pivoting to a new venture like Provenciana was easier because I was financially prepared and had a back-up plan. Sound financial planning will grow and protect what you’ve built.”

For that she believes FWD Life Insurance’s Manifest, an investment-linked insurance, is a wise plan to have. “FWD Manifest gives you strong life protection and smart wealth investment. And because it has protection and investment components, you can manifest your dreams with more confidence and less worries,” she says.

Knowing that she’s protected and her family is secure also gives her the courage to venture and expand her new life as an entrepreneur.

“I will be giving greater focus to farming this second half of 2022 aside from growing all the things that Provenciana needs. I want to eventually live there (in the farm). The aim is really to be able to go back to basics and to tap the healing and nurturing properties of Philippine endemic plants.”

To Ces, success is being able to build something that will outlast her. “Success also means leaving the world a better place than when you found it. So, I dedicate this to my children.”

“I manifested my dreams and I know you can, too. Invest and manifest your future with FWD Manifest.”

To know more about FWD Manifest, schedule a free consultation with an FWD financial advisor.

Maxi Clean Laundromat Underscores Importance of Product Trust in Starting a Business

Tweet

With any business, the foundation of trust is important. You have to believe your employees, your partners, and of course, the products or services you’re providing. It’s crucial that you can stand behind the product wholeheartedly because if trust erodes, it will be almost impossible to repair.

This foundation of trust is how sisters Claire and Minette started the successful Maxi Clean Laundromat chain in the province of Bulacan. Before everything else, they looked for a business partner that they already know and can rely on. Minette gives her own experience with LG washing machines as an example. “We chose LG because we have an LG washing machine at home that we’ve been using for ten years already. When we started the business, we went for machines that we know are reliable.”

Claire and Minette Cruz, owners of Maxi Clean Laundromat

[Watch the full video at https://fb.watch/gnm7-RGloE/]

Manny Villagracia, Minette’s husband, handles the technical side of things of the business and is all smiles with how he can manage the machines remotely. “I can diagnose, troubleshoot, and monitor the day to day operations and even assist our laundry care experts to troubleshoot the machine anytime anywhere.” And it’s not just Manny who is happy with the LG Commercial Machines’ wi-fi capabilities. With the Laundry Lounge app, customers can reserve the machines, monitor their laundry, and even do contactless payment with the touch of a button. This gives customers the freedom to choose which machines they want with the specific time span they need. Manny shares how important this feature is. “LG empowers your customer base as if it's their own machine. (It gives them) power at their fingertips”.

When asked about their experience about starting a laundry business, their common answer boils down to trust. You have to find a brand to be your partner for the long run. Minette underscores this point, saying “Choose a brand you can trust because they will deliver in their promise of helping your business.”

When asked about their experience about starting a laundry business, their common answer boils down to trust. You have to find a brand to be your partner for the long run. Minette underscores this point, saying “Choose a brand you can trust because they will deliver in their promise of helping your business.”

Find out more why business owners and entrepreneurs put their trust in LG Commercial Laundry by visiting www.lg.com/ph. Want to open your own business? Send a message to LG Commercial Laundry PH on Facebook to get started.

------------------------------------------

About LG Commercial Laundry

LG has a wide range of commercial laundry systems to meet your needs. Combining stylish design, sophisticated energy efficient technology and heavy capacity for even the most demanding of commercial laundry needs. LG's commercial laundry systems include washing machines and washers that will make your life a little easier. It's all possible with LG.