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Everyday is Playday returns to SM Malls this summer in partnership with Paymaya and Gcash

Everyday is Play Day is having a huge comeback as SM City North Edsa last April 13, 2018, along with 17 other malls, celebrate all play, all fun, all day for kids and the whole family. Making all SM Supermalls a venue for everything play.

During the next months, more than twenty global brands will be launching their latest toy collections in Sm City North Edsa. Likewise, more than 60 characters and brands such as Spongebob, Shimmer and Shine, Beyblade, Hasbro Gaming, and Shopkings, will tour all the 18 malls in a series of exciting shows and meet and greet sessions.

This year’s campaign is set to be much bigger and stronger with their growing partnership with Sony Playstation, that will bring more fun and exciting technology in our days of play, Fujifilm Instax, which will capture the best and fun memories from kids to kids at heart

Boosting excitement in the malls, SM Supermalls brings cashless payments to all its mall events starting this April through two of the biggest digital wallet service providers in the country – PayMaya Philippines of the PLDT Group and GCASH of Globe Telecom.

On its second year, SM’s “Everyday is Play Day” is even bigger and more exciting with new toy launches, character meet and greets, and the integration of fun technology in favorite playtime activities. Plus, SM Shoppers can now enjoy 30% cashback with a maximum of P500 when they make purchases with PayMaya or GCASH at the event – in partnership with Toy Kingdom and The SM Store.

Kicking off the campaign is the launch of new Shimmer and Shine toy collection at the Block Atrium at SM City North Edsa on May 5 – 6. This top rating Nickelodeon show is about a twin genies-in-training who grants wishes to their human friend Leah. It highlights the importance of teamwork, resilience, and overcoming obstacles. This is a show that our little girls will surely wouldn’t want to miss.

90’s kids will enjoy the huge comeback of Beyblade, on August 31 – September 2 at the Annex Activity Area at SM City North Edsa. It is known in Japan as Explosive Shoot Beyblade, a Japanese manga series, written and illustrated by Takao Aoki, to promote sales of this spinning tops called “Beyblades”.

The whole family will definitely love the Hasbro Gaming which will have activation at Sm City Fairview, SM City Novaliches, Sm City San Jose Del Monte, SM City East Ortigas, SM City Bicutan, and SM City BF Paranaque from Arpil to October this year. Hasbro engages families and friends through toys and games. In this upcoming leg, we are set to create our very first life-sized versions of gaming toys including Monoply, Jenga, Pie Face, Connect and Twister.

Kids who love combining entertainment and education will surely get excited for Nutty Scientist which will have roadshow all around SM Metro Manila malls. They create fun, spectacular, interactive activities and uses educational techniques in the form of shows or workshops for kids. Children will be active participants on the hands-on activities they offer tat will be led by professionals.

Also this year, with the help of SM Cares, Everyday Is Play day will be bringing up DSWD partner charities and organizations including SOS Children’s Village Philippines to our series of shows and events. Watch out for more exciting toy launches and events this year. Everyday is Playday at SM Supermalls!

For more details:

www.smsupermalls.com

https://www.facebook.com/smsupermalls/

#EverythingsHereAtSM

Shopee Announces Anne Curtis as First Brand Ambassador, Kicks off 5.5 Shopee Super Sale

Get Set for The Biggest Mid-Year Online Sale in the Philippines

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, announces Anne Curtis as its first brand ambassador in line with the launch of 5.5 Shopee Super Sale. The campaign is set to be the biggest mid-year online sale in the Philippines and runs from 13 April to 5 May. It features discounts of up to 90% off on thousands of products, with deals as low as 55 peso and daily flash sales. The Filipina-Australian superstar will also be making her debut as Shopee’s brand ambassador in Shopee’s first ever television commercial in the Philippines.

Terence Pang, Chief Operating Officer of Shopee, said, “We are thrilled to announce Anne as Shopee Philippines’ first official brand ambassador and to have her join us in kick-starting the biggest mid-year online sale in the Philippines. Her friendly, fun and sociable personality best represents Shopee’s brand positioning as the leading online shopping platform, especially among millennials. In addition to being the face of Shopee, and the upcoming 5.5 Shopee Super Sale, Anne will also be starring in our first ever television commercial,”

“I am always on the move because of my busy schedule. Shopee makes it so convenient for me to do all my online shopping on my phone. Shopee has grown tremendously over the past few years, and I am excited to be part of the Shopee family. As brand ambassador for Shopee Philippines, I look forward to more exciting campaigns and events to come,” said Anne Curtis.

In line with the engagement of Anne Curtis as Shopee Philippines’ first brand ambassador is the launch of 5.5 Shopee Super Sale. Users can look forward to non-stop exciting deals lined up from 13 April onwards, leading up to the mega 24-hour shopping fiesta on 5 May. The campaign will feature massive promotions including 55 peso deals, daily in-app vouchers and surprises, as well as discounts up to 90% off across a wide range of categories. Fans of Anne Curtis can also look forward to the “Anne’s Top Picks” collection and giveaways featuring Shopee merchandise autographed by the celebrity.

Users can also shop exclusive deals from leading brands under the recently launched Shopee Mall; such as Samsung, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nescafe Dolce Gusto, NIDO® ADVANCED PROTECTUS® 3+, NANKID® OPTIPRO® FOUR, Colgate-Palmolive, AVEENO® Active Naturals®, Belo Essentials, Equal Sweetener, Silverworks, Banana Peel, i2i New York, Unisilver, Faber-Castell, Deuter, Head Racket, Coleman and more.

Additionally, Anne will be launching her own cosmetics line on Shopee. From 11 April, makeup lovers will be able to purchase BLK cosmetics via the BLK Cosmetics Official Shop on Shopee Mall, which features a 100% Authenticity Guarantee, 7 Days Return, Cash on Delivery and Free Shipping nationwide. To celebrate the launch of the BLK Cosmetics Official Shop, Anne will be giving away a limited edition autographed mirror to the first 100 customers, with a minimum spend of 1,000 pesos.

Check out the 5.5 Shopee Super Sale at https://shopee.ph/m/55shopeesupersale

Shop BLK cosmetics at shopee.ph/blkcosmetics

For more information, visit www.shopee.ph

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

Malaysian students announced as winner of Microsoft Imagine Cup Asia Pacific Finals

Returning for the second year, seven triumphant student teams earned the opportunity to compete at the Imagine Cup World Finals in Seattle; teams from Thailand and Singapore took home the first runner-up and second runner-up prizes respectively

Team Pine

Microsoft today crowned Team PINE from Malaysia as the winner of its second Imagine Cup Asia Pacific Regional Finals, after a nail-biting finale against 14 other teams from across the region. Six other teams were also selected to continue their journey at the Imagine Cup World Finals which will be held in Seattle in July.

Team PINE developed a handheld sensing device that can help pineapple farmers efficiently and effectively evaluate optimal levels of ripeness prior to harvest, and in a non-intrusive manner. This is because traditional methods of determining ripeness use a refractometer, which subjects the fruit to destructive analysis. Team PINE’s solution aims to minimise wastage and help pineapple farmers maximise the percentage of harvest brought to market for export.

The first runner-up and second runner-up places were awarded to Team BeeConnex from Thailand, and Team 7x from Singapore, respectively.

Team BeeConnex from Thailand came up with the Smart Hive; an IoT device that enables beekeepers to track and monitor the health of a beehive. The device is also able to alert beekeepers when potential issues are detected within the hive.

Singapore’s Team 7x created ProCubeX, an interactive smart-learning cube designed as an early intervention tool for children with dyslexia. The cube will intelligently generate an individualized education plan for dyslexic children, triggering multisensory stimulation as well as the parts of the brain responsible for language learning.

In all, seven teams from the Imagine Cup APAC Regional Finals were selected to continue their innovation journey to the next level at the Imagine Cup World Finals. The seven teams are:

Team Name	Market	Prize
Team PINE	Malaysia	Champion
Team BeeConnex	Thailand	1st Runner-Up
Team 7x	Singapore	2nd Runner-Up
Team Beehive Drone	Indonesia	*Worldwide Finalist
Team Classum	Korea	*Worldwide Finalist
Team En#22.45km	Korea	*Worldwide Finalist
Team SochWare	Nepal	*Worldwide Finalist

* In no particular order of merit

The student teams will take their innovation journey to the next level at the Imagine Cup World Finals. Held in Seattle this July, the World Finals will gather more than 50 student teams from all over the world, all vying for the top prize of up to US$100,000, mentorship opportunities with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, as well as Azure grants and credits to bring their winning solution to the market.

The 15 finalist teams which participated in the regional finals came from nine countries, including Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. These teams were selected from local finals that were held in each country earlier this year. To find more about each team and their cutting-edge innovation, please visit https://news.microsoft.com/apac/2018/04/02/meet-the-imagine-cup-2018-asia-pacific-regional-finalists/

Dave Miller, Commercial Software Engineering Lead, Microsoft Asia Pacific, said: “Imagine Cup has always strived to be the platform for students to turn their dreams into entrepreneurial realities. Every year, we have the privilege to witness great ideas from budding innovators working hard to solve pressing challenges with smart, effective solutions. We are here to help them take their first steps towards achieving their goals, and we are excited to see how their ideas will define the future we will live in.”

The “People’s Choice Award” accolade was awarded to Team BeeTech from Vietnam, who developed a Smart Car Box that can help car owners pre-empt any possible complications before they occur. The team garnered admiration from fans through an online voting component of the regional finals.

This year’s judging panel includes Siti Norliza Mohd Sahar, Director, Talent & Digital Entrepreneurship, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC); Kelvin Tan Cheng Kian, Programme Director, National University of Singapore Enterprise; Michael Teoh Su Lim, Founder, Thriving Talents; Bikesh Lakshminand, Founder & CEO of 1337 Ventures; Alvin Chai, UX Consultant & Co-founder of Netizen Experience; LJ Chiu, Director, Audience Evangelism, Commercial Software Engineering, Microsoft, and Chris Auld, Director, Technical Evangelist, Commercial Software Engineering, Microsoft.

Michael Teoh Su Lim, Founder, Thriving Talents, shared: “This year’s competition saw many outstanding projects by talented students who have the passion to solve real-world issues that many countries in the region face today. We are excited by the passion and depth of innovation we’ve seen this year and are positive that they will make a difference in our digital future.” Michael is also an Imagine Cup alumnus, having previously participated in the New Zealand Imagine Cup in 2008, with his team taking home the Consumer’s Choice Award that year.

Microsoft forms partnerships to develop next generation of technologists in Asia Pacific

This year, Microsoft partnered with the U.S. Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology(GIST), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and Siri Ventures, for the Imagine Cup Asia Pacific Finals. Microsoft’s partnership with these organizations is a strong testament of the commitment to empower young talents to innovate and build real world solutions that enable people to achieve more for a better future.

GIST is the U. S. Department of State’s flagship science and technology entrepreneurship program that works to support and empower young innovators from 130 emerging economies around the world. GIST partners with the Imagine Cup competition in a shared commitment with Microsoft to use technology to solve the world’s toughest problems by inspiring student creativity, and empowering students to realize their visions by using new technology platforms.

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation or MDEC (formerly known as Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd.) is the lead agency in driving the digital economy in Malaysia under the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia. Since its inception 20 years ago, MDEC’s mission is to develop the nation’s digital economy. MDEC’s implementation efforts are centered on driving investments, building local tech champions, catalyzing digital innovation ecosystems and propagating digital inclusivity.

Siri Ventures is owned by Thailand’s largest property developer, Sansiri, and its strategic shareholder, Siam Commercial Bank. Siri Ventures is a corporate venture capital who recognizes the need for technology acceleration, acquisition and adoption, either by creating, investing and partnering with startups in the real estate and adjacent industries. They are on the constant lookout for startups who will innovate the ecosystem through cutting edge technology and ideas to market.

The partnerships aim to encourage youth and entrepreneurship, provide students with opportunities and training to hone their digital skills in cutting-edge technologies, as well as fuel their creativity in building innovative solutions that matter.

Held annually since 2003, the Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition, known affectionately by participants as the “Olympics of student technology competitions”. This year’s Imagine Cup encouraged teams to “Code with Purpose”, whereby projects were developed to address a community or societal issue with technology.

For more information about Imagine Cup, please visit https://www.imaginecup.com/.

Newest Jolly Spaghetti endorsers Regine and Nate Alcasid share their most sweet-sarap moments

“They captured our real lives!” Asia’s Songbird gushes about new Jollibee ad

(From L-R) Jollibee Brand Engagement Manager Cat Triviño, Brand Manager Kat Silvoza, Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and her son Nate Alcasid, Marketing Director for Flagship products Cathleen Capati, Brand Engagement Officer Celina Tan.

With an illustrious entertainment career spanning three decades, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid has done almost everything, including chart-topping singles and albums, blockbuster movies, high-rated TV shows, and sold-out concerts. But for the Asia’s Songbird—one of the very few who’s successfully juggled being a singer, actress, record producer, and TV host—there’s one role she loves best: being a mom to her six-year-old son Nate.

Regine and Nate—who love to spend time just talking to one another about anything and everything under the sun—are the newest members of the Jollibee family and the stars of the latest heartwarming Jolly Spaghetti TV ad.

Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and her son Nate Alcasid sing the song “I Can” together as they are welcomed on stage.

In the commercial, Regine revisits a familiar scene—a full concert auditorium with thousands of adoring fans—with a sweet-sarap surprise backstage for Nate. The ad goes on to show us special everyday moments between mother and son, with Regine narrating how being a mom has shed new light on day-to-day situations.

Nate&Jollibee

Nate Alcasid takes a photo with his favorite Jollibee.

This is not the first time Regine and Nate worked on an endorsement together, but she believes that this one with Jollibee is the most special. “The storyboard is so touching and very personal. It shows my different roles as Regine, but it also shows that my greatest one is being a mom, which is the most difficult yet most fulfilling role I have to play,” Regine shared.

Just like real life

Upon first review of the storyboard, Regine said: “Umiyak talaga ako. I said, “pinag-isipan talaga nila.” I’ve never done anything like this, a commercial that celebrates my being a career woman and a mom.”

Asia’s Songbird also shared that this Jollibee ad is inspired by her real life and her thoughts about being a mom. “In the ad, there’s a line where I say “sa lahat ng kinantahan ko, ikaw lang ‘ang nakatulog.” That’s true talaga! He really sleeps whenever I sing to him. It’s like they captured our real lives!” she said.

RegineNate

Regine Velasquez-Alcasid talks about how honored and excited she and Nate is to be part of the Jollibee family.

Another scene in the commercial that made Regine emotional is when she sings the lines “Pangako magmula ngayon, tayong dalawa ang magkasama,” which is lifted from one of her platinum hits “Pangako.” This song holds special meaning to the songstress as it was composed by her husband Ogie Alcasid.

Sweet-Sarap bonding moments

Since she gave birth to Nate in 2011, Regine has slowed down her professional life to spend more time with her son. The first seven years are the most crucial to a child’s development, as studies show, and the Songbird is determined to make the most of it.

One of their favorite bonding activities is to talk to each other before bed. “He always has a lot of kwento for me at night,” Regine said. “He would always say, “Mommy, last kwento,” but this last story would go on for 20 minutes! But honestly, that’s the highlight of my day. He really loves talking.”

“We also play with toys but they’re not really toys,” Nate shared. “It’s called amenities!”

“He loves hotel supplies like toothbrushes,” Regine explains. “So one time when I was traveling, I brought everything back home to him. He was so happy, akala mo binigyan ko ng special gift. To him, it was really special because he knows I remembered him. I then realized, you can buy your child all the toys you can think of, but what they really want is more time with you.”

Regine’s realization is not lost on Nate, who—despite his parents’ celebrity status—prefers simple bonding activities like going on picnics and playing with Regine and Ogie. To make these bonding moments even sweeter and more fun, there’s always the sweet-sarap Jolly Spaghetti to bring more flavor to the Alcasid family’s special time together.

KatSilvoza3

Jollibee Brand Manager Kat Silvoza talks about the sweet-sarap Jolly Spaghetti and how it has delivered countless sweet-saya moments na walang katulad to thousands of Filipino families throughout the decades.

“When it’s time for merienda, he would say “I want one Jolly Spaghetti, two Chickenjoy legs, and two fries.” When I’m not at home, he would ask to order Jollibee and pay for it with his own money! Hindi niya ako hihintayin!” Regine candidly shared.

“The Jolly Spaghetti is so yummy!” the six-year-old exclaimed. “It’s sweet and cheesy and I can eat a lot of it!”

It’s no wonder why Nate—and other Pinoy kids—love Jolly Spaghetti. The al dente noodles are topped with Jollibee’s unique sweet-sarap sauce, meaty hotdog slices, and a generous sprinkling of grated cheese.

“The Jolly Spaghetti’s unique sweet-sarap, flavors have always had a distinctive place in the hearts of Filipino kids and kids-at-heart, because moments spent with loved ones over a plate of Jolly Spaghetti are made sweeter, more fun, and more special,” said Cathleen Capati, Jollibee Marketing Director. “Regine and Nate’s story is not only heartwarming but also relatable to millions of Filipinos.”

Like Regine and Nate, make your family bonding moments more special with the sweet-sarap na walang katulad Jolly Spaghetti. The Jolly Spaghetti Solo retails for only P50.00* and the Jolly Spaghetti Family Pan (good for four to five persons) for P199.00*. Both are available in all Jollibee stores nationwide for dine-in, take-out, delivery, and drive-thru.

For more information on your Jollibee favorites and promos, like the Jollibee Philippines Facebook page and follow @Jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

* Prices may vary across different locations.

Limited Edition Tanduay Items Available at the Heritage Brand’s Flagship Store

Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. is the visionary and brains behind the innovations in Tanduay, such as the Tanduay novelty store at the Century Hotel.

The best-selling rhum worldwide has a specialty store at the lobby of the Century Park Hotel in Manila. The Tanduay Store is an exciting hub for the brand’s fans who can avail of limited edition items including the CLX Limited Edition Rhum, a premium craft spirit extracted from a special batch of aged rhum reserves, also known as ‘The Chairman’s Reserves’. Released in 2014, the rhum’s first bottle to be produced from the batch was presented to Chairman Dr. Lucio Tan as Tanduay celebrated its 160th founding anniversary, with the Roman numerals CLX representing the number of years of the brand’s existence.

Other premium and exclusive items that are available at the Tanduay Store are Tanduay Asian Rum, Tanduay 1854 (Tanduay Blue), Tanduay Superior (Tanduay Black) and Tanduay Dark (Bean bottle) with the latter two ranked equally as top-sellers. The store also carries a selection of high-end Tanduay branded novelty items like jackets, hoodies, travel bags, caps, pitchers, rum glasses, cocktail shakers and even USBs. This makes the store a must-visit, especially for balikbayans who want to bring back a taste of home and fun souvenirs when they return to their country of destination.

Paul Lim, VP for Marketing of Tanduay, talks about the love developed by the Filipinos for Tanduay over the years. “We are thankful for the support that we have received, which has allowed us to be the number one brand through the years. The Tanduay store at the Century Hotel is our way of making our products and brand accessories more accessible to the public,”said Lim.

According to Tanduay President Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr., the store is a preview to the company’s next project, which is to set up a Tanduay Musuem, to celebrate the brand’s heritage and its connection to Filipino culture. “This is in relation to our 165th anniversary next year. The museum will showcase not only our products but also the heart that we put into making each bottle of Tanduay that Filipinos enjoy as part of their own celebrations,”Tan revealed.

To shop for premium Tanduay beverages and exclusive merchandise, visit the Tanduay Flagship Store at the ground floor of the 5-star Century Park Hotel, 599 P. Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila.

RCBC Net Income for 2017 at P4.3 billion, up 11%

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation posted an unaudited consolidated Net Income of P4.3 billion for the year ended 2017, 11.4% higher than the P3.9 billion reported in 2016.

Net income in the fourth quarter alone grew by 146% to P904 million compared to P368 million in the same period last year driven by a 27% growth in Net Interest Income and a 19% growth in Non-Interest Income.

For the full year 2017, Net Interest Margin (NIM) remained strong at 4.24%, an improvement of 19 basis points from the 4.06% recorded in full year 2016.

Net Interest Income reached P18.0 billion with 15% growth year-on-year. This was driven by the Bank’s vibrant lending business with Total Customer Loan portfolio expanding by 16% to P353 billion. All market segments sustained their growth with 12% growth in Corporate loans, 39% growth in SME Loans, 15% growth in Consumer Loans and 29% growth in Credit Card Receivables. Rizal MicroBank (RMB), the Microfinance arm of the Bank that provides financing requirements for micro and small enterprises, increased its outstanding loan portfolio by 39% year on year, through continuous efforts to enhance its current loan products responsive to the needs of its mandated market segments.

Total Gross Income reached P25.1 billion with Total Other Operating Income reaching P 7.1 billion or 28% of Gross Income. Fees and Commissions, which include card related fees – both credit and debit cards, Trust fees, and Fees on investment banking and loans were at P3.4 billion, and accounted for 14% of total Gross Income.

Total operating expenses increased slowly by 2.3% to P17.8 billion for the year ended 2017. The Bank pursued the expansion of its distribution network by selectively opening 27 branches and deploying 74 ATMs mainly in support of its on-going strategy to broaden customer reach and enhance banking convenience. This brought the consolidated network to 508 Branches and 1,562 ATMs, resulting to a 3.07 branch-to-ATM ratio, one of the highest in the industry.

Total Consolidated Resources expanded to P556.3 billion. Total Deposits grew by 10% or P35.3 billion year-on-year to P388.9 billion.

The Bank’s Capital funds stood at P67.1 billion and well above the minimum regulatory requirement with a CAR of 15.47% and CET1 Ratio of 12.46%. The Bank’s Asset quality remained stable with NPL Ratio at 1.25%, lower than the 1.41% NPL Ratio as of end-3Q17.

The Bank’s other businesses continued to grow, addressing the various needs of its customers. RCBC Bankard has a strong and active card base of 579,000 in 2017, higher by 9% vs. the previous year. The Bank has built a strong portfolio under its Wealth Management business with Total Assets under Management (AUM) expanding by 12% to P103.0 billion.

“The Bank is on track and ready to take advantage of the opportunities expected from the favorable business environment in 2018. Our delivery channels are geared up with new branches and improved ATM systems supported by strengthened security measures in anticipation of the increased client activity in 2018. Competition, however, will continue to be strong. The RCBC management understands this all too well and is prepared to address this with a strong sense of urgency, as we pursue our business plans, key initiatives and key transactions this year”, said Gil A. Buenaventura, RCBC President and CEO.

In support of the regulatory sandbox initiative introduced by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), RCBC has recently partnered with eCurrency Mint Limited (eCurrency) to launch its digital money product to deliver accessible and affordable digital financial services in the country.

RCBC also sealed new Trust deals. Some of the deals are, Stock Transfer Account for Meralco and Lopez Holdings, Project Accounts Trusteeship for Red Planet Hotels and Solar Energy Corporation, and Corporate Investment Management Accounts (IMA) for De La Salle Science Foundation.

The Bank received various awards in Credit Cards, among which, in 2017, Best Card Offering from Highly Commended, South East Asia, 4th Annual Card and Electronic Payments International Asia Awards and Annual Retail Banker International Trailblazer Awards; Best Card Design from 4th Annual Cards & Electronic Payments International Asia Awards 2017; Best Loyalty and Rewards Program from Mastercard Innovation Forum Awards 2017, and Best Credit Card Offering Philippinesfrom International Finance Magazine. The bank was also awarded Best Leveraged Finance-Backed M&A in Southeast Asiafrom Alpha Southeast Asia Awards 2017, Best Capital Market Deal from IFR Awards 2017, Best Mergers & Acquisition Financing Deal from Triple A – The Asset Asian Awards 2017, and Best in Private Banking from AI Global Awards.

On November 23, 2017, Moody’s upgraded the bank’s baseline credit assessments (BCAs) and adjusted BCAs to baa3 from ba1. On December 14, 2017, Fitch revised upward the Support Rating Floor of RCBC to BB from BB-.

Enjoy irresistible summer deals from Discovery’s hotels and resorts

Create blissful memories on bright sunny days, whether it’s a city escape or an island getaway.

Dive into the stunning beauty of Club Paradise Palawan, a private island resort in Coron. For a minimum of two nights, enjoy a Garden View room for P11,200++ or a Sunset Villa for P12,800++. Delight in buffet breakfast for twoadults and two children below 12 years old, roundtrip Busuanga Airport transfers, and a serving of Firefish Restaurant’s “Bowl of Happiness” – different flavors of homemade ice cream, ideal for sharing. Stay date is until June 1, 2018.

TDLCI Enjoy irresistible summer deals photo 1

Revel in a Week Date Dream at Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay, with special rates for a Deluxe Suite for only P6,354.38++, and a Premier Suite for just P7,169.04++. The generous offer comes with complimentary set dinner for two and Country Breakfast for two at Restaurant Verbena, wine and cheese platter at sundown, and milk and cookies before bedtime. Use promo code DREAM. Stay period is until November 28, 2018, Sundays to Thursdays except long weekends and holidays.

For a truly unforgettable summer break, book a room at the Discovery Primea Makati’s Business Flat, Business Suite, Executive Suite, or Primea Suite at 10% off the Best Available Rate. The room package includes tempting culinary offerings such as daily gourmet breakfast and one order of pizza of your choice at Restaurant Tapenade, one round of cocktails for two at EDGE, and 20% discount on food and beverage. Take a dip in Discovery Primea’s iconic infinity pool, or break a sweat in the hotel’s 24-hour gym.

TDLCI Enjoy irresistible summer deals photo 2

Tech-savvy guests will love the complimentary use of Handy smartphone and High Speed Internet Access. Don’t forget to use the promo code DISCOVER. Stay dates are from April 10 to June 30, 2018.

Not to be missed as well is the Weekend Steals deal at Discovery Suites Manila, with rates starting at PHP 3,665.99++ for a Junior Suite Deluxe. This offer includes breakfast buffet for two at Restaurant 5, access to the swimming pool, fitness center, and children’s playroom, as well as weekend kiddie activities on Saturdays, 4pm to 5pm. Stay Period is from April 6 to July 1, 2018, Fridays to Sundays. My Discovery Elite members are entitled to a complimentary upgrade from Junior Suite to One-Bedroom Suite, subject to availability. Use the promo codeLEISUREWEEKEND to enjoy this special deal.

For more information on these irresistible summer deals, visit www.discoveryhotels-resorts.com.

Veteran motorcyclist wins 1st leg of KTM Dukehana

ktm veteran motorcyclist wins 1st leg photo

(L-R) Marketing head of KTM Philippines Ana Lumban, second place winner Van Ruedas, Luzon leg overall champion Luisito Sta. Ana, third place winner Iraq Bauzon and Inside Racing’s Al Camba.

Luisito Sta. Ana once again added an award under his belt as he won recently as the first ever champion of the KTM Dukehana Luzon leg held at Circuit Makati parking grounds. KTM Dukehana is a motorcycle time trial sport where motorcycle riders compete to maneuver through a paved course restricted by traffic cones and other skill-testing obstacles in shortest time. There will be two more legs of the competition: one in April in Davao and another in June in Cebu. The Filipino champion will represent the country in the Dukehana Asia Finals where he will compete against other Asian competitors including Thailand, China and Taiwan.

Allianz Philippines and Conquer Challenge partner to promote Obstacle Course Racing

Allianz PNB Life Insurance, the local entity of Allianz, the world’s leading insurer, announces its partnership with Conquer Challenge Philippines, to promote obstacle course racing in the Philippines.

The partnership includes the staging of three major races under the name Allianz Conquer Challenge, the first of which, will be on 13 May at the Vermosa, Daang Hari in Imus, Cavite.

In a press launch held at the Allianz PNB Life office in Makati, Alexander Grenz, Chief Operating Officer at Allianz PNB Life, expressed his enthusiasm in the partnership emphasizing how the company would like to create a positive impact on people’s lives by making them experience new challenges through an obstacle course race. “OCR is a sport that has started to gather a strong following in the Philippines. We at Allianz believe that this sport can inspire Filipinos to take on a new challenge and embrace it without fear,” he said.

Grenz explained that the challenges in the race give individuals a chance to test their mind and body’s capability to get a serious workout. “OCR challenges one to develop endurance and physical strength as well as better coordination skills,” he added.

Allianz Chief Market Management Officer Gae Martinez, however, affirmed the growing patronage of Obstacle Course Racing Sports in the Philippines, lodging her support as more and more Filipinos become interested on the sport that calls for mental alertness, emotional stability, and physical endurance to overcome obstacles in lives. This is true for millenials who comprise a great number of obstacle course racers, but also for GenXers who have also tried it. The increasing awareness of Filipinos to live a healthy and active lifestyle is indicative of a shift of lifestyle that now recognizes the threats of critical illness, but at the same time the pursuit of aspirations for a better future.

Conquer Challenge President Rob Afzelius shares that Allianz Conquer Challenge, with its key message of “Dare to Conquer your Impossible, consists of three races: the Conquer Challenge Power Race which is a 7 Km + 20 obstacles race, the Conquer Challenge Beginner’s obstacle Race, which is 3 Km + 12 obstacles, and even a Conquer Challenge Kids race that is 1.5 km long plus at least 7 obstacles. Kids joining the race must be accompanied by an adult. We see this partnership with Allianz as fit because both entities’ are aligned in inspiring the Filipino never to waiver on its aspirations.

Rei Abrazaldo, Allianz Philippines’ Branding Communications and Digital Director revealed that the company’s foray into supporting obstacle course races is part of a special trio of activities on 13 May, that espouses Filipinos’ to take part in a fitness activity. Abrazaldo explains – Allianz Philippines declares 13 May as Allianz Day of Courage, because aside from the Allianz Conquer Challenge , the company is also supporting two other sporting events on the same day, namely, the Philippine Heart Association Heart Run at SM By the Bay and the Bayanihan Walk in Singapore.

Allianz globally has been supporting various sports and institutions like football, Paralympics, golf and rugby, among other sports that capture the emotional spirit of its business and inspire millions of people around the world with stories of human achievement through sport and innovation.

Kick off summer with SM Supermall’s fun activities

As summer kicks off, SM Supermalls is inviting all parents to make the summer break more fun and exciting for kids and the whole family with exciting activities and workshops in 68 SM malls across the country!

Summer fun begins at SM with Summer Takeover workshops so kids can have fun, learn, and make friends this season! Happening until June 3, the interactive workshops include artistic fun workshops on arts and crafts, painting, drawing, and fashion design lessons; entertainment workshops with modeling, music, dancing and theater acting classes; explorers workshops which offer culinary, visual reality and interactive games, and photography; and sports workshops on basketball, taekwondo or martial arts, archery, and golf.

Mallgoers can also relax at SM’s Summer Chillin’ on weekends of April and May. Featuring the country’s well-loved OPM bands and artists, the musical performances are set to treat customers with delightful summer experiences – complete with live art and a food bazaar!

There is also the Summer Fun Run every weekends of April and May where customers can get active and spend time with loved ones.

Another must-try experience is Summertacular Emoji Balloons Photowall, powered by Vivo, until May 31, where customers snap and show off their summer feels at SM!

As part of the #LetsPlayNowAtSM campaign, customers can download the SM Mobile App to enjoy loads of fun summer games to get instant freebies and giveaways! For more about SM’s Summer Fun, visit www.smsupermalls.com.

Don’t forget to experience summer fun at SM with new and educational activities for the whole family this season!

For updates and exclusive news about SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through SM’s Viber Public Chat. Tweet your thoughts, upload and share your photos about your memorable moments at SM, then use its official hashtag #EverythingsHereAtSM.

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