Toy Kingdom holds biggest Toy Expo with over 100 top toy brands to shop for

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Get ready for a toy-tastic adventure filled with trending toys! Toy Kingdom is holding its highly anticipated Toy Expo 2024 from August 22nd to 25th at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Brace yourselves for four days of pure fun, where the biggest world of toys awaits you!

Explore and shop for over 100 toy brands like Bluey, Funko Pop, Mario Bros., and Squishmallows. Take a trip down memory lane with Care Bears, Sanrio, and Voltes V alongside timeless favorites like Barbie, Lego, Marvel, Star Wars, and many more.

Toy Expo 2024 customers will have the chance to win their own brand new PlayStation 5 when they join the daily exciting raffle! It will be open to all who will purchase any item from Toy Kingdom with a minimum single receipt of PHP1,000.00 from August 22 to 25. To get the raffle entry, they must scan the QR code displayed in the cashier area and fill out the form. One winner will be drawn every day.

Make back-to-school extra special with cool gifts for the kiddos. Toy Kingdom Amazing Card and SMAC members can score exclusive discounts up to PHP300 off on selected fun toys, gadgets, and other games that youngsters love.

The excitement doesn't stop there! Prepare to meet your favorite characters like Bluey, Dream Beams, Lego Ninjago, Minions, Sylvanian Families, Sesame Street, Zoonicorn, and more. Plus, get ready to scream with excitement as Toy Kingdom unveils exclusive toy launches, including the dazzling Funko Pop Glittered Jollibee! Discover limited-edition treasures, unbox surprises with mystery boxes, and don’t miss your chance to win big with daily raffles.

Whether you are a seasoned collector searching for that rare gem, a parent seeking to bring joy to your child, or simply looking for a fantastic weekend experience, the Toy Kingdom Toy Expo offers something for everyone to enjoy.

The Toy Kingdom Toy Expo 2024 is open from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM on August 22 and 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM from August 23 to August 25. Admission is free.

For more details on upcoming activities, promos, and exciting surprises on Toy Expo 2024, follow Toy Kingdom PH on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) or visit their website: https://www.toykingdom.com.ph/

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About Toy Kingdom

Founded in September 1990, Toy Kingdom operates under International Toyworld Inc. (ITWI), an affiliate of the SM Group of Companies. ITWI engages in the wholesale and retail of toys and other related merchandise. Its mission is to make sure that kids have an amazing childhood and create lasting memories for families.

As the largest chain of toy store in the Asia-Pacific region, Toy Kingdom lives up to its promise of being an amazing toy store. It carries a wide assortment of toys for babies, kids, tweens and big kids at heart. Toy Kingdom continues to provide toys as tools for learning through price-guaranteed, high quality merchandise. As of count, Toy Kingdom has a total of 26 stand-alone stores inside various SM Supermalls and other major malls, over 100 branches inside The SM Store and SM Markets. Its online store include toykingdom.ph.

Unmasking the Best: Top Livestreaming Hosts Honored at Bigo Live Philippines Mid-Year Gala

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Bigo Live, the international Livestreaming app has recently concluded their exciting mid-year gala. Themed “Modern Masquerade”, the gala was held at the exclusive “Xylo at The Palace” in BGC Taguig Manila on 16th of August 2024. The Bigo Live Mid-Year Gala is a half yearly celebration of the best and brightest that livestreaming has to offer. It is also an opportunity for fans and favorites to gather and mingle in an otherwise digital world.

From left to right: Hailey Mendes and Jamir Zabarte (Sparkle GMA Artists), and Jasmin Angeles (Talent Manager)

The event saw approximately 300 livestreamers attending the in-person party and 15,654 online, among whom were the winners for PUGC Outstanding Contribution, PUGC Agencies and Families Award, as well as agency, families and hosts awards. These individuals were highlighted for being the best in their category, and for their impressive contributions to the livestreaming community.

Bigo Live Philippines Mid-Year Gala 2024 Winners

The Filipino community is an international one and the Mid-Year Gala was viewed from countries in the USA, Middle East and Asia. They banded together to celebrate the talented hosts and joined in the vote to pick the special winners for “Best Dressed”, “Family of the Night” and “Most Impactful Icon of the Night”. Hosted by in-house Bigo Live celebrities, Jannine Cartagena (bigo id: ninjajannine) and Nicole Cando (bigo id: simplynicole2021)

Bigo Live Philippines Mid-Year Gala 2024 Winner Jannah Bocatiya known as jfaye 

on the Bigo Live app.

“2.5 years has been an amazing journey for me because while I'm doing BIGO, I'm also studying. And I'm very proud that for the first one year and a half years of me doing BIGO, it financed my education. I’m very proud to say I just graduated marketing management as a Magna cum laude. So imagine, I used to go live at night, graveyard shift and go to school the next day without any sleep. However it was all worthwhile, you don't just work at BIGO, you also get to mingle with other people. They motivate you, they give you strength. Sometimes, kahit pagod ka na, may nanunood sayo, there's always someone watching.” Says winner (Jannah Bocatiya, bigo id: jfaye)

Bigo Live recently concluded “Bigo Voice”, Philippines inaugural hybrid talent competition to celebrate the multiple vocal powerhouses that can be appreciated in-app culminating into an off-line event that was held in June this year. In January 2025, Bigo Live will host their annual awards gala in Dubai; this will be the first time that the Bigo Awards Gala will be held in the Middle East.

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About Bigo Live

Bigo Live is one of the world's fastest-growing livestreaming social communities where users broadcast in real-time to share life moments, showcase their talents, and interact with people from around the world. Bigo Live has more than 400 million users in over 150 countries. Launched in March 2016, owned by Singapore-based BIGO Technology, Bigo Live continues to innovate and expand its reach. For more information and download the Bigo Live app, please visit: https://www.bigo.tv/vi/

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M Lhuillier's ML Moves - a worry-free logistics solution for parcel delivery

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M Lhuillier has made it so much easier and more convenient for every Filipino

M Lhuillier, a leading financial services company in the Philippines, has expanded its offerings beyond money transfer by introducing ML Moves, a logistics solution for parcel delivery.

ML Moves for reliable logistics solutions that connect families and ensure the safe and efficient delivery of parcels. Your "Tulay ng PaMLyang Pilipino," M Lhuillier, bridges families not just through money lending and money transfer services but also through logistics solutions.

You don’t have to go through the extra hassle just to send your documents and packages to anywhere in the country with the "Tulay ng PaMLyang Pilipino, "

ML Moves offer convenient drop-off and pick-up centers catering to both walk-in and e-commerce transactions. ML Moves’ services offer flexibility to different types of customers.There are partnerships ensure reliable and efficient transportation of parcels to their respective destinations.

Walk-in Transactions

Customers can conveniently drop off parcels and documents at the nearest M Lhuillier branch offering ML Moves services, and ML Moves will take care of the shipping process using its local courier partners, including DHL Express for international destinations.

M Lhuillier has you covered for sending parcels and documents to domestic or international destinations. Simply drop off your items at the nearest M Lhuillier branch offering ML Moves service, and ML Moves will handle the shipping process using its network of local courier partners, along with DHL Express for international shipments

E-Commerce Solutions

ML Moves also provides seamless logistics solutions for e-commerce transactions.

Returns (Shopee)

For approved return/refund requests, customers can drop off the item at any M Lhuillier branch, and the company will handle the return shipment without charging any additional fees.

Branch Pick-up (Lazada)

ML Moves offers customers the option to have their Lazada package delivered to the nearest M Lhuillier branch, providing them with the flexibility to pick it up at their own convenience.

Sellers Drop-off (Lazada & Shopee)

Selected M Lhuillier branches function as drop points for parcels from Lazada and Shopee sellers. These branches serve as collection points, where Lazada and Shopee couriers periodically gather the parcels for further delivery to line-haul carriers.

Branch-to-Branch or Branch-to-Door Deliveries

To send a package using ML Moves, follow these steps:

• Visit the nearest M Lhuillier branch that offers ML Moves services.

• Present the package to the branch staff for inspection and complete the required form.

• Make the necessary payment for the shipment.

Important Reminders

Please take note of the following guidelines for package acceptance:

• M Lhuillier does not accept packages with dangerous and illegal goods.Airspeed only accepts packages that fit in their pouches for domestic walk-in transactions.

• For J&T Express, M Lhuillier accepts boxes (using the customer’s own packaging) weighing up to 50kg or measuring up to 1.5 meters on one side.

• However, for Shopee Sellers Drop-off, Shopee Returns, Lazada Sellers Drop-off, and Lazada Branch Pick-up, bulky packages up to 20 inches on each side can be accepted.

Experience the convenience of M Lhuillier’s trusted services today. Your go-to place for money transfers and remittances offers a whole list of other essential services. Now, you can do more than just send and receive money, logistics and parcel delivery through M Lhuillier's ML Moves.

To know more about ML Moves, you can visit: https://mlhuillier.com/ml-moves/

You may follow M Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc. on Facebook, or visit https://mlhuillier.com/ for more information.

Building Filipino resilience through health and financial security

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In a country often impacted by natural disasters, resilience has become a way of life. These days, however, having a resilient mindset is not enough as having the right mitigation and adaptation tools can spell a difference in one’s ability to bounce back from adversity.

Health protection ensures access to essential medical treatments without financial stress, which is crucial after natural disasters when health risks, like infectious diseases, often arise.

Financial security provides the necessary support to manage unexpected expenses, allowing families to focus on recovery.

“Building resilience involves more than having a resilient mindset; it’s about being prepared and equipped with sufficient instruments to overcome life’s difficulties, including health and financial challenges. Having a proactive mindset can help families cope better with setbacks,” shares Maricel Maricel Estavillo, Pru Life UK’s Vice President for Government Relations & Sustainability.

In support of this advocacy to adopt a proactive approach, Pru Life UK has been growing its pool of affordable and accessible life insurance products designed to reduce financial burden and enhance health protection during times of crisis and more so during natural disasters or disease outbreaks:

●        PRUDengue MedCare and PRUDengue MedCare Pro provide financial assistance upon dengue diagnosis.

●        PRUMedCare – Select Infectious Diseases offers broader coverage, including protection against a range of infectious diseases namely Dengue, Typhoid, Measles, and Malaria.

●        PRUWellness and PRUShield both provide hospitalisation coverage. PRUWellness covers dread diseases, surgical expenses, and death of the life insured. On the other hand, PRUShield covers injuries, illnesses, and death.  

●        PRUPersonal Accident, a yearly renewable insurance, provides financial support in the event of injury or death due to unforeseen events.

“Shaping a fully prepared society that embraces a new approach to resilience requires collective effort. Pru Life UK contributes through simple and accessible insurance solutions to provide financial protection for many Filipino families,” shared Garen Dee, Pru Life UK’s Chief Product Officer. 

Championing community-based financial education 

Beyond making affordable health and life insurance products available, Pru Life UK educates communities on the importance of financial preparedness and security. 

In 2023, Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation partnered with the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation for Project Padayon Bantayan Island, Cebu. The project aimed to help uplift lives through training and development programmes focused on health, employment, and disaster preparedness. 

Pru Life UK employees and agent volunteers helped conduct community education sessions on financial management, empowerment of micro, small, and medium enterprises, employment, family health and nutrition, women's health, disaster risk preparedness and management, and climate change resilience. 

Community-based climate and financial education sessions were also conducted in Lian, Batangas for women farmers during the Wais sa Pera si Juana financial literacy session; Taytay, Palawan for mothers; and Mandaluyong city for the beneficiaries of its Solo Parent programme. 

"These learning sessions are part of our commitment to being the most trusted partner and protector of Filipino families. We especially want to help families from disadvantaged backgrounds better manage their finances to build long-term resilience,” Estavillo further shares.

As communities across the Philippines continue to face and recover from various challenges, resilience is not just about having the mindset to endure hardships but also about being able to recover fast and move forward. This strength is built through preparation, education, health protection, and financial security that can empower Filipinos to better navigate adversity and emerge stronger.

For more information about Pru Life UK, visit https://www.prulifeuk.com.ph/en/.

MMDA Hands Over Mobile Materials Recovery Facility (MMRF) Operations to Brgy. Bayanan, Muntinlupa City

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The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has formally turned over the operations of the Mobile Materials Recovery Facility (MMRF) to Brgy. Bayanan, Muntinlupa City. This milestone is part of MMDA’s ongoing efforts to empower local communities in managing their waste more effectively, ensuring that the responsibility of solid waste management is both localized and sustainable.

The MMRF, an essential tool in the Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP) Solid Waste Management Component 2, is designed to streamline waste segregation and recycling at the barangay level. During the turnover ceremony, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed, marking the formal transfer of responsibility from MMDA to the local government unit (LGU) and Brgy. Bayanan. This MOA highlights the barangay's commitment to uphold and operate the MMRF system, under the close monitoring and guidance of the LGU’s City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the MMDA Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO).

“The involvement of the residents, barangay, and local government is crucial to our waste management initiatives,” said Dir. Josias Syquimsiam Jr., Project Director of the MMDA Solid Waste Management Office. “The MMRF provides a structure to waste segregation, allowing communities to turn waste into valuable resources. This represents a shared commitment to creating a cleaner and more sustainable Metro Manila.”

Brgy. Bayanan’s adoption of the MMRF system has already led to significant achievements. Over the past two years, the barangay has collected 18,746.6 kilograms of recyclables, which were exchanged for 78,473 goods, and generated 72,154 pesos from sales to junk shops. These figures translate directly into reduced waste in landfills, cleaner streets, and a more engaged community. The barangay faced challenges such as initial resistance to the new waste segregation policies, but through continuous education and community involvement, they have successfully increased resident participation and established valuable partnerships with local recycling businesses.

Punong Barangay Engr. Jonathan “Athan” Gutierrez expressed the community's commitment to sustaining the MMRF operations: “Our barangay is dedicated to maintaining the MMRF system and expanding our waste management efforts. With the support of our residents and the guidance of MMDA and CENRO, we can achieve even greater results in waste recovery and environmental protection.”

The turnover ceremony was attended by key officials from Brgy. Bayanan, the Muntinlupa City LGU, and MMDA. Community members also participated, demonstrating their ongoing support for the MMRF initiative. The event included the formal signing of the MOA, symbolizing the strong collaboration between MMDA and Brgy. Bayanan. This partnership is expected to serve as a model for other communities as MMDA continues to roll out the MMRF program in other areas of Metro Manila, including Lower Bicutan, Batis and Corazon de Jesus, Pio and 135, San Isidro, and Daang Bakal.

The MMDA remains committed to supporting Brgy. Bayanan as it takes full control of the MMRF operations. This ongoing collaboration will ensure that the barangay continues to benefit from technical assistance and monitoring, fostering a sustainable environment for its residents. Future turnovers in other Metro Manila areas will follow a similar approach, focusing on empowering communities to manage their waste effectively and contribute to the broader goal of waste diversion and recovery across the region.