t’s the season for play and adventure once again, with summer just around the corner! As kids look forward to having the time of their lives with loads of fun and free time, it’s also an opportunity for parents to find activities that can be enriching as well. Get your kids ready because the McDonald’s Kiddie Crew Workshop is back, and this year, kids can experience an exciting adventure of fun and learning with the Kiddie Crew Workshop: Explorer Edition!
Now on its 27 th year, McDonald’s Kiddie Crew Workshop continues its tradition of making learning an adventure for the kids and giving them a unique and memorable experience at McDonald’s. Through play-based activities, kids aged 6-12 will experience all the fun things that make up McDonald’s, and at the same time, learn good values, build confidence, and discover new talents, all in the company of new friends!
The workshop will turn kids into budding adventurers as they set out to complete fun and educational tasks, like making their all- time-favorite McDonald’s Cheeseburger, and serving delighted customers from behind the Front Counter or the Drive-Thru window! They also get to sing, dance, and let their creative juices flow with different activities that make for a memorable summer experience. Kiddie Crew Workshop starts on April 8, with various workshop schedules you can choose from. The weekday workshop runs for 5 days with each day lasting for 2 hours while the two- day weekend workshop lasts for 3 hours per session. You’re sure to find a schedule that will best fit you and your kid’s summer activities!
All these fun activities, new friends, happy memories, and loads of goodies await them for just P695 for the weekday workshop, and P595 for the weekend workshop.
But the fun and surprises don’t end there! McDonald’s has a special treat for those joining the Kiddie Crew Workshop, with free membership to the new Kiddie Crew Club — offering members exclusive and exciting perks all-year round!
So what are you waiting for? Enroll your little explorers in the McDonald’s store nearest you and give them an unforgettable summer experience! To know more about the McDonald’s Kiddie Crew Workshop, visit https://McDoKiddieCrew.com.
Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and global smartphone e-brand Honor Philippines have teamed up to bring the Honor 8C exclusively to Shopee for convenient online purchase from now until April 6.
The Honor 8C comes with a powerful Snapdragon 632 Chipset Processor, long-lasting 4000 mAh battery, a mesmerizing ‘Cat’s Eye’ design, and a ‘DND’ or do not disturb Mode for maximum gameplay experience. But that’s not all that the Honor 8C has to offer.
Here are eight more reasons to buy the Honor 8C:
1. Camera Augmented Reality (AR) effects
The Honor 8C has built-in 13MP + 2MP dual rear cameras and an 8MP front camera. These don’t just upgrade the quality of the photos, but also allows users to add playful AR stickers to their pictures. Users also have the option to use animated backgrounds for their selfies. 2. Powerful fingerprint scanner Nowadays, fingerprint scanners can be found on almost all smartphones. The fingerprint scanner on the Honor 8C is conveniently located at the back for easy access. But it doesn’t just unlock the phone. It can also be used to answer calls, stop an alarm, pull down the notification bar, swipe through photos, and even take photos and videos.
3. Dual-sim functionality including an App Twin feature
Most dual sim phones in the mid-range category only allow for one sim to be connected to 4G data. Not with the Honor 8C as both sims can be on 4G. The phone also allows users to have two accounts for an application via the App Twin feature. Users can have two numbers and accounts for apps like Whatsapp and Facebook on one phone. 4. Single key navigation
Users can maximize the beautiful 6.26 inch FullView display by turning on the single key navigation in the settings. This takes out the navigation bar at the bottom allowing for a more unobstructed view of the display and easier single-handed use.
5. Blue light filter
Smartphones allow users to be ‘on’ all the time. However, prolonged exposure to screens have a negative effect on users’ health. The Honor 8C features a blue light filter, which reduces the strain on users’ eyes from continued screen exposure. 6. Smart resolution
Although the Honor 8C has a long-lasting 4000 mAh battery, it still has features that allow users to maximize the battery life further, like the smart resolution. Turning this on reduces the resolution from HD or HD+, allowing users to choose how to get the most out of their remaining juice. 7. WiFi bridge
Using a smartphone as a hotspot is not new, but the WiFi Bridge of Honor 8C allows users to turn their phones into hotspots, not by using up their data, but by sharing an existing WiFi network signal to others.
8. Enjoy convenient online shopping exclusively on Shopee
The best reason for buying the Honor 8C is that it is available online exclusively on Shopee for hassle-free shopping until April 6. It also offers a lot of practical and advanced features for the affordable price of ₱7,999.
Visit the Honor official store at https://shopee.ph/honorph.officialstore.
Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.
Ahon Sa Hirap, Inc. (ASHI) is a microfinance institution NGO that operates from Quezon City, serving more than 74,000 clients through 60 branches in the Calabarzon and Western Visayas regions with over 600 employees. ASHI’s mission is to improve access to financial services in their communities to enable families to lift themselves out of poverty. Estrella Andres, Vice President of ASHI, was prompted to realign ASHI’s IT strategy when ASHI set new goals for growth: number of branches, number of clients served, community coverage and an updated list of services offered. ASHI knew that to reach its business goals, they must enable their branches and teams to become more efficient while reducing their operating costs. Estrella Andres also knew she would be faced with a number of strategic decisions. She knew that having accurate, real-time data at her fingertips would be essential for leading it toward its goals. With these goals in mind, ASHI set out to find a core banking system that would digitize its operations, provide access to real-time data and reports, and enable it to open new branches. In 2017, after due diligence and consulting with Oradian’s Business Development Managers, ASHI migrated their entire operations to Instafin, the cloud-based core banking system built by Oradian, an award-winning financial inclusion company. Before the end of 2018, ASHI had not only digitized all their branches but opened eight new branches using Oradian’s platform. Deciding on the right cloud-based technology When choosing a new core banking system, the most important factors ASHI considered were: access to real-time data for effective decision-making, ability to generate accurate reports – especially for all-branch consolidation reports, user-friendliness of the system, and easy implementation. ASHI needed a service provider that was focused on the overall efficiency and effectiveness of its customers achieving their vision, mission, goals and objectives. ASHI’s Vice President also prioritized the provider’s support services and how responsive they were to requests. Knowing this would be a long-term partnership, ASHI found the relationship aspect of the decision highly important. Oradian proved to offer a platform and services that are specialized for financial institutions in the Philippines.
Before ASHI started using Instafin, the organization faced specific challenges that were preventing them from growth. Creating consolidation reports was one of their major challenges. Consolidation reports are necessary when each branch must submit its individual data to the head office which then consolidates the data to generate reports for the whole organization. Such a process can be tedious and presents an opportunity for human error. Oradian’s core banking platform was built to cater to the everyday needs of financial institutions serving microfinance clients. With Instafin, since it is cloud-based, ASHI can automatically see its branches’ data from the head office, so no manual consolidation is necessary. Before onboarding to Instafin, some of ASHI’s data was inaccurate, which led to incorrect tallies, and so their reports seemed unreliable. Troubleshooting of system errors causing data variances had to be handled by ASHI’s previous provider’s technical support, which was very time consuming. This forced the organization to hire more system administrators to respond to the troubleshooting demands in different branches, which proved quite costly. With Instafin, all ASHI’s data is available in real-time and now its consolidated reports are easily accessible. Driving impact in some of the most remote areas of the Philippines After migrating to Instafin, ASHI was able to clean its data of all duplicates and errors. Accurate, real-time data enables organizations to know and control thier portfolios at all times. With more knowledge and control of its portfolio, ASHI can make better decisions and improve specific parts of its operations. ASHI began simplifying processes to reduce waiting time of its clients for the financial products and services they offer. Opportunities for fraud to occur have also been reduced, since the organization’s supervisors can immediately check for irregularities. Instafin provides a full audit trail that serves as a transaction history on all accounts. This enables ASHI to have important information at our fingertips and react quickly to prevent fraud. The business benefits ASHI saw after shifting to the Oradian platform The biggest business benefit that followed ASHI’s transition to the Oradian platform was the ability to make informed decisions. Data became easily accessible, anytime, anywhere for all levels of management. ASHI’s IT department, now using global best practices, became more efficient — which reduced costs. These changes to the way the organization operates have been transformational because with Oradian providing services designed according to best practices, institutions can completely focus on the financial and other social services they provide to their clients. Financial and operational savings ASHI field officers now have more time for their clients. Before, they found difficulty in balancing the daily collection, but now with Oradian services, they don’t need to spend time computing using a calculator. They simply open the Instafin Field Officer App, which was designed with offline capabilities to support field officers in their day-to-day operations, reduce inefficiencies and errors, and streamline operations. When ASHI’s field staff opens the app, all the data is already there. It’s very easy and fast, so the field officers are able to return home early. ASHI has found that field officers save 70% of time on collections and our office staff saves 90% of their typical data input time. This amounts to tremendous cost savings and opportunity for growth. The Instafin Field Officer App, or IFOA – is improving the productivity of ASHI’s field staff. Before, their field officers used to go to sleep after 2 am. Now they can go to sleep at normal hours and their quality of living has increased. In the case of ASHI’s Branch Account Officers, they used to sleep two or three hours just to complete input of daily transactions, even having to wake up early the following day just to continue data processing. Now they don’t have to wake up early just to meet deadlines. Setting new goals and objectives for the growth of ASHI With accurate data, ASHI is able to access reliable consolidation reports that helped them in their strategic planning for 2020-2023. In this plan, ASHI’s new vision is “A community of servant leaders guiding marginalized families towards social transformation and prosperity,” and its mission: “To provide holistic approach to total human and environmental development.” The organization’s core values, which also form the acronym ASHI, are: Accountability, Social commitment, Human dignity and Integrity. “We set new goals and objectives for the growth and sustainability of ASHI. We could only have achieved this with Oradian’s platform and the continued value of know-how and best practices that the Oradian Community provides,” commented Estrella Andres, Vice President of ASHI.
Whirlpool and Excellence Appliance Technologies, Inc. (Exatech) recently introduced three new products in the Philippines.
For twenty-seven years, Whirlpool and Exatech have joined together to bring quality US appliances to Filipino consumers. Coming from a humble beginning as a local appliance retailer, Exatech has grown into an international distributor after its partnetship with Whirlpool in 1992.
Now, three new products were launched at the Marco Polo Ortigas Manila Hotel ballroom. Special guests included Mr. Blanco Wong, Managing Director of Whirlpool Southeast Asia, and Mr. Rodrigo Salamonl, Marketing Director of Whirlpool Southeast Asia. Hosted by Ms. Donita Rose, the program consisted of demonstrating the unique product features to the audience.
The first product to be revealed was the MWP 305 ES Vancouver microwave oven. Built with an integrated handle and touch-screen design, this model is perfect even for first-time users. The 30-liter capacity Including the grill and steam function also makes it flexible for all kinds of cooking needs.
The next product was the new and improved Bloomwash Inverter Plus washing machine. The Zen Direct Drive Inverter Technology allows a quiet yet high wash performance and ensures high energy savings. Its Hot Wash feature heats up the water up to 45°C to remove different types of stubborn stains and allergens. This was further supported by the lab test done by FAST Lab that showed the low bacterial count after just one wash cycle.
The final product to be launched was the revolutionary Quattto French Door Refrigerator. Equipped with Whirpool’s patented 6th Sense Technology, it is able to maintain the optimal environment of your food. The Fresh Lock automatically adjust the temperature to maintain the freshness of fruits and vegetables while the Freeze Lock reduces freezer burns. Meanwhile. its FlexiFreeze compartment allows you to choose three different temperature levels depending on what food you are storing.
Mr. Blanca Wong said, ‘We are happy to see that Whirlpool is always warmly welcomed here in the Philippines. The products we present today are meant to increase the comfort and security of every Filipino. It’s our goal to provide energy efficiency along with the high quality performance that Whirlpool has been known for for over 100 years. Our future plans will definitely include innovative features and better quality suited for the different needs in the Filipino market. With the support of Exatech, Whirlpool will surely continue to bring delight to our consumers in the years to come.‘
The latest Whirlpool Vancouver Microwave Oven. BloomWash Inverter Plus Washing Machine, and Quattro French Door Refrigerator is now available to the public through all leading appliance stores nationwide. You may check their website at www.whirlpool.com.ph for more information.
Kai Sotto send-off. Chooks-to-Go brand ambassador and 7-foot-2 basketball prodigy Kai Sotto receives a Philippine flag from officials of #MagingMagiting campaign partners, Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. (BAVI) and Ayala Foundation Inc.
(AFI) during a send-off ceremony for the 16-year-old center who will spend the next two years in the United States to continue training towards his dream of becoming the first Filipino to play in the NBA. Bidding him good luck in his quest are BAVI president and general manager Ronald Mascariñas (2nd from right) and AFI president Ruel Maranan (3rd from left). Joining them are AFI corporate communications senior director Celerina Rosales-Amores and Kai’s father, Ervin Sotto.
Over twenty thousand autism advocates joined this year’s Angels Walk for Autism, the annual event that advocates for acceptance, accommodation and appreciation of Filipinos with autism towards an Autism-OK Philippines, organized by the Autism Society Philippines (ASP), together with SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings.
This year’s celebration highlighted the country’s legacy of strong leaders that have brought the autism advocacy forward — for the last 30 years, across 97 chapters, with 13,000 members — and have become the foundation on which the next generation of leaders will build the future.
Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings chairman of the executive committee, was honored as the inaugural recipient of the ASP’s Leadership Award for Autism Inclusion and Welfare. It is the society’s highest recognition, celebrating exemplary leadership that has significant and positive impact on advancing ASP’s vision of acceptance, accommodation and appreciation of persons with autism in an Autism-OK Philippines. Beyond awareness, Mr. Sy’s leadership has inspired tangible, measurable action through the accomplishments of SM Cares.
“Although many are aware of autism, very few people actually understand what it means to live life on the autism spectrum. SM Cares and ASP come together as a community to remind everyone that autism awareness and acceptance should be part of their everyday lives.
Awareness is a good thing, but acceptance is far more meaningful,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, SVP of SM Supermalls and Program Director of SM Cares Program on PWD’s.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who issued EO 711 of 1996, instituting the commemoration of the National Autism Consciousness Week, will be honored by ASP as the Father of the Philippine Autism Advocacy. “FVR’s leadership opened the doors for the government agencies and private institutions to begin the path towards genuine inclusion of persons on the autism spectrum,” shared Mona Magno-Veluz, ASP national president, “His administration’s disability inclusive policies have put the Philippines ahead of our ASEAN neighbors in advocating for persons with autism and other invisible disabilities.”
The pre-walk program was led by Ms. Dang Koe, ASP Chair Emeritus and the inaugural ASEAN Prize Laureate 2018. The ASEAN Prize aims to recognise inspiring achievements and contributions that foster the ASEAN identity, promote the ASEAN spirit, and champion the ASEAN way. ASP is among the active movers behind the ASEAN Autism Network and the ASEAN Mapping Project.
ASP also awarded the Autism Works Partners of the Year honors to Dohtonbori Philippines, a Japanese casual dining pioneer and to Willis Towers Watson, a global leader in risk management and consultancy, for their unwavering commitment to creation of productive opportunities for jobseekers with autism.
The program included the presentation of the annual ASP Autism Angel Achievement Awards to Samantha Pia Cabanero (for Advocacy), Eduardo Enrique Munarriz (for Athletics), and Carlo Gregorio Veluz (for Visual Arts). It also incorporated the induction of the new ASP Board of Trustees, composed of parent advocates; and the first set of officers of the ASP Self-Advocates
Circle, composed of adults with autism.
Over 20,000 participants — families, professionals, supporters from the government and private sectors, from the Philippines and overseas — joined the annual walk from the MOA Arena to the SM MOA Music Hall. The walk is held with the support of the MOA Arena, SM Mall of Asia, National Council of Disability Affairs, ASEAN Autism Network and the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability.
The Autism Society Philippines (ASP) is a national, non-profit organization working towards an environment that empowers persons with autism spectrum disorder to become the best of their potentials — self-reliant, productive and socially-accepted members of the community. ASP labors to establish institutional mechanisms to support persons with autism and their families. Established in 1989, the organization — composed of 13,000 members spread over 96 chapters — has been in the forefront of providing services to families and individuals affected with autism.
SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Its advocacies include Programs on Persons with Disabilities, Children and Youth, Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Environment Sustainability, Senior Citizens, and Overseas Filipino Workers (SM Global Pinoy). As a responsible integrated property developer, SM ensures that its CSR programs serve as a catalyst for positive change in the communities that it supports.
It’s graduation season once again, and what better way to celebrate this special academic milestone of your young achiever than through sumptuous dining offers from Fairmont Hotel Makati and Dusit Thani Manila!
Treat the graduate in your family to fancy all-day dining, with an array of fine cuisine from across the globe——as Citi gives all of its cardholders 30% off on lunch and dinner buffet!—only at Spectrum at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati.
Dine at lunch from Mondays to Saturdays and enjoy the Citi rate of only 1,505 pesos or indulge at dinner from Sundays to Thursdays to enjoy the Citi rate of only 1,666 pesos; or from Fridays to Saturdays at just 1,715 pesos. You can also catch up over Sunday brunch with your family and friends, at the Citi rate of only 2,154 pesos.
Citi cardholders also get an additional 20% off on Food and 15% off on Beverage in other restaurants of Fairmont and Raffles Hotel!
This irresistibly delicious promo is valid until June 30, 2019, with exclusion dates on April 21, May 12 and June 16. Reservations are required. Call (+632) 795-1840 or email dining.makati@fairmont.com.
Should you prefer Japanese cuisine, get Citi-exclusive discounts at Dusit Thani Manila’s UMU Japanese Restaurant, which offers an authentic taste of Japan in the heart of Manila. Use your Citi credit card and enjoy 40% off when you dine on weekdays and 30% off on weekends until April 30, 2019.
To learn more about these irresistible deals this graduation season visit https://www.citibank.com.ph for more details.
People usually carry two eyeglasses — one for reading and another for outdoor sun protection. Adaptive lenses can address both needs, thus you only need one pair of eyeglassess for reading and for sun protection.
One of the most popular brands of adaptive lenses is Transitions. Made by Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, the lenses continuously adapt to changing light conditions, reduce glare, minimize eye fatigue and block 100 of harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Using Chromea7 technology, Crizal Transitions lenses offer and let you enjoy life in the best light.
Choose a Transitions unique color to match your lifestyle.
Amber. The tint reduces glare, blocks harmful blue light and enhances depth perception. It provides better vision on cloudy days. Amber-colored lenses are best for those who like sports that involve judging distances such as fishing, baseball, golfing, hunting and cycling.
Amethyst. Trendy and fashionable, this color can also help in navigation during difficult weather conditions like when there is mist or fog because it blocks the glare from excessive white light. It is best for hiking, hunting or playing tennis.
Sapphire. Like amethyst, sapphire is aesthetically pleasing – perfect for fashionistas. The tint brings out the contrast between green and orange and improves color and contour perception. It is best suited for people who like target shooting and hunting.
Emerald. Lenses with an emerald tint transmit all colors evenly and dim any glare while brightening shadowy areas. They maintain color distribution rain or shine and are good for all outdoor activities.
Get Transitions lenses from Sarabia Optical and experience its unique brand of professional eye care. Founded in 1906, Sarabia Optical has over 100 years of experience in bringing quality eye care and personalized service to Filipinos. It has more than 30 branches in world-class malls and shopping centers nationwide.
For more information on Crizal Transitions, visit Essilor’s website, www.essilor.com.ph, and follow @EssilorPH on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Mang Inasal, the leading Pinoy fast-food restaurant that serves the 2-in-1 sa Laki, Nuot sa Ihaw Sarap Chicken Inasal, successfully celebrated the third National Halo-Halo Sarap Day (NHHSD) with its customers who got to enjoy the creamiest Pinoy halo-halo at P20 off in all Mang Inasal stores nationwide.
Delighting customers with their surprise store visits were the “General’s Daughter” star Angel Locsin who went to the Mang Inasal Circuit Makati store and comedian Empoy Marquez who went to SM Fairview and SM Novaliches stores during the NHHSD.
Starring in the latest Mang Inasal Pinoy Halo-Halo TV commercial aired on the same day as the NHHSD, Angel told customers at the Circuit store that she is really a member of “Samahang Simot,” or those diners who really finish their halo-halo up to the last drop.
“Narito po kami ngayon ng Mang Inasal para magpasalamat sa inyong walang sawang pagsuporta sa Pinoy Halo-Halo. Alam naman po ninyo na talagang paborito ko ang Pinoy Halo-Halo dahil ito ang da best sa creaminess. Espesyal ang gatas nito dahil ito ay ginawa lang para sa Mang Inasal (We are here today to thank you for your endless support for Pinoy Halo-Halo. You know that it is really my favorite because it is the creamiest. It is made from special milk made exclusively for Mang Inasal),” she said.
One of the customers who came to celebrate was a balikbayan from Malaysia, Susan Casteral, who came with her son. She always eats at Mang Inasal every time she goes back to the Philippines. She said that she loves eating the Mang Inasal Pinoy Halo-Halo because it has the right amount of sweetness and the creaminess that stands out.
Josephine Quiatchon, who came with her friend, is a senior citizen who loves Mang Inasal Pinoy Halo-Halo. She finds it really delicious because it has the creamiest milk and generous serving of ingredients.
“Kahit senior na at sipunin na, tuwing summer kumakain talaga ako lagi ng halo-halo (Even if I’m already a senior citizen and would always have colds, I still make it a point to eat halo-halo during summer),” she jovially shared.
Katrina Nagidao, who came with her daughter, even won a prize in one of the NHHSD raffle draws at the Mang Inasal-SM Novaliches store. She said that she and her daughter always eat at Mang Inasal since her daughter loves its Chicken Inasal, while she craves for its creamiest Pinoy Halo-Halo.
Mang Inasal Brand Manager Schubert Quilinquin said that the National Halo-Halo Sarap Day was celebrated in over 500 stores nationwide as Mang Inasal’s way of showing its appreciation to its customers who contributed to making its Pinoy Halo-Halo a well-loved dessert or merienda (snack).
“We thank everyone who joined us in celebrating the National Halo-Halo Sarap Day this year. We hope to celebrate with all of you again next year, as we prepare more surprises for you at our stores,” he said.
What does it take to be an All-Star? You don’t have to be a basketball superstar to be one—according to one of the country’s leading insurance companies, AXA Philippines. All you have to do is #TakeCharge of your life by creating your own game plan.
AXA recently unveiled a motivational video on what it really means to be an All-Star, featuring a set of individuals who never stop pushing the limits as they engage in basketball, dance, a triathlon, and even a corporate career.
According to AXA, “An All-Star takes charge; one that takes the bull by the horns; one that bounces back from any —and all — challenges. They’re the ones who aren’t afraid to take the shot; ones who surpass limits no matter the distance. An All-Star strives for greatness.”
The insurer highlights how preparation is key: All-Stars are always equipped with a game plan not just on the playing field but also in life. AXA has always encouraged its customers to live better lives by being prepared for unforeseen setbacks.
Check out the video on AXA Philippines’ official YouTube channel www.youtube.com/user/AXAPHofficial and Facebook page www.facebook.com/AXA.Philippines.
