Score Big Discount at Watsons’ Nationwide Sale this August 15-20!

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Your go-to health, wellness, and beauty O+O Retailer is having its Nationwide Sale this August 15-20. Enjoy exclusive and exciting deals available online via the Watsons App and in Watsons’1000+ stores nationwide.

Watsons Club members can enjoy a 10% off for a minimum spend of P1000 and more member perks from your favorite brands.

Get BUY 1 TAKE 1 DEALS and save up to 50% on a complete range of wellness and beauty must-haves!

And don’t miss a chance to get FREE TICKETS to the Watsons Playlist Concert when you shop online. Featuring today’s top acts from SB19, Ben and Ben, and Zack Tabudlo. Terms and conditions apply.

So, what are you waiting for? Fill up your Watsons App carts now and check out on August 15 or head to your nearest Watsons store during the NATIONWIDE SALE!

Spread the word and see you all there!

Enjoy P100 off when you download the Watsons app through this link http://bit.ly/WatsonsMobileApp Terms and conditions apply. 

Visit any of 1000+ Watsons stores nationwide or pick up your orders at your nearest Watsons store in 30 minutes or less via Click & Collect or have them delivered to you in 3 hours through Express Delivery*.

*Available in select cities only. Delivery fee capped at P50 or enjoy free delivery for a min. spend P500. Wait for your order confirmation from the app and via SMS to know when your package will be delivered. Learn more about Click Collect and Watsons Express Delivery by visiting www.watsons.com.ph/shipping-delivery

For more information, follow @watsonsph on Instagram, like @WatsonsPH on Facebook, and follow @watsonsphilippines on TikTok

Manila Wrestling Federation Takes Modern Pinoy Wrestling to A Higher Level in “MWF: Road to Fate 2023”

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The Manila Wrestling Federation (MWF) continues to further establish its status as the Philippines’ premier professional wrestling entertainment brand as it delights the fans with its annual spectacle MWF: Road To Fate 2023 – featuring a roster of 100% Filipino wrestling stars. The already jam-packed event is set to take place at Power Mac Center Spotlight PMCS Blackbox in Circuit Makati on August 20, Sunday.

• All-Filipino pro wrestling extravaganza headlined by MWF Pinoy Wrestling Championship match between Fabio Makisig and Robin Sane
• Annual Road To Fate spectacle debuts on Philippine television

MWF: Road To Fate 2023 is also set to debut on national television as part of MWF’s weekly series “Aksyonovela TV”, which airs on RJ’s Rock of Manila TV (available on SkyCable Channel 229, or rescan digital TV boxes) and its social media channels (Facebook and YouTube) every Monday night at 9 PM.

Headlining this year’s extravaganza is the conclusion to the storied rivalry between MWF founder Robin Sane and current MWF Pinoy Wrestling Champion Fabio Makisig. Sane was MWF’s inaugural champion in 2018, defeating Makisig in a knockdown-drag-out war, before losing the title to Southeast Asian wrestling scene pioneer Ho Ho Lun the following year. Long-time fans are heavily anticipating the championship rematch between two of the federation’s greatest rivals.

Among the other marquee matches set for Road To Fate 2023 is the volatile tag team match between the brand’s top villains – “Mr. Philippine Wrestling” Jake De Leon and Main Maxx (Oro, Plata, Mata) and the avenging heroes, the “Queen of Philippine Wrestling” Crystal and the returning Pinoy Strong Style pioneer “Danger” Rex Lawin. MWF’s resident televangelist, the fan-favorite Bro. Jomar Liwanag of Bahay ng Liwanag is also set to prove his otherworldly powers in a handicap match against his former minister Kaibigang Aaron and his lovable superhero friends El Katipunero and Super P.

MWF: Road To Fate 2023 also features MWF mainstays including Nigel “Suplex” San Jose, Bro.  Benny Soriano, CJ Serafin, Danny Zamora, Joya, Dabid Ravena, Migs Valdez, Razael, Ken Cifer, Chelsea Marie, Isaiah Valencia, Kanto “Kilabot” Terror and Tarek El Tayech, Veronica Shannon, Tricia Ligaia, Mr. Sy and Kurt Jimenez, as well as MWF trainee/aspirant Pink Shirt.

Tickets to MWF: Road To Fate 2023 are available now at Ticket2Me. The event will also be later uploaded in episodic form in MWF’s fan-exclusive channel on Gank. For more details, visit MWF’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X.  

 

Enhancing Commuter Convenience: Mocasa, beep™ Team Up for Effortless Payment Solutions

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Philippines' first virtual credit wallet, Mocasa, and Automated Fare Collection Service provider, AF Payments Inc. (AFPI), recently announced their partnership aimed at improving the everyday travel experience for millions of Filipino commuters. Through this collaboration, users can now easily and securely reload their beep™ cards using Mocasa.

Mocasa and AF Payments Inc. (AFPI) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that would improve the everyday travel experience for millions of Filipino commuters. Present in the MOA signing were (from L to R) AFPI Chief Commercial Officer Sharon Fong, AFPI President and CEO Jonathan Juan Moreno, Mocasa Chief Executive Officer Robin Wong and AFPI Chief Finance Officer Chona Christine Basilio

The collaboration comes at an opportune moment with the Philippine government, spearheaded by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), pushing for cashless payment transactions, particularly in the transportation sector.

To reload a beep™ card, users simply need to download the Mocasa mobile app and apply for a Pay Later account and activate their virtual Mastercard. Once approved, they can choose either to top-up or use their virtual Mastercard to reload.

For the top-up loading option, users simply need to go to the “Buy Load” section, select “BEEP” and choose their desired denomination. Users have to enter their beep™ account number and pay with Mocasa credit.

Users can also reload using the virtual credit card (VCC) option. They just have to tap the beep™ logo in Mocasa’s home page which will redirect them to beep™ app. Once rerouted, a pop-up window will show users instructions on how to reload using their VCC by tapping the “MPay” logo and keying in their card details checkout section. This integration streamlines the payment process, and users can be assured that their personal and financial information remain protected at all times.

In addition, Mocasa and AF Payments Inc. will develop loyalty programs that reward frequent Mocasa-beep™ users with exclusive perks and incentives. Both companies also promise to continuously enhance their systems and processes to meet the ever-evolving needs of commuters.

"We are honored and excited to partner with AF Payments Inc. to further ease the way people travel and pay for transportation services," said Robin Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Mocasa. "By leveraging our virtual credit technology and AFPI's extensive network, we aim to redefine the commuting experience, making it more seamless and enjoyable for passengers."

Jonathan Juan Moreno, President and Chief Executive Officer of AF Payments Inc., expressed equal enthusiasm, "This partnership represents a significant milestone in our mission to provide Filipino commuters with the most advanced and user-friendly payment options. Together with Mocasa, we are excited to introduce an innovative payment method that simplifies and enhances the travel experience."

Both companies are committed to an efficient and timely integration process, with the first phase of the partnership's offerings expected to roll out to commuters within the quarter.

beep™ cards can be purchased and used at Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2), Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations, select Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus Stations, and retail partners. They are also available in AFPI's official e-commerce platforms – Lazada, Shopee, and FB Marketplace.

Users are also encouraged to download the beep™ mobile app and register their card for convenient reloading, to check their balance, monitor transactions, and earn rewards points.

Mocasa is a financial technology company duly licensed and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and an accredited accessing entity of Credit Information Corporation (CIC). To learn more about the latest updates from Mocasa, visit www.mocasa.com or its Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok accounts. Customers are encouraged to download the app in Google Play or App Store to know more about its services and latest promos.

Check out these four interesting handmade products by Madiskarte Moms

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Small business owners, especially women entrepreneurs, are important to both their immediate communities and the local economy. Research shows that there are around 28,000 Women’s SMEs (WSMEs) in the country or around one in four of all SMEs in the Philippines.

Entrepreneurs who are also mothers at home—the so-called mompreneurs—founded their businesses with the goal of improving their family’s lives. These businesses encourage creativity and empower women to be financially independent.

The online community Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) is one such support group for moms who are starting their own businesses or scaling up their existing ones. MMPH has its own Facebook group and YouTube channel that feature posts and videos of moms sharing advice and best practices in online marketing and selling. It’s very inspiring to see moms telling their own stories of how they started small and eventually scaled up.

These mompreneurs have created intensely personal businesses and, as such, their dedication shows in their products — proudly handcrafted, each one never the exact same copy of another. In a world of fast production, there is value in products made with skilled hands, passion, and care.

Mompreneurs are some of the most madiskarte and hardworking Filipinos hustling their way toward their financial goals. They deserve our support and applause for starting businesses from nothing, but more importantly, their products deserve our attention. Here are four of the best handcrafted products from the mompreneurs of Madiskarte Moms PH:

1. Bible journals by Love, Mama V

For those who like to write down their thoughts and prayers during their regular Bible readings, Madiskarte Mom Vannie Roxas’ Bible journals are a great get. Initially made for her own use, she started her business this year when her workload as a freelance social media manager became less demanding.

She joined a crafting workshop to learn how to print, and her husband’s T-shirt printing business made it easier for her to start since they already had the equipment. “At the workshop I learned that there are so many products we can do—it was a bit overwhelming,” Vannie says. “But I thank God because he led me to create products that are aligned with my passion and faith. I really use Bible journals to help my faith grow and I wanted to share it with fellow devotees who want to jot down their meditations.”

Vannie also now offers a Prayer Journal, Biblical Affirmations notebook and other products to help her customers in their faith journey. She says she feels very blessed as the business gives them additional income. “It’s not that big yet since we just started. We’re in the process of studying how we can grow it and expand to create more jobs in the community. I hope we get bulk orders for this year’s Christmas season so we can share the blessings that our products have showered upon us.”

Vannie’s journals are simple, usable, thick and long-lasting. They’re also truly affordable at P220 per journal.

2. Handmade relief balms and salves by Nurture Moms Balms

Our skin could always use some extra TLC—which is why this idea from mompreneur Christine Joy Llameg is one of the more enticing products in the Madiskarte Moms PH community. Christine sells homemade balms and salves that help treat annoying skin conditions such as rashes and dry skin. The healing salves are made with all-natural ingredients, such as essential oils and botanical extracts, and they also avoid the potentially dangerous chemical camphor.

The idea of making balms came to the mompreneur when she wanted to make one for a friend’s son with G6pd or the lack of an enzyme (glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase) in the blood. “Anything minty is not allowed to touch his skin so I first made a salve for him, and that sparked the idea of eventually selling them.”

The business also helps fund therapy sessions for Christine’s four-year-old daughter Irie, who’s in the autism spectrum. “I had my first big order during my second month—100 pcs of aromatherapy balm as a wedding favor and that paid for two months of therapy sessions. Currently my sales are at a slow phase but I’m still fighting for it because I have to give the best life for my family, especially my daughter,” she says.

Christine personifies the mom who never gives up no matter the odds. She shares that this is her third business idea after two failed ventures. “Life is really hard but when I think about my daughter, I feel like I can do anything.”

3. Realistic paper flowers by ICreate-paper flowers

Need floral decor for your events and spaces? Mompreneur April Baltazar’s paper flower designs, which imitate popular flowers such as roses and daisies, give off a very realistic feel. A Madiskarte Mom since 2015, she proudly shares that her home business has taken her to different places across the country to set up paper flowers for various clients.

April started her business eight years ago after she stumbled on a Facebook post about giant paper flowers. “I was intrigued and quickly became interested, so I decided to try making them myself. Since then, I have been exploring various social media platforms in search of creative ideas and online tutorials to gain inspiration. The positive feedback and encouragement I received from my friends, family, and early clients played a significant role in shaping my current path,” she says.

Madikarte Moms’ support motivated her to channel her creativity into a profitable business while social media helped her discover her target market. “Business has become our primary source of income. With it, we are able to pay our bills every month and even have some savings. Since I have been practicing my art for many years, I have seen significant improvement in my skills. As a result, I now conduct workshops to share my knowledge and expertise, which serve as an additional source of income for my family.”

April admits that the market is now saturated with numerous competitors, but “we are able to meet all our needs and wants solely by selling giant paper flowers. This business has truly helped my family financially.”

4. Polymer clay earrings by Cess’s Official

Want to change up your personal style? These handcrafted floral-themed polymer clay earrings by mompreneur Cess Tordes are colorful and vibrant, perfect to either accentuate a subtle outfit or complete a larger-than-life look. They’re also great for all ages! Mommy Cess offers a large collection of earrings, which she makes when she’s feeling stressed from her day job.

“I got the idea from Pinterest. I saw earrings that were so beautiful that I made some for myself. When I posted them on Facebook, a lot of people inquired where they could get them or if I was selling them. I couldn’t do it full time because I work full time for an AU-based company. Making polymer clay earrings is both a side business and a hobby,” Cess says.

She shares that the profit from the business goes to the schooling of her four-year-old daughter. “The income from the business is not a lot yet because I sell them at low prices, especially to momshies. But the fulfillment I get from creating them and seeing them worn by women to important occasions in their lives like their birthday, graduation or wedding is very satisfying.”

These awesome products by mompreneurs from the Madiskarte Moms PH community show that there’s no limit to the creativity and ingenuity of the Filipina. There are a lot more handmade products and items waiting to be discovered.

If you’re also a madiskarte mom who’s looking to touch base with like-minded mompreneurs, or if you’re an aspiring mompreneur who wants to channel your creativity and productivity into a small business, the Madiskarte Moms PH community is more than welcoming to new members.

To check out more unique products, connect with fellow mompreneurs, or start your journey to becoming a mompreneur yourself, you can join the Facebook group here.

Tourism Promotions Board hosted WORLDCHEFS Asian Presidents Forum 2023 a first for PH

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The Philippines hosted the recently concluded WORLDCHEFS Asian Presidents Forum (WAPF) 2023, welcoming delegates and presidents from sixteen (16) member societies, two (2) associate member groups, as well as organizational heads of the World Association of Chef Societies (WORLDCHEFS). This was the first time the event was held in the country, with the last occurring in Bangkok in 2019.

MEETING OF THE MINDS Willment Leong, WORLDCHEFS continental director for Asia, speaks in a closed-door meeting on Aug. 1 with WORLDCHEFS presidents

Co-organized by the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB) and LTB Philippines Chefs Association, the WAPF kicked off with an opening ceremony on July 31 at Conrad Manila. Forum events ran until August 5 and aimed to bring together culinary experts from all over Asia to share culinary heritage, industry best practices, and sustainability goals through knowledge-sharing sessions, competitions, and outreach programs scheduled throughout the weeklong conference.

Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco shared that the event was a good showcase of the country, saying that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “envisions the Philippines to have a more primary role in Asia in terms of being able to reintroduce itself to the world, not only on the aspect of fun and adventure, but most importantly, to allow you to get to know the heart and soul of the Filipinos that lies in our history, our heritage, our identity, and our living cultural traditions, including and especially, our culinary traditions.”

“We are given a unique opportunity to listen and learn from experts about developments in the culinary field. The world is more connected, now more than ever, and this has vastly influenced and changed the way we look at food, especially in recent years. People from all over the world are constantly seeking new gastronomic experiences,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Margarita Montemayor Nograles.

A FIRST Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (center) poses with delegates and member association presidents of the World Association of Chefs Societies (WORLDCHEFS) at the organization's first Asian Presidents Forum to be held in the Philippines.

Attending member societies include LTB Philippines, Association of Culinary Professionals Indonesia, Cambodia Chefs’ Association, Chefs Association of Pakistan, Chefs Guild of Lanka, Chefs Guild of Maldives, China Cuisine Association, Hong Kong Chefs Association, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations, Korea Chefs Association, Mongolian Chefs Association, Professional Culinaire Association of Malaysia, Singapore Chefs’ Association, Taiwan Chefs Association, Thailand Chefs Association, and The Saigon Professional Chefs’ Guild.

The associate member groups of Penang Chef Association and Karachi Chefs Association were also present.

“So many presidents and so many representatives from WORLDCHEFS member countries, [who] are here in the room, shows that Asia is one of the powerful forces in WORLDCHEFS,” said Chef Thomas Gugler, WORLDCHEFS president.

Also in attendance to give talks on Filipino food heritage and food sustainability in hospitality establishments were Felice Prudente Sta. Maria and Chef Meik Brammer, respectively. LTB Philippines’ Chef Fernando Aracama hosted a panel discussion with

Chefs Stephan Duhesme, Carlos Villaflor, and Jordy Navarra about the Philippine culinary scene.

Chef KK Yau, WORLDCHEFS assistant vice president, gave an update on WORLDCHEFS Without Borders’ Chef Social Responsibility efforts in Syria. While Chef Alan Orreal, WORLDCHEFS Young Chefs chairman, spoke about the necessity of bridging the gap between young chefs and the old guard of the culinary world.

In anticipation of the week’s events, Chef Rick Stephen, WORLDCHEFS Culinary Competition Committee chairman, gave a rundown of culinary safety and competition standards.

Chef Carlo Miguel, LTB Philippines president, said, “We’ve always wanted to be able to showcase Philippine hospitality to our Asian neighbors ... We can show them how advanced we are in our culinary skill through the Philippine Culinary Cup as well.”

Organized by PEPTarsus Corp., the World Food Expo (WOFEX), a long-running Philippine food trade show, was held from August 2 to 5 at SMX Convention Center and World Trade Center. WOFEX hosts the only WORLDCHEFS-accredited culinary competition in the country, the Philippine Culinary Cup, which ran on August 5 along with the semifinals of the WORLDCHEFS’ Global Chef Challenge.

According to Chef Willment Leong, WORLDCHEFS continental director for Asia, the Global Chef Challenge itself had amassed a record number of participants for the association, with 51 chefs from 11 different member countries engaging in this Philippine leg.

Leong also facilitated the launch of the WORLDCHEFS e-book “Food of Asia, Soul of Asia.” Available on the WORLDCHEFS website, the e-book features authentic recipes across the continent crafted by member association chefs.

Joel Pascual, PEPTarsus president, spoke about the benefits of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) events such as the WAPF in boosting local trade and travel. “We are indicating that the Philippines is open for business,” he said.

Chef Leong said, “Hospitality from the Philippines is unbelievable … This [has been a] tip- top, world-standard forum .. We look forward to [coming] back to this beautiful home we call the Philippines.”