Enjoying Wonderful World

January 27, 2022

The SM Store opens 2022 by sharing toys with partner organizations around the country

Despite the pandemic, The SM Store’s Share-A-Toy collected more than 45,000 toys in December 2021. Customers and partner organizations donated new and pre-loved toys to The SM Store and Toy Kingdom branches nationwide. Customers received a P100 discount voucher for every donation courtesy of The SM Store.

Representatives from The SM Store, Toy Kingdom and HSBC’s Global Resourcing Corp. during the turn-over of donations held at The SM Store North EDSA

The toys collected will be distributed to children from the SM Foundation and The SM Store partner organizations. Among the recipients in Metro Manila are pediatric patients from the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine General Hospital.

Recipients outside Metro Manila include non-government organizations such as the Heart Warriors Tarlac Chapter and the Islamic orphanages under the Arkat Lawanen network in Mindanao. Indigenous groups, the Mangyan community in Sipitsaburan, Puerto Galera, Palawan tribe in Brooke’s Point, and the Panay Bukidnon in Calinog, Ilo-ilo, will also receive toys from The SM Store’s Share A Toy.

In addition to the toys collected from The SM Store and Toy Kingdom branches, a global resourcing company and its employees shared 2,000 gift boxes containing educational materials and toys. Students of Doña Luisa Obieta Elementary School in Amungan, Iba, and the Sta. Martha Elementary School in Pangolingan, Palauig, will receive these donations. Both schools cater to the Aeta community in Zambales. Children of fishing folks from Panglit Elementary School will also receive toys and learning materials.

Watch out for more stories as The SM Store visits and distribute toys to partner communities around the country. For more information, see The SM Store’s website.

COMCO Southeast Asia Appoints New Deputy Account Operations Director as Part of its Expansion

Coming from its successful Blazing Sapphire 5th anniversary celebration in 2021 and as part of its expansion plan in 2022, trailblazing and global award-winning integrated communications agency COMCO Southeast Asia proudly announces the appointment of seasoned public relations and communications practitioner Joyce Yu as the Agency’s newest Deputy Account Operations Director for Marketing PR.

Joyce Yu is a public relations and communications expert with more than a decade of experience working in the field. A graduate of AB Journalism from the University of Sto. Tomas, she specializes in media relations, copywriting, social media management, event management, and journalism.

Joyce has been the lead of several successful campaigns including European Higher Education Fair 2017-2020, Levi’s x Justin Timberlake PH Launch, EuroPinoy Virtual Concert & Bersong EuroPinoy Poetry Reading 2020 and Cine Europa 2019-2020. She is a former PR Officer for Lifestyle & Performance Brands of Skechers Philippines and has worked for accounts such as PLDT, EU Delegation to the Philippines, Embassy of Hungary Manila, Belo Medical Group, Rider Philippines, and Vision Express PH.

As COMCO's Deputy Account Operations Director for Marketing PR, Joyce will lead the team managing Eastern Communications, Jobstreet, Sunlife ASCP, Skechers, Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz Head Lice Treatment Shampoo and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). She joins the senior team of COMCO Southeast Asia spearheaded by Ferdinand Bondoy as Regional Integration & Chief Executive Director (who also leads COMCO AOX League of Enterprises) and composed of Tricia Cusi-Jimenea as Business Development Director (who also leads COMCO Middle East & Africa), Rachel Syfargo as Supervising Account Operations Director, Joan Icotanim-Maslang as Corporate Services Director, Carl Cuevas as Deputy Account Operations Director for Corporate PR, Peachy Taculod as Supervising Digital and Social Strategist, Jane Ibay CPA as Finance and Compliance Adviser and Atty. Leo Lim as Corporate Legal Counsel.

“Prior to joining COMCO, I’m already familiar with the company, the team, and the projects that they’ve accomplished through common friends in the industry. I’m very excited to be part of an award-winning dynamic team, to learn from the leaders, and hopefully give back through mentoring those who want to learn about the ins and outs of the industry. I’m really thankful to be given this opportunity,” said Ms. Joyce Yu.

The Agency is also thrilled to welcome its newest staff members, dubbed as COMCO SEA All-Stars, who are graduates of the Camp COMCO Mentorship Program. They are Louise Macaraeg and Cherry Gajito as Brand Communications Associates, Bea Cabrera as Digital and Integrated Communications Associate, and Narah Faigal as Digital and Multimedia Arts Associate.

“Despite recent challenges and limitations brought by the pandemic, I’m immensely proud to see our COMCO Squadron thrive and grow. Joyce, Louise, Cherry, Bea and Narah joining the team is very exciting as we cap off our Blazing Sapphire anniversary and expand to new horizons this 2022,” said Mr. Ferdinand Bondoy.

About COMCO Southeast Asia

COMCO Southeast Asia is a powerhouse and global award-winning integrated communications agency formed by the coalition of premier brand architects, inspired storytellers, and communication trailblazers in the region. Based in the Philippines and with affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, COMCO SEA takes the lead in the innovation of premier brands and growth of up-and-coming businesses through the emerging global disciplines of New PR – a strategy based, content-driven, and channel-agnostic way of doing PR, and Smart Social – a holistic, authentic and integrated approach in the maximization of digital and social channels.

At the core of COMCO SEA is its unique brand of Meaningful Storytelling based on its corporate mantra and the mission to Ignite Brand Love, Social Change, Talent Growth and Regional Collaboration. In just 5 years, the Agency has done groundbreaking works for more than 70 local, regional and international brands including reputable development and humanitarian organizations. COMCO SEA has been awarded twice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards, Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year in Asia at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, Best PR Agency in ASEAN - Silver Award, and 80 metals from various local and international award-giving bodies.

To know more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit www.comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/COMCO.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/COMCO-hq, and @COMCO_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

Double up on savings as realme joins Lazada, Shopee 2.2 sale with discounts up to P8,500 off

The month of February truly holds great promise and tremendous luck for all of us as we officially ring in the Chinese New Year. With the Year of the Water Tiger just around the corner, realme, the PH’s no. 1 smartphone brand for three consecutive quarters in 2021 (based on Canalys and IDC sell-in data Q1-Q3 2021) is giving everyone another reason to celebrate as it joins the upcoming 2.2 sale on Lazada and Shopee.

Starting February 2, 12MN, the realme Squad can get lucky and double up on savings with discounts of up to P8,500 OFF on realme’s best-selling smartphones, audio, wearable, and home products, via the realme Official Store on both e-commerce platforms.

This campaign is in line with the brand’s vision of making the best tech lifestyle experience within the reach of every Filipino. With sale opportunities and partnerships such as this, realme upholds its commitment of providing quality tech products at affordable prices, coupled with the convenience of online shopping.

realme Book available on Lazada at P8,500 OFF

During the Lazada 2.2 Free Shipping Festival on February 2 to 6, those on the lookout for new gadgets can score massive discounts on realme favorites.

For young professionals and students looking for a powerful yet affordable laptop, the realme Book will be available at P8,500 OFF for the i3 variant (P29,490), and P7,000 OFF for the i5 variant (P40,990), an impressive deal for a laptop with a 14” 2K Full-Vision Display and 11^th Gen Intel® Core™ Processor.

In terms of smartphones, the MediaTek Helio G85-equipped narzo 50A will be up for grabs at P7,289 (P701 OFF SRP), making it ideal for gaming enthusiasts looking for a capable tech companion. The latest Number Series smartphone, the realme 8i, equipped with 120Hz Ultra Smooth display will also be available at a discounted price of P10,989 (P1,001 OFF SRP).

Other realme products on sale include the realme Watch 2, which is capable of monitoring heart rate and blood oxygen levels, and supports up to 90 sports modes, as well as the realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker which supports 6 hours of total playback and has a 3W Dynamic Bass Boost Driver. These will be available for P1,890 (P1,100 OFF SRP), and P540 (P450 OFF SRP), respectively.

realme Pad, C-Series smartphones on sale on Shopee

Shopee enthusiasts will surely have a blast during its 2.2 Free Shipping Sale as realme will also host incredible discounts on the platform from February 2 to 3.

Those planning to invest in reliable bang-for-the-buck smartphones can avail of realme’s best-selling C-Series offerings at more affordable prices. The capable realme C11 2021 with a 5000 mAh massive battery will be on sale for only P4,989 (P301 OFF SRP). Meanwhile, the realme C21-Y which has TÜV Rheinland High Reliability certification will be up for grabs for only P5,989 (P501 OFF SRP). Rounding up the list is the recently launched realme C25Y that comes with a 50MP AI Camera for all-around content creation. It will be available at P501 OFF for both 4GB+64GB variant (P7,489) and 4GB+128GB variant (P8,489).

Aside from smartphones, realme TechLife products will also be available at amazing deals and discounts. The realme Pad, a portable entertainment powerhouse with a 10-inch high-resolution screen, crystal-clear Dolby Atmos quad speakers, and a 7100mAh mega battery will be available at P2,000 OFF for all three variants: 3GB+32GB (P8,990), 4GB+64GB (P12,990), and 6GB+128GB (P14,990).

In addition, the sleek and stylish realme Buds Q2 with a 10mm Dynamic Bass Boost Driver will be available at P870 (P420 OFF SRP) while the 24/7 health companion, the realme Band 2, will be on sale at P1,490 (P1,000 OFF SRP).

Aside from these incredible deals, FREE SHIPPING vouchers will also be offered site-wide for both Lazada and Shopee. What are you waiting for? Double down on savings and get lucky with your tech lifestyle! To know more about the complete line-up of discounts and other deals, be sure to check out the realme Official Store on Lazadaand Shopee, follow realme on Facebook at www.facebook.com/realmePhilippines or visit www.realme.com.ph.

Make the most out of family time with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, now available in the Philippines

For the past two years, the modern Filipino home has gone through big changes to adapt to the ever-changing lifestyle in and out of the household. With almost every aspect of life transitioning from physical to digital, Filipino families are starting to see gadgets as tools for them to make their home life comfortably convenient amid their fast-paced day-to-day lives.

Samsung introduces the Galaxy Tab A8 packed with impressive screen, power, and performance. Starting at Php 13,990 SRP, the latest addition to the Galaxy Tab A series empowers family members to maximize work and play.

Elevate family fun time with an immersive audiovisual experience

The Galaxy Tab A8 offers a bigger and better display with a 10.5-inch screen and a 1920 x 1200 resolution with 10.2mm symmetric bezel. This makes every family’s viewing experience more enhanced, from watching highlights of the latest automotive race series to gaming livestreams, binge-watching their favorite drama series, or even catching up with everyone on video calls. This is even supported by quad-speakers with Dolby Atmos for a crisp-clear and premium audio experience.

Top of the class performance

Users can store up to multiple documents, and loads of photos and videos full of family memories with the device’s reliable 4GB RAM and 64GB or 128GB internal storage that can be expandable up to 1TB. The Galaxy Tab A8 can last up to hours with its long-lasting 7,040mAh battery when streaming or gaming. The blues in battery drain won’t be an issue, thanks to the 15W fast charging.

Experience the Galaxy of Convenience & Protection for the Family

Each member of the pack can make the most out of the Galaxy Tab A8 with Multi-Active Window, Screen Recording, and Drag & Split features, taking multitasking to the next level for every member of the family.

The Galaxy Tab A8 provides an extension of the young learner’s online classroom, with its Screen Recording, helping them document a clear and detailed online lecture in one window so they can focus and understand the discussion better. Working members of the family can even maximize their productivity with the Multi-Active Window enabling the usage of two apps side-by-side in the tablet. This helps them present their slides on one window, and another for their talking points. This not only boosts their productivity but also helps them get a wider learning platform for an easier and convenient experience. The Galaxy Tab A8 also sports a Drag & Split feature to juggle other tasks while in a meeting.

For the kids and parents at home, Samsung Kids creates a fun world of content for them to explore and learn from, along with improved Parental Control to limit their screen time and protect them from apps unfit for the young ones.

The Galaxy Tab A8 also provides a seamless ecosystem experience with the family’s other devices, and accessories, creating more epic moments with loved ones at home.

Availability and Price

The Galaxy Tab A8, is now available on Samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores, authorized Samsung stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com, and MemoXpress Online, priced at Php 13,990 SRP for the 64GB variant with Wi-Fi, and Php 18,990 SRP for the 128GB variant with LTE. It comes in Gray, Silver, and Pink Gold colorways— perfect to match each family member’s style.

The 64GB variant of the Galaxy Tab A8 is also available for as low as P582.92/mo for 24 months via select credit cards or P777.22/mo for 18 months via Home Credit.

Get freebies and avail offers on the Galaxy Tab A8

From February 1 to March 15, customers will get an FREE Book Cover worth Php 2,599 with the Galaxy Tab A8 LTE, and an FREE Clear Edge Cover worth P1,299 with the Galaxy Tab A8 Wi-Fi. Those who will purchase the new Galaxy tablet until March 31 will also get a P500 off on Samsung Care+, 50% off on Galaxy Buds2 worth P6,990 (now priced at P3,495), or up to P2,000 token via Trade In, Trade Up.

Meanwhile, those who will register at the Samsung Members app will get a free 1 Year VIU Premium and other exciting offers until March 31.

Know more about the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 at samsung.com/ph.

Safe Samsung Shopping

Health and safety protocols are strictly followed at all Samsung Experience Stores to keep consumers and employees safe. Adhering to the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Samsung observes a 50% capacity in its stores, implements the mandatory use of face masks, and performs frequent sanitation.

Samsung Experience Stores require customers to fill out health declaration forms by scanning a QR code on display. Product demonstrations are done side-by-side instead of face-to-face while keeping a distance of one (1) meter to observe physical distancing.

To find the nearest Samsung Experience Store, visit samsung.com/ph/samsung-experience-store/locations.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

Bryan Adams releases “Never Gonna Rain”

New York, NY (January 25, 2022) - Today, acclaimed singer/songwriter Bryan Adams releases his new song “Never Gonna Rain” - listen here + watch the official music video here. The melodic rock song is the latest release off his forthcoming studio album So Happy It Hurts, due March 11, 2022 via BMG.

Of the track, Adams states, “The ultimate optimist is someone who keeps on expecting the best, even in the face of the worst. Living in the moment, instead of in fear. Turning the negatives into positives. Taking the rain and turning it into a gift.”

So Happy It Hurts, marks Bryan Adams’ 15th release and features 12 new songs co-written by him, including recently released “So Happy It Hurts,” “On The Road,” and “Kick Ass”. The album will be available on all digital platforms, as well as in a variety of physical formats including standard CD, deluxe CD with a lenticular cover and hardbound book and vinyl. Exclusive color vinyl and a limited edition box set which includes the deluxe CD, vinyl, hardbound book and signed photo are also available for pre-order here.