Erceflora Strengthens Its Commitment to Gut Health Education This Batang Matatag Day 2026

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Persistent gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools continue to put Filipino children at risk of preventable infections. In the Philippines, diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of illness and hospitalization nationwide, with studies linking around 80% of diarrhea-related deaths to poor access to safe water and sanitation. This recent health concern shows how unsafe water and poor hygiene continue to expose children to avoidable infections.

Enter Batang Matatag, Erceflora’s flagship advocacy, tackling child mortality from diarrhea by flipping the script—from treatment to prevention. The initiative champions gut health awareness, hygiene education, and improved sanitation, reaching over 200,000 children across different regions in the Philippines since its launch in 2022.

“Batang Matatag reflects our commitment to protecting children not just through treatment, but through prevention—empowering communities with the knowledge, habits, and support to build strong foundations for lifelong health and resilience. Real change begins with the small things families do every day, it starts at home, in schools, and in everyday choices,” said Rica Mateo, Erceflora ASEA Zone Brand Lead.

The Batang Matatag initiative by Erceflora has built WASH facilities and donated refrigerated drinking fountains to over 104 schools across BARMM, Luzon, and Rizal, helping drive measurable health gains and improving everyday environments where children learn and grow. 20% decline in diarrhea cases in partner Rizal schools and a 50% reduction in BARMM schools have been observed during School Year 2024–2025.

Looking ahead, Erceflora aims to reach 150,000 students and healthcare providers in 2026 as the program expands across Rizal and Metro Manila, strengthening its mission to build more resilient children through better gut health and hygiene practices.

“Being Batang Matatag starts with taking care of one’s body, but this mission goes far beyond any single product or organization. We call on parents, educators, and partners to work with us—because building stronger, healthier children is a shared responsibility we cannot achieve alone,” Opella Healthcare Philippines Country Head, Emma Valette emphasized.

Batang Matatag Day 2026: Growing the Mission, Strengthening More Young Lives

Five years in, Batang Matatag isn’t slowing down—it’s scaling up. Batang Matatag Day 2026 marks a renewed push to expand the program’s reach, highlighted by a visit from Opella Healthcare’s executive leaders—CEO Julie Van-Ongevalle, Chief Growth Officer Alberto Hernandez, and Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer Matthieu Brucker—and partnerships with seven new schools, including Maharlika Integrated School in Taguig.

There, 200 Grade 2 and 3 learners joined interactive activities—including the Batang Matatag Bus sessions on proper handwashing—to promote healthy habits early and strengthen well-being at its foundation.

"For the past five years, in partnership with Manila Water Foundation, schools, and communities across BARMM and Luzon, we’ve been helping children look after their health—especially their gut health, which supports 70% of immunity. We want more kids across the Philippines to know this and be truly Batang Matatag. We’re committed to reaching even more this year," Carol-Ann Stewart, Opella Healthcare AMEA President, noted.

For partner schools, the impact is already tangible—and points to what sustained investment can achieve.

“Batang Matatag’s services and contributions came at a crucial time, enabling us to provide improved drinking and washing facilities that will have a lasting impact on our school community. We are honored to be among the program’s beneficiaries. More than the resources, your commitment has brought joy to our learners and strengthened an environment where they can thrive, grow, and build healthier habits for the future,” said Dr. Romeo O. Olalo, Principal of Maharlika Integrated School.

MAHALAGANG PAALALA: ANG ERCEFLORA GUT DEFENSE AT ERCEFLORA GUT RESTORE AY HINDI GAMOT AT HINDI DAPAT GAMITING PANGGAMOT SA ANUMANG URI NG SAKIT. 

MAT-PH-2600358 / Ver 1.0 / DA 03-2026 / DM 03-2026

Opella Healthcare Philippines Inc.

GEMs for Tomorrow: Nurturing Young Minds with Discovery Samal

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Discovery Samal has long recognized its people as “Samal GEMs,” a name drawn from the values of being genuine, enthusiastic, and memorable. These GEMs are known for shaping the guest experience, extending their role beyond the resort through community initiatives and engagement programs. With GEMs for Tomorrow, Discovery Samal brings that same spirit into a focused effort that supports young learners and strengthens ties with surrounding communities.

Discovery Samal launched its 2026 GEMs for Tomorrow program on February 28, 2026, through an outreach in Barangay New Carmen, Tugbok District, where the team connected with local children by distributing school supplies, serving meals prepared by its chefs, and initiating a longer-term education-focused effort.

GEMs for Tomorrow forms part of Discovery Samal’s broader CSR direction, centered on building meaningful relationships within grassroots communities through education. The program focuses on underserved sectors, with children as primary beneficiaries, marking a more active step toward sustained engagement with the community.

Reaching the Grassroots

GEMs for Tomorrow is designed as an ongoing campaign that builds on previous outreach initiatives, maintaining a consistent focus on young beneficiaries. The selection of Barangay New Carmen in Tugbok District reflects an intent to work within communities where educational support can be reinforced through both material assistance and structured engagement. The program emphasizes not only resource distribution but the creation of opportunities for learning, making education the central thread across its activities.

The February 28 activity functioned as an initial introduction between the Discovery Samal team and the children. School supplies were distributed during the visit, accompanied by meals prepared by the resort’s chefs, creating an environment that allowed for informal interaction, focusing on establishing familiarity and trust.

Laying the Groundwork for Learning

Future visits under GEMs for Tomorrow will include structured learning sessions facilitated by Discovery Samal team members in coordination with local teachers. These sessions aim to support classroom instruction and contribute to the children’s development over time. The initial outreach serves as a preparatory step, setting the tone for a longer-term engagement that fosters collaboration with the school community.

Beyond the Initiative

GEMs for Tomorrow reflects Discovery Samal’s continuing effort to align its CSR initiatives with education and community-building. The program signals a move toward sustained involvement, in which impact is measured by ongoing presence and deeper community ties. Barangay New Carmen marks the starting point of this engagement, with plans to further develop the initiative in the months ahead.

vivo 4.4 Summer Sale makes easier to own V70 today

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Sun’s out, plans are packed, and memories are waiting to be captured. vivo’s 4.4 Summer Sale on Shopee and Lazada arrives right on cue, bringing irresistible deals, flexible payment options, and exclusive discounts designed to keep up with every kind of summer adventure.

Enjoy summer with vivo V70

Long travel days often come with familiar struggles, from blurry zoom shots of scenic views to missed moments and the constant hunt for a power outlet. The vivo V70 is built to solve exactly that.

It features a 50MP ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera that brings distant landscapes and candid moments into sharp focus, supported by new AI features that magically transform your portraits.

With its 6500mAh BlueVolt battery and 90W FlashCharge, it keeps up with long days and gets you powered up quickly when needed.

During the Lazada sale from April 5 to 8, you can own the V70 for as low as Php 11,283 per month for three months at 0% interest via LazPayLater, making flagship-level travel photography easier and more accessible than ever.

Shopee Early 4.4 Sale: March 29 to April 1

The Shopee early sale gives you a head start on your summer upgrade with free shipping, 0% interest for up to three months via SPayLater, and up to 12% off vouchers.

Beyond the V70, shoppers can also explore other vivo smartphones such as the vivo Y29, available for as low as Php 10,899, the vivo V60 Lite 5G at Php 17,699, and the vivo Y21d at Php 7,949, offering options that fit different needs and budgets.

Lazada 4.4 Summer Sale: April 5 to 8

The excitement continues on Lazada, where customers can enjoy free shipping, 0% installment for up to three months via LazPayLater, and 10% off Super Saver Vouchers.

Aside from the V70, more vivo devices will be available during the sale, including the vivo Y04s at as low as Php 2,235 per month and the vivo Y21d at Php 2,685 per month, giving users more ways to upgrade this summer.

From capturing breathtaking views to staying powered through every stop, vivo’s 4.4 Summer Sale ensures you’re ready for whatever the season brings. With exclusive offers on Shopee and Lazada, there’s no better time to upgrade to a device that works as hard as your summer plans.

Mark your calendars and get ready to make every trip, every photo, and every moment count.

Make Easter Moments Matter with Richmonde Hotels’ Family Staycation Experiences

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This Easter, skip the long drives and crowded destinations, and instead, spend meaningful moments with the people who matter most at your home away from home in the city. Richmonde Hotels invites families to celebrate the season with staycation experiences that bring together relaxation and a touch of summer holiday fun—perfect for creating memories across generations.

Richmonde Hotel Ortigas: Easter Traditions & Celebrations for the Whole Family

 

At Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Easter is all about togetherness and with its family-friendly offers at the best value for money rates, grandparents, parents, and the little ones can share in simple joys that become lasting traditions.

Available from March 29 to April 6, 2026, the Easter Break Escape room package may be booked at rates starting at only PhP 3,500 nett for room-only stays (except on April 4) and PhP 5,100 nett if with breakfast buffet for two. Guests staying on April 4 get a special treat with an extended Easter Sunday Breakfast Buffet served from 6am to 11am at Richmonde Cafe. Expect a delectable spread of breakfast favorites plus a roast beef carving, a dimsum & hotpot station, a salad bar, chocolate fountain, and many more that will delight the young ones and the young at heart. The Easter Sunday Breakfast Buffet is also open for walk-in guests at PhP 1,180 nett for adults and PhP 590 nett for children 6 to 12 years old. Children 5 and below eat for free.

Families can spend unhurried afternoons at the hotel’s “Kitchen Lab,” a series of hands-on activities where kids and kids-at-heart can create their own pizzas, decorate donuts, and design cookies for PhP 350 nett per person per activity, complete with themed snacks and drinks.

Metro dwellers can look to Richmonde for a cozy staycation that feels both familiar and refreshing and where there’s something for every family member to enjoy together. For inquiries and bookings, call +632 8638 7777, +63 917 859 7914 (Room Reservations), +63 534 4352 (Food & Beverage), email stay@richmondeortigas.com, or log on to www.richmondehotelortigas.com.ph

Eastwood Richmonde Hotel: Effortless Easter Fun in the City

Easter unfolds at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel with ease and energy, thanks to its prime location within the vibrant Eastwood City and direct access to Eastwood Mall—giving families everything they need just steps away. Room packages from March 29 to April 5, 2026 start at PhP 4,000 nett (room only) and PhP 5,600 nett (with breakfast for two).

For those planning a full Easter weekend, packages on April 4 and 5 are available from PhP 6,500 nett (room only) and PhP 8,100 nett (with breakfast), inclusive of two tickets to the Enchanted Garden Easter Party.

Happening on April 5, 2026 from 1PM to 6PM at the ballroom, the Enchanted Garden Easter Party celebration promises an exciting afternoon of magical fun and wonder for children and parents alike, highlighted by a variety of engaging activities and delightful surprises. The venue transforms into a whimsical garden where imagination blossoms and childhood fancy come to life. Kids can embark on a thrilling Easter egg hunt, get creative with bracelet making, and enjoy colorful face painting and sticker tattoos, while the whole family can look forward to captivating performances lined up in the party’s program, a deliciously satisfying snack buffet, and special giveaways. Tickets to the Enchanted Garden Easter Party are priced at PhP 1,888 nett per person.

Dining is just as inviting, with Eastwood Café+Bar’s Favorite Filipino Eats consisting of a Lenten Merienda Buffet on April 2 and 3 at PhP 600 nett per person, and an Easter Sunday Lunch Buffet on April 5 at PhP 1,200 nett per adult and PhP 600 nett for children, with little ones five and below dining for free. Offering popular Pinoy dishes like pancit, puto bumbong, bibingka, and halo-halo for snacks and freshly grilled meats & seafood plus many more local delights for the luncheon celebration, Eastwood Café+Bar’s buffets are a flavorful collection of well-loved flavors for all ages.

At Eastwood Richmonde everything is designed for seamless experiences so guests can simply relax and enjoy a worry-free stay. For inquiries, reservations, and ticket purchases, get in touch with Eastwood Richmonde Hotel at +63 8570 7777, +63 917 531 6867 (Room Reservations), +63 917 821 0333 (Food & Beverage), and email stay@eastwoodrichmonde.com, or log on to www.eastoodrichmondehotel.com.ph.

 

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo: A Relaxed Easter Escape in the Heart of Iloilo

Easter takes on a more laid-back rhythm at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. Set within the cosmopolitan township of Iloilo Business Park, also named as the city’s Center of Arts and Culture, the hotel embodies the best of the past and present worlds of Iloilo. Expect a space where comfort, convenience, and a sense of place come together beautifully.

From March 29 to April 5, 2026, the Eggsclusive Easter Getaway package is available for both locals of Western Visayas and domestic and international travelers wishing to visit the City of Love during the Easter break. Rates start at PhP 4,200 nett (room only) and PhP 4,800 nett (with breakfast for two), accommodating up to two adults and two children.

During the Lenten Week, days are best spent enjoying the summer breeze at the hotel’s pool or exploring the surrounding scenic spots, including heritage churches, at a relaxed pace. On Easter Sunday, families can gather at The Granary from 11:30am to 4:00pm for the Eggstraordinary Easter Lunch Buffet priced at PhP 1,500 nett per adult and PhP 750 nett for children, with kids five and below dining for free. A festive spread and special raffle draw add a cheerful touch to the celebration.

For inquiries and reservations, contact Richmonde Hotel Iloilo at +633 328 7888, +63 917 580 9642 (Room Reservations), +63 917 563 3558 (Food & Beverage), and stay@richmondeiloilo.com, or log on to www.richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph

Indeed, Richmonde Hotels make it easy to celebrate Easter in a way that feels both meaningful and memorable without having to travel far. Sometimes, the best holidays are simply but about being fully present with the ones you love.

Another Win for the PH: mWell Secures Second Global Mobile Award for Innovation in Healthcare

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Metro Pacific Health Tech's mWell, the country’s fully integrated health and wellness mega app, brings Philippine health technology to the global stage, having won the Global Mobile (GLOMO) Award for Best Mobile Innovation Supporting Emergency or Humanitarian Situations under the Tech4Good Category at the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, making it the first Philippine healthtech app to win in this category. This marks a back-to-back GLOMO win following its 2023 award for Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life.

“Digital innovation is key to our commitment to national progress,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of mWell and MPIC. “Through mWell, we continue to harness technology to bring quality healthcare closer to every Filipino.”

“This recognition affirms our focus on advancing healthcare inclusion through innovation,” said Chaye Cabal-Revilla, President and CEO of mWell and Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer of MPIC. “Our goal is simple: ensure healthcare is within reach for communities that need it most.”

Global Recognition for Philippine Health Technology

Organized by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), a global organization that unites the mobile ecosystem to drive innovation, advance connectivity, and enable positive business and societal impact, the GLOMO Awards are widely regarded as the mobile industry’s most prestigious recognition worldwide, honoring innovations that transform connectivity and improve lives worldwide.

The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on March 4 and selected by a panel of more than 250 independent experts from across the global mobile ecosystem. With this recognition, mWell joins leading global brands such as Apple, Samsung, Huawei, China Mobile and China Telecom among this year’s winners across various categories at the 2026 GLOMO Awards.

Lara Dewar, CMO of the GSMA, said: “Over three decades in and the GLOMOs continue to set the benchmark for what true excellence looks like in our industry. The standard from this year's winners is extraordinary, with every winner tonight representing innovation and excellence with real purpose and global ambition. Being recognised on the global stage at the GLOMOs is something genuinely special and thoroughly deserved for all our winners.”

Bringing Healthcare Access for Underserved Communities

Today, the mWell ecosystem, together with KonsultaMD, serves 7.3 million users, with 37% coming from vulnerable and underserved sectors. To expand access to care, 179 mWell OnTheGo Clinic-in-a-Bag units have been deployed across remote islands, Indigenous communities, correctional facilities, and disaster-affected areas, supporting almost a million people across 17 Indigenous communities.

Across the Philippines’ 7,641 islands, access to healthcare can still require hours of travel by land or sea. To help close this gap, mWell uses mobile technology to bring care directly to underserved communities.

Through mWell OnTheGo, a portable digital clinic with a smartphone or tablet preloaded with the mWell app, Wi-Fi, satellite internet, solar panel and power station, patients in remote areas can consult with licensed doctors, receive prescriptions, and access their health records without leaving their communities.

mWell also supports BangKalusugan (BangkaHealth) in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), deploying health boats that deliver telemedicine services to coastal villages and island barangays, working closely with barangay health workers to facilitate consultations and connect residents with doctors. In emergencies, mWell launched Southeast Asia’s first medicine drone delivery service, enabling life-saving medicines to reach patients in minutes instead of  Advancing Digital Health Technology for Every Filipino

Through partnerships with national agencies, local governments, and institutions, mWell continues to build the country’s first integrated digital health ecosystem, connecting telemedicine, diagnostics, pharmacy services, wellness programs, and secure digital health records. With its end-to-end digital health solutions, mWell provides national agencies, healthcare providers, and communities with tools that they need to further address their health digitalization needs, further driving a more accessible and efficient care for every Filipino.

mWell supports Overseas Filipino Workers through its partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), providing OFWs and their families worldwide access to Filipino doctors through digital consultations. As part of this effort, mWell is currently extending medical and mind health consultations for Filipino workers in the Middle East, allowing them to connect with doctors and mind health coaches who speak their language during times of uncertainty while away from home.

mWell is also working with YAKAP-accredited hospitals and clinics that are transitioning from PhilHealth’s eKonsulta (eKON) platform, which will be decommissioned on July 1, 2026. As a PhilHealth-certified Clinic Management System (CMS), the mWell YAKAP Claims Platform serves as a ready solution for clinics and hospitals previously using eKonsulta, enabling them to manage consultations and claims while supporting compliance and everyday clinical operations—safeguarding continued access to healthcare and PhilHealth benefits for Filipinos, especially indigent patients who rely on government healthcare assistance.

Looking ahead, mWell is collaborating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to support the country’s digital health initiatives. Through the eGov PH App, users can also access mWell Teleconsult services and the mWell HealthID, enabling them to conveniently consult with doctors, view their health records, and access essential healthcare services through a unified digital platform.

By making health services more accessible and harnessing mobile technology, strong partnerships, and continuous innovation, we remain committed to improving healthcare access for Filipinos wherever they may be.

As part of the MPIC Group, mWell is committed to working towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. It also supports the MVP Group’s Gabay Kalusugan advocacy focusing on quality and affordable healthcare.

Download the mWell app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

Follow mWell on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more updates.

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ABOUT mWell

mWell, is the health technology platform developed by Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation that offers telemedicine, health and wellness programs, e-commerce, among others, in an integrated, tech-based healthcare digital ecosystem. Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, the leading infrastructure investment company in the Philippines with investments in various infrastructure assets including healthcare. As part of the MPIC Group, mWell is committed to work towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. It also supports the MVP Group’s Gabay Kalusugan advocacy focusing on quality and affordable healthcare.