New delicious twist as Irresistibly awesome mornings await customers with the new McDonald's Double Choco Crumble Hotcakes

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Filipinos are in for irresistibly awesome mornings as one of McDonald’s well-loved breakfast items gets a delicious twist!

On July 11, customers’ breakfast cravings will be satisfied with the new limited-time offer Double Choco Crumble Hotcakes. 

It’s the original golden brown Hotcakes that Filipinos have come to love, now topped with cookie crumble, drizzled with luscious chocolate-malt sauce, and served with maple-flavored syrup. With these delectable ingredients, Filipinos can continue enjoying a great breakfast experience that only McDonald’s can offer. 

Whether one tries the Double Choco Crumble Hotcakes or sticks with the all-time favorite original Hotcakes, both options are sure to satisfy breakfast patrons as they are best paired with a cup of freshly-brewed McCafe Premium Roast Coffee and Hash Browns. 

Available for a limited time only, customers can indulge in this newest breakfast option available through dine-in, take-out, drive-thru, and via McDelivery from 4:00AM to 10:30AM in all McDonald’s breakfast stores nationwide. 

How irresistible was your morning with the all-new Double Choco Crumble Hotcakes?

Share your breakfast experience on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/McDo.ph, or tag @McDo_PH on Twitter or Instagram. 

SM Cares, UNICEF, Tanghalang Pilipino and Camera Club celebrate the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week, with guest of honor VP Leni Robredo

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Vice President Leni Robredo as the guest of honor at the  National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week opening at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia, July 18, 2016 

Every child is uniquely gifted. Let"s talk about posibilities as we celebrate the abilities of children with disabilities through photo exhibit and stage play in selected SM malls.

The  National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week was launched at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia last Monday, July 18, 2016 with Vice President Leni Robredo as the guest of honor.

SM Cares programs on PWD and Children, in partnership with UNICEF, Tanghalang Pilipino, and the Camera Club of the Philippines, celebrates the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week starting July 18, 2016.

NDPR Week celebration's objective is to raise awareness and help create an inclusive environment for Children with Disabilities (CWDs) by highlighting their abilities instead of their disabilities.

This will be dramatized via informative and educational activities for mall-goers through Tanghalang Pilipino’s stage play entitled “Sandosenang Sapatos,”, and the Camera Club of the Philippines’ photo exhibit entitled “See What I Can Do” that depict the everyday lives of Children with Disabilities.

Here's the SCHEDULE OF National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week

This initiative is just one of the collaborative efforts of SM Cares and UNICEF since being partners in 2008 to further the advocacy of SM to uphold the rights and welfare of children and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation Inc., is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. As a responsible mall developer, SM ensures that its CSR programs serve as a catalyst for positive change for the community.

SM Cares has six advocacies, mainly are programs for:

• Persons with Disabilities
• Senior Citizens
• Children and Youth
• Women and Breastfeeding
• Overseas Filipino Workers (The SM Global Pinoy)
• Environment

​SM and UNICEF have worked together in various projects such as the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene or the WASH Project wherein a portion of the sale of SM’s bottled water goes to the organization’s efforts to provide clean drinking water to various provinces in the country. To date, it has already helped more than 113,000 school children across the country.

To know more about SM Cares’ programs for Children, and PWDs, you may visit:www.smcares.com.ph or www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares

Average Filipino’s guide to solar rooftops

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Step 1. Get to know solar power

It’s always a good idea to get yourself acquainted with new technology, and how others are using it. The use of solar power is no different, and getting behind cleaner, more sustainable energy starts with eliminating any doubts you may have, once and for all.

Local celebrity solar champions have teamed up with Greenpeace for the Juana Solar Busts a Myth in Minutes series (you can watch them on http://www.iwantsolar.ph) to break the most common renewable energy myths that bring about these doubts.

Ask a friend or relative who’s a solar consumer directly about his/her experience. It's also a great idea to look into first-hand accounts from solar energy users. These solar stories are where you’re most likely to get the answers you're looking for.

It's also worth reading up on how light energy is converted into electricity. Many sites offer comprehensive yet newbie-friendly materials on the science behind solar panels, like Save On Energy’s article on how solar panels work.

Step 2. Do an energy audit

It’s necessary to find out how much energy you consume. It’s a crucial step in determining the solar equipment you’ll need, and also helps you determine how much you can save in terms of both energy efficiency and production.

With a bit of research, you can conduct the energy audit yourself or seek the help of a solar panel provider. Most providers can even give you an estimate of how much you can save on your monthly electricity bill with each specific number of solar panels you install.

Once you know the amount of power you need after installing energy efficient systems, then you can decide on and ask your preferred provider about the following:

Partial System vs. Full System - you can opt to acquire a system to power your entire home or start with having certain appliances or parts of your house powered by solar energy.

Off-grid setup vs. Grid-tied setup - An off-grid setup allows you to be independent from the power supplier in your area. With an off-grid setup you’ll need a controller, inverter, and batteries to be able to store energy for nighttime use. With a Grid-tied setup, you produce solar energy from solar panels and sell the energy back to your local electric company. This setup can lower your electricity bills with net metering.

Type and size of panels (including size of battery, charge controller and inverter, if not connected to the grid) - The type and size of panels will depend on your budget, energy needs, available space and location. It’s best to consult with your provider on this.

Step 3. Financing

There are already many financing options available for those looking to solarize their homes or businesses. Some solar panel providers offer in-house financing in easy installments, while banks like BPI and BDO offer loans specifically for solar home installations.

PAG-IBIG also offers loans for the purchase and installation of solar panels to members who want to save on electricity costs with renewable energy through the agency’s Home Improvement Loan.

Step 4. Purchase & Installation

Another thing to consider when you purchase solar panels is finding the optimal space for it in your home.

We highly recommend that you leave the installation to experts to avoid safety hazards. Most providers can tell the optimal location and orientation of the panels.

You may visit http://www.iwantsolar.ph/solarize-your-home for a downloadable list of solar panel providers in the Philippines.

Step 5. Reap the benefits and share your story!

If it’s good to connect with like-minded individuals early on, it’s even better to share your experience with many more who are scared of taking the first step. Your solar story can change lives!

Demonstrating the benefits of solar energy will call attention to the slow progress of renewable energy uptake in the country's energy mix. This will increase the pressure on newly elected officials to do their part in speeding up the shift to clean, renewable energy, which is also the key to the Philippines' energy independence.

Best of all, you get to play an active role in the imminent transition to a 100% clean energy future.

Globe Platinum and The Gourmand Market brings a gastronomic weekend foodventure! Visit and enjoy The Gourmand Market on July 22 to July 24

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Guests for the weekend feast get to savor specially-made Globe Platinum dishes to bring home special prizes

 A preview of some of the delicious Globe Platinum gourmet dishes that await guests at the upcoming Gourmand Market weekend

The Gourmand Market is back and ready to satisfy all the foodies out there with a tasteful selection of gourmet finds. 

From July 22 to July 24, 2016, The Gourmand Market, together with Globe Platinum, announces another round of great tasting choices embodying a scene of a modern day outdoor affair. Located at C1 Park, Bonifacio High Street, it is open to all for free, from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

With an innate passion for gastronomy, The Gourmand Market has served as a venue for vendors to come together and share their craft for food. In this weekend affair, guests are in for a breath of fresh air and an environment of great food that will be a perfect time and venue to relax, enjoy and spend time with friends and family.

“Food has always been rooted in our culture and this July, Globe Platinum welcomes everyone to another weekend of The Gourmand Market - with it being a great venue for family, friends, and foodies alike. It will be another chance to be inspired and try something new. We especially look forward to what the merchants have prepared for their Globe Platinum dishes. Trying out these dishes may even let guests bring home special tokens,” says Kaisie del Carmen, Globe Platinum Brand Head. 

Upon entry, guests will be given Loyalty Cards to complete during their foodventure. Each purchase of a Globe Platinum dish available at select merchants, earns a signature for the card. Special tokens await those who complete up to 10 Globe Platinum specialties! Customers also get to dine in the chic and comfortable Platinum lounge, complete with complimentary drinks. 

At the lounge, customers will also learn about the new Platinum Lifestyle Plan No Lock-up options. The latest and most powerful Platinum plans yet, these new No Lock-up plans are designed for internet-heavy users who are now more liberated in being always ON locally and even when abroad!

Platinum Lifestyle Plan No Lock-up variants have double the data allocation as well as built-in unlimited data roaming. Platinum clients can enjoy 20 GB of mobile data plus 2 days of unlimited roaming per month for Plan 3799 and 4 days/month for Plan 4999. On Plan 7999, customers get 6 days/month of unlimited data roaming and a supersized 40 GB of mobile data.

To learn more about the inspiring world of Globe Platinum and its services, visit www.globe.com.ph/platinum.

Globe calls on DICT to enable the sector by getting rid of bureaucratic red tape

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Globe Telecom welcomes DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima’s call for “good public service” from telco operators in the country. 

Globe said that it remains committed to its purpose of strengthening the nation through ICT by continuing investments in the sector. “Globe invests millions of dollars annually for network expansion and service improvements,” said Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo. In terms of capital expenditures, the Philippines ranks second to China with almost 30% of telco revenues spent on CAPEX, the second highest in Asia.

“Further, Secretary Salalima’s proposed executive order to help rationalize the permitting process for telco infrastrusture, once in place, would be a respite from the difficulties we encounter in putting up cell sites and right-of-way issues for fiber optic cables,” added Castelo. The reduction of bureaucratic red tape was also presented by the company as a key measure that local government units can implement to help the sector, during the recently concluded Regional Competitiveness Summit, chaired by Guillermo Luz of the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines. It is important for the government to play its role not only as a regulator but also as an enabler of the sector. If put into action, “this bodes well with what the public really wants, a better internet experience,” said Castelo.

Castelo also said that Globe will continue to roll out new network capacities using the spectrum assets it gained as a result of the joint buyout of SMC's telco assets. Reacting to the recent statement of the PCCI, Castelo clarified that the company is not hindering the PCC from doing its job. 

“We are not in any way blocking the PCC from performing its mandate. In fact, we repeatedly invited the PCC to exercise its plenary powers under Section 12 of the Competition Act to investigate the conduct and behavior of the companies on this transaction for possible violations of the Act. Globe has consistently relayed to the PCC its willingness to submit to this investigation, and Globe is confident that all its actions pertaining to this transaction are all legal and above-board as certified by its legal counsels,” he said.

All parties should abide by the provision of Memorandum Circular 16-002 and this includes the PCC who is expected to uphold its own rules and the Philippine Competition Act.

"Globe followed to the letter the rules of the PCC, and the same should be appreciated by the PCC,“ Castelo added.