Try these safe shopping options on your next Araneta City visit!

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With the transition of Metro Manila to slightly looser quarantine restrictions, many of your favorite establishments in Araneta City are once again opening their doors to welcome customers!

Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, and Farmers Plaza are now open from 10 AM to 7 PM for all shoppers. Whether you’re shopping for clothes, the latest gadgets, or essential items such as food and medicine, you can now do so at the City of Firsts!

Meanwhile, as the health and safety of its customers is the top consideration for the City of Firsts, they have devised a few innovative solutions for customers who need alternative ways of shopping.

1. Curbside pickup

Araneta City offers Drive & Go curbside pickup service for shoppers who are looking for a quick and convenient way to purchase their needs. Through this offer, customers can get the items they bought without the need to step out of their car. To place an order, customers just need to call the store they want to place their order in, settle the payment, and determine the pickup schedule for the ordered items. Just check www.aranetacity.com to see the contact details of the store you want to purchase from.

Five locations around Araneta City have been determined as pickup spots. These are:

● Gateway Mall (fronting Boulangerie 22 at Gen. Roxas Avenue)

● Ali Mall (fronting Starbucks, Times Square Entrance)

● Shopwise Arcade (fronting Tour Les Jours at Gen. Aguinaldo Avenue)

● Farmers Plaza (fronting BDO at Gen. Roxas Avenue)

● Farmers Market (fronting JAM at Session Road)

Customers only need to wait for a maximum of 10 minutes for their items to be brought to them by store attendees, making each transaction quick and stress-free. What’s more, the use of the Drive & Go curbside pickup service is absolutely free of charge!

2. Item reservation

Araneta City’s Ask Ara virtual shopper and delivery service allow shoppers to buy items at the City of Firsts without having to leave their homes or offices. All they need to do is message Ara, the virtual shopper, and she’ll do the shopping and delivery of items.

But do you know that you may also request Ara to reserve items in a store for future pickup?

Just visit the Ask Ara Facebook page and send a message to virtual shopper Ara. Identify the items you want to reserve, discuss pickup date and how payment will be settled, and it’s all set!

3. Cashless/electronic payment

Meanwhile, to ensure that customers also have a safe option to pay for the freshest fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood, Araneta City has also teamed up with GCash to enable vendors at the Farmers Market to accept contactless digital payments. This can be done through the Scan to Pay feature via GCash’s QR technology.

Customers who have GCash will only need to scan the unique QR code conspicuously placed in any Farmers Market stall so that they can pay for the goods they purchased.

Safety protocols in place

To ensure the safety of all customers, Araneta City is also strictly implementing government-mandated health protocols to keep visitors, workers, and residents safe and healthy. Temperature checks at every point of entry, the mandatory wearing of masks and face shields, and intensified disinfection of various surfaces are some of the measures implemented throughout the property to ensure the well-being of everyone.

Aside from these measures, shoppers can also be reassured by the fact that all Araneta City’s malls have been awarded with Safety Seals from the local government of Quezon City, proof of its exemplary adherence to safety protocols set by the government.

“Services like this are specifically designed to improve the shopping experience of our customers even amid a pandemic,” Araneta City AVP Marjorie Go said. “Through these services, we enable them to shop for the things they need while ensuring their health and safety in every step of the process.”

To know more about the latest promos, activities, and happenings at Araneta City, please visit www.aranetacity.com or download the Araneta City mobile app on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. You may also like and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Drew and Iya Arellano share their lives amid the quarantine and how they protect their kids against sickness

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Drew Arellano and Iya Villania are role models for Filipino families. They are especially popular on social media, where millions of followers watch as they raise three adorable children: Primo, Leon, and Alana.

Despite being a celebrity family, they have an aura of approachability that makes them relatable. This became more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were affected by the quarantine restrictions just like everyone else.

“We've been staying home. Each day, it's the same routine. We wake up, have breakfast, we work out and the kids play. I'm just waiting for them to say ‘so when do we mix it up? When do we go outside?’ So far they're still okay. They have each other and that's an important thing,” Drew says.

Iya adds, “We're fortunate to be able to say that we're doing well. More than anything, it's the company and because we keep each other happy, no matter where we are.”

To adjust, Drew and Iya allowed their children to decide what they will do for the day. The parents ask if they want to cook, read, or work with numbers. Screen time is also welcome since it provides an opportunity for learning. According to Drew, “when you're trying to teach your kids, we have to go with the flow. We just have to regulate it and try as much as possible to inject it with learning.”

Iya agrees, saying, “You have to give them options because it gives them a sense of power. It's only natural for every human to want to feel that way. Drew and I are aware of how we felt when we were going to school and we don't want to have to enforce that on our kids.”

This unstructured method for learning has proven to be effective. Allowing their children to go at their own pace, when they’re ready to understand and absorb information, made learning faster. Soon, they were surprised when Primo began adding double digits.

Naturally, the Arellanos are considering a combination of homeschooling and unschooling. Unschooling is a form of education where students learn at their own pace, in a supportive setting that encourages curiosity.

The parents are just as decisive about their children’s health. Their approach is a mix of affection and medicine.

“One of my tips would be to give your kids a lot of hugs and kisses. When it needs to be taken to the next level, then that's when you get to something that’s no-fail and that would have to be Calpol for Kids,” says Iya. “Especially kung kaunting fever lang, oh my goodness. Nakakakaba.”

The couple tells a story when Primo, their eldest, had his first sickness. The couple shares, “as first time parents, raising a kid was kind of like walking on eggshells. We weren't sure what to do. It was a good thing we had their grandparents to guide us.”

The parents became more experienced as Primo grew older, which became helpful when Leon and Alana were born. Fortunately, the children are generally healthy.

The family trusts Paracetamol Calpol for Kids, which helps with fever and pain due to toothaches, headaches, migraine, muscle ache, sore throat and musculoskeletal discomfort.

Iya shares, “doctors always ask ‘May fever ba?’ I feel like it boils down to a fever, so it's nice that we have Paracetamol Calpol for Kids that we can rely on. That will definitely make them feel good after a dose because it's so fast-acting.”

The Arellanos advise parents to always have paracetamol fever and pain relievers at home. Iya says “you don't know when you might need that. You don't want to have to worry and wait until magbukas ‘yung mga stores before you can act on it and get medicine.”

Drew agrees, sharing, “You'll have peace of mind knowing that when you have Paracetamol Calpol for Kids, chances are, bababa fever ng anak mo. It's so painful as a parent to see your kids na nanghihina. Sana ako na lang.”

Saving lives with vaccines

For World Immunization Month this August, the Arellanos are reminding parents to get their children vaccinated. When they are inoculated, they build antibodies that protect them from diseases, even if they develop it as adults. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that routine vaccinations during childhood help stop 14 illnesses.

One of the common side effects of getting vaccinated is fever. Paracetamol Calpol for Kids can help. It can relieve fever in just 15 minutes while still being gentle on your kids’ tummies. The medicine comes in orange and strawberry flavors, making it easier for parents to give children their doses.

The couple says, “trust the science and your pediatrician. They know what's best for your kids.”

To know more about Paracetamol Calpol for Kids, visit calpol.com.ph or facebook.com/CalpolPH.

You can also purchase Paracetamol Calpol from the GSK Lazada and GSK Shopee pages.

1 The Importance of Childhood Vaccinations

2 Vaccines: Power to Protect

3 Why Childhood Immunizations Are Important

"Pinoy Big Brother" returns this pandemic for its 10th season

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Big Brother is back as he opens his famous yellow house again in the middle of the pandemic to spread happiness, inspiration, and bring together Filipino communities in “Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10.”

This was the big announcement that Vice Ganda and former housemates Ryan Bang, and Teen Big Winner Kim Chiu revealed on “It’s Showtime” on August 27 as they introduced the new season, which will have adult, celebrity, and teen editions.

“Binigyan ako ng task ni Big Brother para sabihin sa lahat na magbubukas na ulit ang bahay ni Kuya para sa Season 10 ng ‘Pinoy Big Brother.’ Naka-10 seasons na pala tayo,” Kim said.

Ryan added, “Sabi nga sa labas ng bahay niya…a new community will rise soon.”

Ryan was referring to the “PBB” house covered in blue construction cover with the message, “a new community will rise soon.” The photo of the house-made rounds on social media, confusing netizens on the fate of “PBB” and if it meant Big Brother’s farewell.

It was then followed by a huge poster of the number 10 beside the “PBB” gate that sent social media abuzz too. It also caught the attention of former housemates, including Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Lou Yanong, Maris Racal, Maymay Entrata, Ryan Bang, Sam Milby, and Seth Fedelin.

Just like in “PBB Connect,” Pinoy community streaming platform Kumu will also play a huge part this season. Auditions for the adult edition will be held on Kumu starting on September 1, while auditions for the teen edition will start on December 1. It can be recalled that the online auditions for last year’s edition was record-breaking with 177,524 audition entries.

Also happening is the “PBB Kumunity Season 10 Kumu Party,” a virtual reunion of Big Brother’s housemates from different seasons since the program started in 2005. Bianca Gonzalez will host the celebration that will stream at 3 pm on Kumu.

For more announcements on “PBB Kumunity Season 10,” follow (@PBBABSCBNTV), Twitter (@PBBABSCBN), at Kumu (@PBBABSCBN).

Gigi De Lana to release debut album, hold digital concert, and join 1MX live in Dubai

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ABS-CBN Music, ABS-CBN Events launch 'The Rising Viral Star'

Viral Kapamilya singer Gigi de Lana fulfills two of her biggest dreams with the upcoming release of her debut album produced by ABS-CBN Music and the staging of her own digital concert to be produced by ABS-CBN Events.

The RISE Artists Studio talent—whose spontaneous cover of “Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita” that had several key alterations recently blew up on social media—will finally get to showcase more of her vocal prowess through a full-length album.

“Nag-pursige kami ng The Gigi Vibes band na gumawa ng sariling songs. Dun kami nag-grow at dun kami nag-start, so meron po kaming ilalabas na album,” Gigi shared, adding that she will drop her first single on September 24.

She is also set to headline her first “YouTube Music Night” concert in December that promises to be full of surprises.

“We are preparing for something big and ito inaareglo na ng banda kung ano ba 'yung gagawin sa mga kanta, gagawa kami ng medley, maraming pakulo. May guests din pero secret pa,” Gigi teased.

She will also be part of the Filipino music festival “1MX Dubai” that will be held live on December 3.

Dubbed as ‘The Rising Viral Star,’ Gigi first entered the limelight when she competed in the inaugural season of “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in “It’s Showtime,” where she became one of the grand finalists.

During the onset of the pandemic, Gigi launched the online live gig “GG Vibes,” where she performs covers with The Gigi Vibes band and even takes song requests from viewers. “GG Vibes” regularly records netizens’ praises for Gigi’s amazing voice and amasses thousands of live viewers on Facebook and YouTube.

Aside from singing, Gigi has also ventured into acting, having played a supporting role in Star Cinema’s “Four Sisters Before the Wedding” in 2020. This year, she officially became a Star Magic artist as she signed with ABS-CBN’s premier talent management arm during ‘Black Pen Day.’

Before Gigi, fellow ABS-CBN singers Jona, and Juris together with Jed Madela, staged two separate free virtual concerts for “YouTube Music Night” last February.

See Gigi shine and watch out for her debut album and “YouTube Music Night” concert soon!

Get Ready to Shop All Out at Shopee’s Aug 30 Payday Sale

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This coming payday, treat yourself to little luxuries while using ShopeePay for discounts, cashback, and more

We’ve nearly reached the end of the month, which only means one thing—it’s almost time for payday this 30th! First, prioritize buying essentials, paying off bills, and setting some savings aside.

But it’s also important to indulge yourself a little from time to time. You’ve worked diligently, and this payday it’s time to go all out and enjoy some of your hard-earned money. Aside from Shopee’s payday sales every akinse, you can now maximize your money’s worth at the upsized Aug 30 Payday Sale. You can also use ShopeePay to make the most out of your paycheck with exclusive discounts, cashback, and ₱1 Deals.  

From gadget upgrades to new makeup and everything in between, check out these luxuries, big and small, that’ll definitely bring you joy this 30th:

Can’t start the day without a warm, energizing boost of caffeine? Upgrade your usual instant coffee with B Coffee Co. White Cup Bundle Pack. Each bundle pack includes 100% arabica in three roasting profiles: light-medium roast, medium roast, and dark roast. 

A few quick swipes of lip tint can make you feel better equipped to face another day of working from home. Apply a few coats of Colourette Colourtint in Bella, which comes in a flattering shade of salmon terracotta, to look fresh for your next video call or to just feel put-together. 

If you feel like upgrading to a new smartphone, grab the OPPO A74 5G now while it’s still on sale. Powered by Qualcomm 5G SoC, this phone also runs on 5000mAh Mega Battery, features 6+128 storage, and boasts of a 48MP AI Quad camera.

Make your transition to a healthier lifestyle easier with Deerma Portable Juicer. This wireless juicer evenly breaks ice in mere seconds, so you can quickly whip up yummy and nutritious smoothies during busy mornings. No excuses! 

Yes, it’s time to retire that ratty old school shirt you turned into a pambahay years ago. Elevate your loungewear with this matching INSPI Pullover and Jogger set. Both pieces are made of premium breathable cotton, so you can lounge around in comfort. 

You can further maximize your end-of-month paycheck by going cashless with ShopeePay, your all-in-one e-wallet which you can use to Buy Load, Pay Bills, and Scan to Pay at multiple merchants nationwide. At Shopee’s Aug 30 Payday Sale, enjoy these ShopeePay-exclusive deals: 

• 30% cashback on more than 60 billers, including Meralco, Maynilad, credit cards, and more

• ₱100 discount on internet and mobile postpaid billers such as PLDT, Converge, Globe, and Smart

• Up to 50% off on load and data promos

• Additional 100 coins cashback on ₱300 TNT and ₱350 Globe load 

• ₱1 Deals from Puregold, Ultramega Supermarket, HB1 Pharmacy, and more

• 30% off discount vouchers

• All-day free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend

Excited to shop on August 30? On August 29, get a chance to win ₱30,000 when you top up your ShopeePay wallet with a minimum of ₱500. Top up conveniently through your debit card, online banking, or over-the-counter payment partners!

Discover more exciting discounts this payday at https://shopee.ph/m/payday-sale-teaser. 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.