Thousands of students in the province of Bulacan recently received gifts of learning – books and brand new school supplies – through the SM Store’s recent SM Share Movement Donate-A-Book campaign.

Customer response was overwhelming as the SM Share Movement Donate-A-Book campaign was able to gather a total of 15,495 books and thousands of new school supplies from The SM Store Branches of SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag and SM City San Jose Del Monte. These books and supplies were in turn donated in public schools in Bulacan. Some of the recipients were Guiguinto Central School, Prenza National Highschool, Capihan Elementary School, San Rafael East Central School and Paradise Farms Community School.

As recalled, The SM Store, SM Foundation and Stationery, set up booths in all The SM Store branches nationwide where customers could donate books and school supplies for various public school areas. In exchange, shoppers will receive 50 pesos discount coupon for every donation made.

The SM Share Movement Donate-A-Book campaign is one of the many ways The SM Store and its customers team up to do their share for the less fortunate. Other projects are Share-A-Shoes and Share-A-Toy campaign.

On October 10, users can enjoy sitewide free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend and 24 rounds of flash deals

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, will host an exclusive livestream of Miss Shopee 10.10 Brands Festival on October 9 at 8:30 PM. Viewers of Shopee Live will get to watch influencers including GMA artists – Angel Guardian, Ana de Leon, and Jhenzel Go, compete for a chance to win Shopee’s Miss 10.10 pageant.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are excited to celebrate 10.10 Brands Festival with a new and engaging way to entertain our users through Shopee Live. Consumers can also look forward to major giveaways from participating brands during the livestream pageant. We invite everyone to celebrate 10.10 Brands Festival with us on October 10.”

Viewers can tune in as candidates compete in a series of categories including Best in Bonggang Costume, Best in Rampa, and Patabaan ng Utak. There will be exclusive brand giveaways from L’Oreal, Maybelline, Garnier, Amazfit, and Alaska. In addition, users can watch and earn up to ₱10,000 Shopee coins and free vouchers every 30 minutes will be released.

Shopee puts the spotlight on brands this 10.10 Brands Festival

On October 10, Shopee’s 10.10 Brands Festival will feature unbeatable promotions across all categories. Shoppers are able to enjoy key highlights including:

• Sitewide free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend: Users can avail of sitewide free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend on their purchases for 24 hours.

• 100% Brands Cashback vouchers: There will be 100% brands cashback vouchers and special discounts from participating brands.

• Up to 50% off deals: Leading brands including Alaska, Maybelline, Quaker, Vivo, and Anker will be giving discounts up to 50% off.

• 24-Hour Flash Deals: Users can enjoy 24 rounds of flash deals with deals as low as ₱9.

• Upsized session of Shopee Shake: There will be 6 rounds of Shopee Shake with ₱2 million Shopee coins to be given away.

• Exciting prizes in Shopee’s ₱1 Game: Amazing items including an iPhone 11, Macbook Pro 13”, and Airpods 2 will be available in the iconic ₱1 Game.

• 10-Hour Shopee Live session: Users can tune in to an exclusive livestream starting 12NN to score sitewide vouchers up to ₱1,000 off.

Find out more about 10.10 Brands Festival at https://shopee.ph/1010.

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

ProSource and NUCO feature delightfully satisfying products perfect for people looking for healthier options.

For many years, coconuts have been a popular alternative amongst consumers for a multitude of reasons. First is the versatility of coconuts to be converted to different forms, and second is the wide variety of health benefits it provides.

For Philippine-based coconut processor ProSource International Inc. (ProSource), seeking further ways to innovate on the fruit is their primary mission. With its growing popularity and the presence of new-breed technology, ProSource, with their international brand NUCO, received positive attention during the recently held 2nd World Coconut Congress, where they introduced their unique product offerings.

Led by an outstanding lineup of manufacturing experts locally and abroad, the event brought together decision-makers and health enthusiasts alike, as they discussed fresh ideas relevant to the Philippine Coco industry.

Coconuts for a plant-based living

“I use coconut-based products every day, and in almost every way I can,” said Filipina celebrity Bianca King. “I use it for my personal skin and hair care, and even when I cook or bake. It’s a local fruit I swear by.”

Taking part in the lineup of activities during the 2nd World Coconut Congress, King starred in her cooking show segment where she prepared two delightful plant-based meals,  all featuring her favorite products from ProSource and NUCO: their bestselling Coconut Wraps, Crunch, and Virgin Coconut Oil.

For her, switching to a plant-based diet has helped her achieve her personal goals, and with the exceptional properties of coconuts, she has found it as one of her preferred alternatives as a more refined product.

Actress and TV Personality Bianca King puts a spotlight on ProSource and NUCO products during her live cooking demo at the 2nd World Coconut Congress. King presents two plant-based dishes: Burrito in NUCO coconut wrap and cooked with ProSource’s VCO, and Green Parfait using NUCO’s coconut crunch and cereals.

Coconut for health and wellness

Marco Reyes, now one of the key players in the local coconut industry, is a living testimonial for the miracle fruit as an option for weight loss. “I used to be big, like really big, and I have also tried many fad diets before which never worked. But when I tried out this local weight-reduction plan, wherein I put ProSource and NUCO products at the core of my daily intake, I lost about 50lbs. in a span of 6 months. No exercise at all,” he shares.

Marco Reyes, President of Virgin Coconut Oil Producers and Traders Association of the Philippines (VCOP), shares his success story on using coconuts as a food replacement targeting weight loss and balanced sugar levels.

For Marco, the coconut has been his best ally in his weight loss journey, but to further examine if it were truly an advisable alternative for his overall health and wellness, he subjected himself to a series of medical tests. “Losing weight was one thing, but for me to truly test if it’s working, I had my blood levels checked. There, I discovered that I achieved the healthiest ratio for cardiovascular health. I have been the happiest since then,” said Reyes.

In the business of transforming lives

For ProSource and NUCO Director Ricky Santos, growing up in the Philippines allowed him and his family to see poverty and the struggles of a Filipino coconut farmer firsthand. While the Santos family lived comfortably, the case was not the same for the men who nobly tilled the soil. Since then, the Santos family has made it their mission to create a positive change in the Philippine coconut landscape, thus giving birth to the healthsome brands ProSource and NUCO.

“We put our business at the heart of transforming lives,” said Ricky Santos. “Our dedication lies in helping Filipino coconut farmers benefit from the trade of their sustainably-grown harvest. With the social responsibility projects we do as a team, we’re happy to take part in spawning a positive impact not only on our business, but our community as a whole. This has always been our mindful philosophy at ProSource and NUCO,” Santos added.

Bianca King joins the family of ProSource and NUCO for the 2^nd World Coconut Congress. In the photo (L-R) Ricky E. Santos, ProSource Managing Director; Bianca King; Teresa Santos, ProSource President.

To know more about how ProSource and NUCO can help you achieve a more sustainable lifestyle, check them out on BeautyMNL and their online store at www.shop.prosourcecoconut.com.

With Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) underway, fans of the 8 participating schools are all out in cheering for their favorite varsity teams!

For the past years, the UAAP Basketball Season has become one of the most anticipated events in the country, gathering students, alumni, and sports enthusiasts alike to some of the most exciting rivalries in the history of Philippine collegiate basketball.

This season, Jollibee is joining in on the fun competition with a special edition offer that will surely take the UAAP fans’ anticipation to even greater heights.

From now until October 31, fans can go all out in cheering for their teams when they avail of the all-new Jollibee UAAP Dolls! This limited-edition merchandise will surely amp everyone’s excitement as they watch their most-awaited games this season.

The dolls come in 8 varsity jacket designs to represent Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, National University, University of the East, University of the Philippines Diliman, and University of Santo Tomas.

Fans can now show off their school pride as they wave their UAAP Jollibee Dolls during game time to rally behind the Soaring Falcons, support the Blue Eagles’ “One Big Fight”, celebrate the “Animo!” spirit of the Green Archers, and bring out the fierce game of the Tamaraws.

With their Jollibee UAAP Dolls, fans can also cheer on the Bulldogs as they turn back their opponents, fire-up the spirit of the UE Red Warriors, show some love for the Fighting Maroons, and support the Growling Tigers as they claw back into contention.

Go #AllForMore and show your joyful school spirit this UAAP Season 82! Cheer your favorite team to victory with the all-new Jollibee UAAP Dolls for only P299 for every Jollibee value meal purchase. Promo is available for dine-in, take-out, drive-thru, and delivery, in selected Jollibee stores nationwide.

Visit our Facebook page to see where you can get your special edition Jollibee UAAP Dolls: https://bit.ly/2khiYq9

MAKATI CITY, Philippines – FPG Insurance, a major player in the general insurance industry, formally launched its newest addition to the roster of its non-life insurance products, a high-end medical insurance called FPG HealthPlus.

FPG HealthPlus caters to Philippine-residing expats and the affluent public ensuring full medical coverage anywhere in the world. In partnership with a global institution such as the Advanced Medical Access Philippines, Inc. (AMAPHIL), FPG Insurance provides access to its clients to more than 2,500 medical providers through an extensive medical network around the globe. This latest offering has medical benefits which are unprecedented in the local market such as coverage for cancer treatment, kidney dialysis, day surgeries, as well as organ transplantation.

FPG HealthPlus is the first medical insurance enabled by technology as it comes with a mobile application conveniently designed to access benefit information, locate accredited health and medical providers, and file reimbursement claims electronically.

“In our commitment to provide the public the product of safety and well-being, we are excited to launch FPG HealthPlus, a product that will transform the medical insurance landscape. Never before was there a medical insurance product that pays for cancer treatment so our product will definitely be a game changer,” says FPG Insurance President and CEO Ramon Yap Dimacali.

FPG Insurance Assistant Vice President for Health and Accident Ma. Mercedes dela Cruz, together with a representative from Optimum Global, did a walkthrough of the product’s benefits. The launch event was also attended by representatives from Generali Global Health UK and Europ Assistance. Partners and brokers from the local insurance industry also graced the event.

FPG HealthPlus is available through leading insurance agents and brokers nationwide. It has three plans to choose from—‘Essential’ which has benefit coverage of up to US$ 1,000,000 dollars, ‘Comprehensive’ with up to US$ 1,600,000 dollars, and ‘Supreme’ which has a limit of up to US$ 2,500,000 dollars.

FPG Insurance also offers a comprehensive suite of insurance products from motor insurance, home and condominium insurance, to travel and personal accident coverages.

On the heels of announcing its office opening earlier this year, PayPal, a global leader in online payment solutions, officially inaugurated its operations site today in Alabang, Metro Manila – the company’s largest and first consolidated operations site in the country.

PayPal has now hired over 700 people for this new office, with the intention of enlisting 1,000 more employees by the end of 2020. The company will look to fill key roles in customer support, voice and non-voice processes, and risk management to cater to English-speaking customers worldwide. Initially, the company aimed for 1,000 hires through 2021, but with growing needs for key business functions and a large pool of available local talent, this target has since been increased.

The company’s decision to setup its global operations center in Alabang reinforces the country’s reputation as a hotbed for talent. “Filipinos are renowned not only for their outstanding command of the English language, but also for their customer service expertise, as well as their resourcefulness, hard work, and openness to new experiences. At PayPal, we embrace passion and diversity as part of our culture, and Filipino talents make for the perfect fit when it comes to the values we strive for as a global company,” said John Nicholls, the Country Lead and Senior Director of PayPal Global Customer Services.

With more than 286 million active PayPal account holders, and availability in over 200 markets, supporting customers around the world will be no easy task. All prospective employees in this new site can expect to receive robust product and cultural training that will equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to better understand PayPal customers, as well as the intricacies of the many international markets they will serve.

An office designed for millennials

In 2020, it is estimated that at least half of the global workforce will come from the millennial generation, those who are now in their 20s and 30s.1 In the Philippines, millennials make up a significant part of the country’s total population and its labor force—with 1/2 of the total population aged 15-34, making up 43.9 percent of the labor force.2 This means that millennials will play a pivotal role in building a future for organizations, both foreign and local.

As an organization, PayPal champions innovation, collaboration, inclusion, and wellness—which are themes that resonate with Filipinos, particularly millennials. This is in full display at the company’s office in Alabang.

Apart from rest areas, a karaoke room, and a games area, the new office sports a modern cafeteria serving organic food that easily converts into a function zone complete with built-in LED screens and state-of-the-art sound system for events. To encourage teamwork and connectivity among employees, the spacious site also features open collaboration zones and WiFi on all floors.

“Our facilities are meant to embody PayPal’s work-culture philosophy which prizes innovation, collaboration, inclusion, and wellness. By nurturing these values in our office spaces, we provide our teams with the very best in coaching, mentorship and leadership, so they grow personally and professionally in their careers,” Nicholls explained.

As PayPal pursues its vision of democratizing financial services, it is looking to recruit more talent for a wide range of customer support roles. To find out more about these opportunities, visit www.paypal.com/jobs.

Mentored by some of the country’s most iconic songwriters and sought after young artists, 26 promising singer-songwriters were able to enhance their musical potential at the latest staging of the PhilPop Bootcamp 2019 that took place from September 24 to 27 at Purok Marcela and Oldwood beach resorts in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

PhilPop Executive Director Dinah Remolacio said that the PhilPop Bootcamp was borne out of the need to give more regional songwriters an opportunity to be part of the country’s premier songwriting competition.

“We noticed that most of the PhilPop winners from 2012 to 2016 were from Metro Manila. There’s nothing wrong with that. But we also wanted to diversify PhilPop as music from the country’s provincial regions have their own distinct flavor and characteristics. We felt compelled to strengthen and empower these regional songwriters by giving them a platform for their music and to use education as an instrument to create more songs that can add to the treasure trove of Original Pilipino Music,” Remolacio pointed out.

Given the opportunity and much to the delight of the Bootcamp’s coaches, most of these up-and-coming regional songwriters have responded favorably to PhilPop’s call as many of the 26 Fellows in the Pangasinan Bootcamp came from Northern and Southern Luzon.

Strong batch of Fellows with high potential

National Artist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Ryan Cayabyab who helped pioneer PhilPop and remains one of its staunchest champions is excited for this batch of Fellows.

“On the first day alone, we were already impressed with some of our Fellows. I can imagine we will discover more of these promising talented songwriters that we’re looking for. We will train them, share with them everything we know and provide them with the tools they need so that hopefully they leave the workshop with renewed and inspired lives to create new songs for the country,” enthused The Maestro, who kicked off the Bootcamp with an enlightening talk on Why Do We Write Songs.

As Bootcamp Master, Cayabyab led a Dream Team of coaches that included equally celebrated composers like Jim Paredes (who gave an inspiring talk on Enhancing Your Creativity: Inspiring your Music Journey), Noel Cabangon (Songwriting Exercises and Lyric Writing for Advocacies), Trina Belamide (How Do We Start a Song?, Copyright and Basic Music Publishing), Gary Granada (Lyric Writing) and Jungee Marcelo (Writing Melody and Lyrics).

These OPM legends worked side-by-side indefatigable arranger Marlon Barnuevo (Music Arrangement) as well as previous PhilPop winners Davey Langit, who together with the inseparable tandem of Thyro Alfaro & Yumi Lacsamana and twins Miguel and Paolo Guico of acoustic sensations Ben&Ben covered the topic, My Approach to Songwriting as they all shared their wealth of experience and tried-and-tested techniques to the mesmerized Fellows.

Journalist Tina Arceo-Dumlao of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and author of the book, “Himig at Titik: A Tribute to Songwriters” also enlightened the mostly millennial participants of the Bootcamp with some valuable history lessons as she talked about The Story of OPM.

Other topics covered during the Bootcamp include Digital Music Streaming and Music Video Production.

Song Critique key to better songwriting

Trina Belamide said one of the key activities in the PhilPop Bootcamp is the Song Critiquing that allows coaches to give their inputs on the Fellows’ individual compositions.

“The Bootcamp is very output-oriented. We get to critique songs written by the Fellows that they could submit to PhilPop next year. Having us coaches critique their songs will give them the advantage of further improving and enhancing their work,” Belamide pointed out.

Davey Langit agrees with Belamide in stressing the importance of song critique in the Bootcamp.

“There are many factors that come into consideration when writing a song that in the context of PhilPop, can be considered as competition-worthy. More than just a marriage of melody and lyrics, there is also the arrangement, the story the composers are trying to tell and the message and emotions they wants to convey,” Langit explained.

A little more push

Noel Cabangon sees a lot of potential in this batch of Bootcamp Fellows.

“They just need a little more push but this is why we have these workshops—to make them realize that songwriting is not something they can do out of sheer impulse. There are also certain considerations as they also need to be conscious of the lyrics, the melody and the rhythm. But many of them were able to present well during the exercises and I personally thought that collaborating with their group mates will go a long way in enhancing their skills,” Cabangon noted.

As for the 26 Fellows, each of whom are now assured of a slot in the Top 300 submissions in next year’s PhilPop festival, all of them are thrilled to learn from the masters and take their craft to the next level.

The Fellows speak

“I expected the Bootcamp to teach me a lot but it actually taught me more than I expected it would. It went beyond the basics and helped me arrange my thoughts so it became clearer to me to understand why I’m doing this,” noted budding tunesmith Stephanie Lavoie.

Pauline Lauron, who worked as a Junior Artist and Repertoire producer for a record label and an alumna of the groundbreaking Elements Music Camp that inspired the PhilPop Bootcamp, said she joined the camp to get a “refresher course” as she stopped writing songs for a while.

“I will definitely write more songs after this Bootcamp. It’s very heartening to see the willingness and the excitement to learn on the part of my fellow campers and their openness to absorb anything that’s discussed here,” quipped Lauron who currently works as a freelance back-up singer.

Christian “Ian” Dumaplin, who has been a professional musician since 2003, admitted that for all his experience, he still learned a lot from the PhilPop Bootcamp.

“More than anything, I also found it very inspiring to be in the company of my fellow songwriters and at the same time be encouraged by my accomplished coaches,” he beamed.

PhilPop Bootcamp 2019 is an initiative of the PhilPop Music Foundation, chaired by Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan. This year’s PhilPop is co-presented by SMART, MERALCO, and MAYNILAD and is supported by the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC), the local government unit of Lingayen, Pangasinan and venue partners Oldwood Resort and Purok Marcela.