Make the most out of your suweldo this coming payday! ShopeePay, Shopee’s all-in-one mobile wallet, lets you save more with amazing rewards and discounts this coming October 15 at the Shopee Payday Sale. With ShopeePay, not only can you look forward to great deals and promos, but you can also enjoy a safer and more convenient payment experience when you settle your bills through the Shopee app or when you pay via ShopeePay QR for in-store purchases. Here’s what to look forward to this October 15.
Big Discounts & Cashback on Bills
Tired of waiting in line to pay your dues? This payday, users can enjoy up to ₱100 off on their bills from the following ShopeePay partner billers: Meralco, Maynilad, and Primewater for utility bills; Globe, Smart, and Sun for postpaid mobile bills. This discount also applies to landline and internet bills from PLDT, Globe at Home, and Converge; and SkyCable, Cignal, Cablelink, and Streamtech for TV cable bills. ShopeePay discount vouchers can also be used to pay for loans and credit card billers like Home Credit, Cashalo, Dragonloans, SkyPay, and RCBC.
To sweeten the deal, you can enjoy up to 50% bills cashback if it’s your first time paying bills, buying load, or e-vouchers using ShopeePay!
Up to 50% Off on Mobile Load
This coming payday, users can also enjoy up to 50% off on mobile load from all networks. To add to this, they can get up to 10% coins cashback when they purchase Smart and TNT load worth ₱200 and up, and 100 coins cashback for Globe load worth ₱350. All major Philippine networks are now available on ShopeePay which include Smart, Globe, DITO, Sun, TM, and TNT, so you can always stay connected to your friends and loved ones.
₱1 Deals from ShopeePay Merchants
Apart from saving on bills and load, you can also maximize your suweldo by purchasing ShopeePay ₱1 Deals this Payday Sale. Buy ₱1 Deals via Deals Near Me on the Shopee app, and redeem your discounts when you Scan To Pay in participating stores of ShopeePay partner merchants like Bonchon, Potato Corner, Moonleaf, Plains & Prints, Tapa King, Nature Republic, Aerophone, Home Along, and Buddy’s, among many others. ShopeePay has over 2,500 partner merchants with over 15,000 total branches nationwide; enabling ShopeePay users to make safe and cashless transactions in a wide variety of stores while enjoying exclusive discounts and perks.
Make sure to activate and top up your ShopeePay wallet in time for Shopee’s Payday Sale! On October 14, get a chance to win ₱15,000 when you top up a minimum amount of ₱500 in your ShopeePay Wallet and play the Scratch & Win Top Up Promo. Top up your ShopeePay wallet through online banking, debit card, and over-the-counter partners to enjoy a safe and rewarding cashless experience this Payday!
Ano ba ang tamang timpla ng pag-ibig? That is the question at the center of the new WeTV Original series BetCin! The romantic comedy series starts streaming exclusively on WeTV on October 15 at 8:00 PM. New episodes drop every Friday.
Kylie Padilla and Andrea Torres play a social media celebrity couple in a seemingly perfect relationship, online that is. Behind the filtered posts, things are not so smooth sailing for Beth (Padilla) and Cindy (Torres). Their differing priorities and needs begin pulling them apart, the gap widening the higher their number of followers, the Umamis, get.
As they figure out what’s next for them, “BetCin” has been selected as a finalist for “#RelationshipGoals”. The problem is, can they fake it until they make it all for the sake of a lot of likes and the large cash prize in the end. Beth and Cindy must find the right love recipe to convince their Umamis that they are the internet’s sweetest sweethearts.
When asked about what makes a relationship work, the two stars had these to say. “Trust and respect. Personally, ang pinaka important sa akin yung Trust kasi once na masira yun parang mahirap na bumalik sa dati.” Padilla said firmly. Andrea also shared her thoughts, “For me, respect. Kasi feeling ko kapag nirerespect niya ko there’s no room for me to doubt.” The latter also mentioned this is probably one of her most unforgettable projects yet. She continued, “It was an absolute pleasure and honor to be your Cindy.”
Also joining the colorful cast of BetCin are Elora Españo, one of the country’s most sought-after independent actresses, and Pinoy Dream Academy alumna, Chai Fonacier, an award-winning actress who has appeared in TV shows and films.
BetCin is directed by Shugo Praico and story creator Fatrick Tabada co-wrote the eight-episode series with writer John Carlo Pacala. Over eight episodes, Praico balances out the drama that comes from a relationship on the rocks with punches of humor, adding to the relatability of the two central characters. “One of the brilliant elements of Fatrick Tabada’s original script for BETCIN, when we were developing it as a part of an anthology series years back, is its tone — a charming blend of wit and absurdist humor. When WeTV asked us to turn it into an 8-episode series, the genius JC Pacala and I decided to stick with that tone, push the comedy, and add poignancy into the mix, to tell the break-up story of an odd but lovable couple trapped in the zany situation they created. We wanted to give the audience a fresh take, a unique experience on this familiar kind of story.” The show is line-produced by Rein Entertainment Productions.
The release of the series is also timely, as there is a lot of conversation around inclusivity, bringing with it the opportunity to share these stories on a larger scale. “We feel that the time is right to put the spotlight on stories told from the lens of two women in a romantic relationship. This perspective is not often heard, and we wanted to give it the voice that it deserves,” explains WeTV Philippines country manager Georgette Tengco. “At the core of BetCin is a love story about two people navigating life and love as it plays out on social media. That’s something we can all relate to.”
Stay tuned to the WeTV Philippines social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for exclusive updates and news on BetCin, other WeTV Originals, and premium Asian content.
About WeTV
WeTV, a Tencent company, is the carrying brand for overseas users of Tencent Video – China’s leading online video platform with over 100 million paid subscribers. Since it was first launched in 2019, WeTV is now available in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, India, and other territories, accelerated by its acquisition of the iflix brand and resources in the past year. The platform is centered on delivering Asian premium content and original productions – which they can stream anytime, anywhere, and on any device – to its users globally.
Proving its compliance with standard safety protocols, Farmers Market in Araneta City has been the first public market in Metro Manila to be given a Safety Seal certification by the local government.
A ceremonial installation of the Safety Seal was held on October 8, 2021, at the Farmers Market and Dampa entrances. The activity was headed by Margie Santos, head of the Quezon City Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD); retired police Col. Popoy Lipana, head of QC Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD); Morriel Abogado, Vice President for Operations and Zone Manager for Araneta City; Marjorie Go, Assistant Vice President for Marketing of Araneta City; and Belle De Leon, Farmers Market Property Manager.
The Farmers Market Safety Seal is among the certificates posted in entrances of Araneta City premises after they passed the rigorous inspection of Quezon City’s Safety Seal Certification Committee. The City of Firsts has been implementing the use of Kyusipass, and has been observing safety entrance protocols and regular sanitation in every establishment.
“The Safety Seal is a testament that we are continuously working on making Araneta City safer for everyone. We proudly display this certificate to keep our patrons assured that their health and safety always comes first at the City of Firsts,” Abogado said.
The Safety Seal for Farmers Plaza was installed on June 29, Gateway Mall’s safety seal was posted on July 1, while the safety seal for Ali Mall was awarded on July 6.
Aside from the strict implementation of IATF’s health protocols and guidelines, Farmers Market also utilizes contactless payment, in partnership with GCash, to safeguard the safety and protection of consumers and vendors.
Featured photo (from left to right) – Col. Popoy Lipana Head of Quezon City Market Development and Administration Department; Margie Santos, Head of the Quezon City Business Permit and Licensing Department; Belle De Leon, Farmers Market Property Manager; Morriel Abogado, Vice President for Operations and Zone Manager of Araneta City)
At the Huawei TECH4ALL Summit, Huawei called for global partners to join the TECH4ALL digital inclusion initiative, which aims to build a more inclusive and intelligent world that leaves no one behind.
Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative focuses on four areas: driving equity and quality in education, conserving nature with technology, driving inclusion and accessibility in health, and using ICT to boost rural development. It focuses on digital technologies, application enablement, and digital skills, and works with global partners to promote and expand digital inclusion to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At present, more than 60,000 teachers and students benefit from TECH4ALL projects in over 200 schools worldwide. Digital technologies have been deployed to improve resource management and biodiversity conservation efficiency in 22 natural reserves around the world. Huawei smartphones provide 15 accessibility features and are used by about 10 million users each month. Huawei’s RuralStar solution provides mobile Internet services for more than 60 countries and regions, covering more than 50 million people in remote areas.
Inclusion and equity were major talking points in the education track of the summit. In her opening remarks, Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, discussed technology-enabled Open Schools, a three-year partnership program with Huawei that is rolling out in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Ghana.
“UNESCO and Huawei jointly launched this project in July 2020,” said Stefania Giannini. “The project explores future schooling models, thereby contributing to UNESCO’s global initiative on the future of education.”
To build a more crisis-resilient Open School system, all countries have to consider the three pillars of new infrastructure for a learning system: technology, digital content, and the digital competencies of teachers and human facilitators. UNESCO’s Dr. Fengchun Miao, Chief of Unit for Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Education, looked at how to leverage the power of technology in the education field.
Vodafone Foundation discussed its Instant Network Schools program, which aims to bring high-quality education to refugees and host communities, with plans to connect 500,000 refugee students and their communities by 2025. Huawei is one of the partners for expanding connectivity to more schools in Africa.
Vodafone Instant Network Schools Program Manager Oisín Walton said, “We believe that every boy and girl should have access to quality education, no matter where they are and whatever their nationality.”
Close the Gap’s DigiTruck Program Lead Bram Over gave an update on the DigiTruck program. DigiTrucks are green, solar-powered mobile classrooms converted from shipping containers. They are equipped with recycled ICT devices and provide training for young people in digital skills. Huawei has supported this program in Kenya and France. Later this year, Huawei and Close the Gap will implement the project in Ethiopia.
Ling Hui from the YouChange China Social Entrepreneur Foundation introduced the Green Pepper program for young teachers in rural villages in China. The program delivers a year of online training to teachers and has reached nearly 80,000 young rural teachers and 17,000 schools so far.
In her opening remarks introducing the environment track, IUCN Director General Dr. Grethel Aguilar addressed a range of environmental issues, pointing out that technology can be used to mitigate humanity’s growing impact on the planet.
Dr. Aguilar said, “Digital technology can be an important part of the solution and help us solve global challenges if used correctly and smartly.”
As a facilitator of the panel discussion, Associate Director of the IUCN Protected Areas Programme James Hardcastle, pointed out that we must empower more people to use technologies for nature conservation and referenced the Tech4Nature initiative – an IUCN-Huawei partnership that aims to develop scenario-specific technologies to safeguard natural ecosystems in 300 protected sites by 2023.
Currently, the project is running in Thailand, Spain, Mauritius, Switzerland, and China. Ecomode President Nadeem Nazurally elaborated on the Mauritius project, which aims to protect and restore the African island nation’s rapidly vanishing coral reef using AI-powered real-time video monitoring, which can be transmitted to experts, both local and worldwide.
Continuing the environmental track, Rainforest Connection Director of International Expansion Chrissy Durkin introduced the Nature Guardian system, which uses acoustics technologies to monitor endangered species and alert rangers to threats like illegal logging and gunshots. Bernardo Reyes Ortíz, President of Forest Ethics in Chile, explained how the Guardian platform supported by Huawei cloud is providing a lifeline for the nation’s endangered Darwin’s fox, fewer than 1,000 of which are thought to remain in existence.
Smart and networked monitoring technologies are crucial tools for nature conservation. Dr. Steph Wray, Chair of The Mammal Society in the UK, how acoustics solutions have been deployed in England to protect the increasingly rare red squirrel, which is threatened by the invasive and vastly more populous grey squirrel.
Tang Yanfei, Executive Director at Hainan National Park Research Institute, explained how acoustics monitoring is key to improving the conservation of China’s critically endangered Hainan gibbon, with a view to doubling its population in 15 years.
Partnerships are the fuel that powers progress in TECH4ALL’s environment and education domains, as well as in the initiative’s other two domains – health and development.
“If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together,” said Tao Jingwen in his opening remarks. “We believe that more partners will work with us to advance the TECH4ALL action plan in the future. Join us for a more inclusive, intelligent world where no one is left behind.”
On its thirteenth year, ManilART focuses on “Continuing Legacies.” These legacies cannot be taken out of their context being on the second year over the pandemic; continuing legacies necessitate evolution with the times, including setting new standards to ensure a safer and better normal.
In anticipation of a more open and robust economy going into the last quarter of the year, ManilART has moved its original dates and is now slated for October 20-24 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City.
Ensuring the well-being of fairgoers
Safety is ManilART’s top priority- the fair implements guidelines for the welfare of exhibitors and fairgoers in cooperation with Ticketbooth and Safecity. Safe Hours will be implemented for select onsite activities, with available slots requiring the presentation of a vaccination card.
General Admission tickets shall be honored from October 21-24, while VIP Preview tickets are honored on October 20, Day 1. This is all in strict observance of online pre-registration, contactless entry, and capacity-monitoring protocols. The fair is monitored and compliant with safety protocols approved by Safecity Taguig.
These measures, which had been successfully implemented last year, are here to stay. Moving forward, simultaneous onsite and online availability will be the norm as longer-term practices in terms of the art fair, art markets, and the relevant procedures for art and cultural exhibitions in general.
How to visit ManilART onsite
Physical visitors may obtain their tickets online through Ticketbooth. After a successful purchase, just save and/or download your ticket with a QR code. Enjoy contactless and wait-free entrance when you scan at the gate. Contactless temperature scans and SM Mall entry monitoring will be in effect as added precautions.
A limited number of Safe Hours slots will be available on the first schedule of each General Admission Fair Day. These slots require the presentation of a vaccination card in addition to the regular ticket QR. This ensures visitors are in the house only with other vaccinated persons during the designated hours.
Everyone in ManilART will need to comply with the following guidelines for everyone’s safety:
Wear your face mask and face shield at all times
Allow for contactless temperature scanning at the entrance
Make use of the foot baths and alcohol stations
Maintain social distancing of 1.5 meters per person
Move along the indicated one-way paths
Observe and follow the onsite marshals who are tasked to assist with foot
Sponsor Family Mart will be safely offering small snacks and beverages during VIP and Safe Hours on a Grab and Go basis.
ManilART online: from Tarlac to Taguig to Davao
ManilART’s online events and exhibitions can also be found through the ManilART portal at www.manilartfair.com, where anyone may access the fair’s 360 walkthrough synchronously with the fair opening on October 20. Individual views of the fair’s exhibitors will be made available- you can view all the onsite exhibitions with a single click, as if you were actually at the fair grounds at SMX. This year’s exhibitors include Galerie Raphael, Galleria Nicolas, Annual Sculpture Review, G9 Online, Art For Space, Nemiranda Arthouse, Ysobel Art Gallery, Galerie Du Soleil, A.Tolentino Art Gallery, Historia Arts, Galerie Artes, Village Art Gallery, 371 Art Space, Renaissance Art Gallery, Galerie Francesca, Artes Orientes, NQC, Artologist Gallery, Espacio Manila by CMG, Robles Museum, and Art Lounge Manila.
A look at the ManilART website guided tour.
Apart from onsite galleries, full views of the satellite shows will also be made accessible.
ManilART’s much-anticipated regional sites include Balai Kalipay in Davao, Likhang Silangan in Rizal, Tarlac Art in Tarlac and Ricardo’s in Cavite. This is a new development from the fair’s tireless efforts at showcasing regional artists in their own home; despite travel restrictions, these sites can now be visited from the comfort of yours.
These 360 visits allow you a self-guided, self-paced tour of the various exhibits similar to Google’s street view. You may even use virtual reality glasses or any phone or device with an accelerometer to best simulate a walk-through.
Inside the Diwa ng Tarlac where the Tarlac Art Fair is being held. The 360 Satellite Tour will be available on ManilART’s website.
Beyond Physical
ManilART2021 debuts its first phygital showcase which will give a glimpse of the possibilities of future art, bridging physical works with their digital multiples. These phygitals minted as Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) will join the world marketplace for art, as well as allow virtual exhibitions of entire collections anywhere in the globe in the near future. Experience art as Augmented Reality (AR) at this year’s fair.
ManilART2021 is co-presented with the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO), ManilART Foundation, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as a Museums and Galleries Month presentation. It is supported by partners I Love Taguig, Think Big Taguig, Vision Prime Media, Future Studios, Ladder Events Production, Ticketbooth.ph, SM Aura, SMX Convention Center, Department of Foreign Affairs, BDO Unibank, Metro Channel, Metro.Style, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), SMNI News Channel, DZAR Sonshine Radio 1026, People’s Journal, BusinessWorld, FrontpagePH, asian Dragon, Click The City, The Philippine Star, Art+ Magazine, Inquirer.net, Inquirer POP! Manila Bulletin, Home Base Plus, The Market Monitor, Hue TVEverywhere, Chinese Journal Today, Experience Travel and Living Magazine, Manileño, WhenInManila.com, Good Morning Kuya (GMK), The Manila Times, Alike Media Inc., Wish 107.5, Boracay Beach Radio 97.3, Q Radio 105.1, Don Papa Rum, and Guardian Alcohol.
ManilART’s onsite fair will run from October 20-24 at the third level of the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City. For more details, visit www.manilart.comor follow ManilART’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram (@manilartfair).
Whether we realize it or not, most of us tend to be brand loyalists whenever we go shopping on or offline. Once we find certain brands we like, we stick to them.
Brand sukis, don’t miss out on the biggest deals from your favorite brands at the 10.10 Brands Festival, Shopee’s biggest brands sale of the year. Aside from big discounts, you can also enjoy branded giveaways, exclusive deals, and the best entertainment on Shopee. Check out this handy guide for all the things you can look forward to at Shopee’s 10.10 Brands Festival:
Deals and discounts from trusted brands
At the 10.10 Brands Festival, expect the biggest discounts from all your favorite brands across categories such as electronics, personal care, home and living, groceries, beauty, and more. Look for your go-to brands in the photo below:
Free shipping with no minimum spend
Shopping feels more fun when you don’t have to worry about additional charges. This October 10, enjoy shopping from all your favorite brands minus the shipping fees.
₱1,000 brand vouchers
Going on a shopping spree? Don’t forget to claim vouchers for more discounts. Check your favorite brands’ Shopee pages until October 10 for a chance to grab daily discount vouchers worth up to ₱1,000 off.
Big brand giveaways
Who doesn’t love freebies? Over 80 lucky winners can win ₱430,000 worth of giveaways, such as personal care items, electronics, and appliances, from over 30 participating brands. All you have to do is follow the featured brands of the day until October 10. Check out the giveaway schedule here: https://shopee.ph/m/big-brand-giveaways.
Easy shopping guides: Add to Cart Top 100 Deals and Kim Chiu’s picks
Excited by all the awesome deals at the 10.10 Brands Festival, but can’t quite decide which ones to snap up? Check out Shopee’s Add to Cart Top 100 Deals for a quick roundup of all the best items you shouldn’t miss out on: https://shopee.ph/m/top100.
Shopee’s newest brand ambassador, Kim Chiu, also shares a few product recommendations from the 10.10 Brands Festival. After all, she’s not just one of the most popular entertainers of her generation—with her passion for shopping, she’s also something of a tastemaker. Here are Kim’s top picks:
An exclusive performance from popular K-Pop act ITZY
MIDZY, tune in to Shopee Live this October 10, 10:00-11:00 PM, to catch exciting performances from K-Pop girl group ITZY! You can also enjoy a pre-show featuring K-variety-inspired content, official ITZY merchandise, and a signed giveaway.
A chance to win 1,000 coins with the #10BrandFaves contest
This October 9-10, download the #10BrandFaves template from the Shopee Feed, fill it in with 10 of your favorite Shopee Mall brands, and post it on your Feed with the hashtag #10BrandFaves for a chance to win 1,000 Shopee coins.
An opportunity to win ₱10,000 worth of ShopeePay credits with 10.10 Brand Budols contest
Want to splurge on your favorite brands? Join the 10.10 Brand Budols contest for a chance to win ₱10,000 worth of ShopeePay credits. To participate, take screenshots of branded product listings on your wishlist and post them on your Shopee Feed with the hashtag #1010BrandBudols and 10.10 Feed stickers.
And an extra chance to win free money
You can also win ₱100 worth of free money in the form of ShopeePay credits. If you’ve never made a purchase from Shopee before, just activate your ShopeePay wallet, sign up at this link, and verify your account until October 12 to become eligible for the promo. If you’re an existing user, just follow the same steps and make a purchase worth at least ₱100 using ShopeePay within the promo period.
More exclusive perks with ShopeePay
For more exclusive perks at the 10.10 Brands Festival, go cashless when you buy load, pay bills, and scan to pay with ShopeePay at thousands of merchants nationwide. Get up to 50% discount on mobile load. Pay bills and get up to 50% cashback from Meralco, Maynilad, Globe, Smart, and over 60 partner billers. Lastly, enjoy ShopeePay ₱1 Deals from Puregold, Potato Corner, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Moonleaf, Seaoil, and more partner merchants.
Make sure to activate and top up your ShopeePay wallet through online banking, debit card, and over-the-counter partners to enjoy a safe and rewarding payment experience at the 10.10 Brands Festival.
A decade of sustainable fisheries work brings hope to the future of our seas.
The World Wide Fund for Nature launched Bangkulis: Tuna Tales from Hook to Cook, a coffee table book commemorating a decade of sustainable fisheries work in the Philippines in a virtual event held on October 1, 2021.
Set in the yellowfin tuna fisheries of the Lagonoy Gulf and Mindoro Strait, the book details the fisherfolk’s 10-year journey to environmental sustainability. The book follows small-scale fishers and how they have organized themselves toward protecting and uplifting their livelihoods.
In 2011, WWF began working with handline yellowfin tuna fishers in Lagonoy Gulf and Mindoro Strait. A Fisheries Improvement Project was launched – a multi-stakeholder program that aims for the environmental sustainability of fisheries.
A little over a decade of work has brought many wins for these fisheries, both in terms of the management of yellowfin tuna stocks and the empowerment of the handline fishers themselves.
Bangkulis: Tuna Tales from Hook to Cook presents these wins, and the effort that went into achieving them.
“Our partner fishers are at the center of this story. They are the local leaders trying to safeguard the seas they rely on, and we have had the pleasure of watching them come together, empowered, constantly learning, so that they may better take care of their fisheries,” shared WWF-Philippines Project Manager Joann Binondo.
Binondo also reminds us that these yellowfin tuna fisheries have a long way to go before they can claim to be environmentally sustainable. Despite this, the fishers remain committed to improving upon their practices and exploring better ways to safeguard their seas.
“A decade of hard work has gone into improving our fisheries. It has been difficult, but we have seen what this can mean for us – a sense of stability, for those of us whose lives depend on fishing,” shared Atenogenes Reaso, a fisher and chairman of the Gulf of Lagonoy Tuna Fishers Federation, Inc.
Love shines even in the darkest places as GMA Heart of Asia airs the hit South Korean drama series ‘Tale of the Nine Tailed‘ beginning October 11 on GMA Telebabad.
The drama has quickly gained a following in South Korea during its premiere in 2020 with its stellar cast and interesting plot which interweaves romance with a tinge of Korean folk tales and horror elements.
The series stars renowned actors Lee Dong-Wook as Leon, Jo Bo-ah as Gia, and Kim Bum as Ram. Leon, a nine-tailed fox, was once the mountain guardian spirit of Baekdudaegan. After losing his mortal first love, he gives up his position and spends centuries in human form in search of her reincarnation.
Meanwhile, Gia works for a TV station as a producer of documentaries on the supernatural. When she was a child, she was involved in a car accident and her parents mysteriously disappeared. She remembers a man that saved her in that accident which turns out to be Leon.
The two cross paths again and are determined to search for answers not knowing that they hold the key to each other’s unresolved past.
Don’t miss the much-awaited premiere of ‘Tale of the Nine Tailed’ beginning October 11, weeknights, 9:35 p.m. on GMA Telebabad.
Globe Bridging Communities (Globe Bridgecom) rallies everyone to plant happiness and take pleasure in small things to improve mental health and well-being. Turning to the highly-popular social media platform TikTok, Globe encourages everyone to dance their way to better days and do their share for Mother Earth.
Globe Bridgecom is kickstarting a series of activities on TikTok, starting with its #PlantHappinessPH #AtinAngSimpleJoys dance challenge. Using artist Quest’s popular hit song “Better Days 2.0,” TikTokers will be dancing to inspiring lyrics about finding ways to celebrate life.
To make this activity more interesting and meaningful, Globe is inspiring participants to take on purposeful hobbies that further help alleviate stress and, at the same time, help the environment. Thousands of free seeds and seedlings await those who take on the challenge so they can create a positive and uplifting routine of caring for plants.
Langka and Guyabano seedlings will be given to participants in the Greater Manila Area while those in other locations get seed packs to grow Supa and Bignay trees. These are sourced from Globe’s partners in sustainability, the Philippine Native Tree Enthusiasts, and Mead Foundation. To get these seeds or seedlings for free, people must visit the www.0917lifestyle.com website and check out using the promo code SIMPLEJOYS.
Popular TikTok star Cejeey Laqui, known for the viral Ever After dance challenge, choreographed the #PlantHappinessPH #AtinAngSimpleJoys dance challenge. Several celebrity talents and influencers including Sanya Lopez, Mark Herras, and Rodjun Cruz of GMA; Myx VJ Ai dela Cruz; and Joj and Jai Agpangan of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother are also lending their support to the campaign.
And because it’s #GDayEveryday, especially this month with Globe’s 917 Festivities, Globe and TM subscribers who participate in the dance challenge may also win 917 Rewards points which they can redeem for freebies or discounts from their favorite shops. A total of 30 winners will be selected.
“Amid the challenges of the pandemic, we want to remind everyone that they are not alone in their fight against stress and anxiety,” shared Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications. “There can be happiness even in life’s little surprising moments. Healthy hobbies and the pursuit of simple joys are ways for people to stay mentally healthy. And should anyone feel they need more help, then we have support channels like Hopeline and KonsultaMD to reach for.”
In recent years, mental health and wellness are among the things that Globe has put a premium on in the company’s quest to create a Globe of good for everyone.
The company strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SGD No. 3 on good health and well-being and UN SDG No. 12 for sustainable consumption and production about achieving economic growth and sustainable development by urgently reducing our ecological footprint. Globe is committed to upholding the 10 United Nations Global Compact principles and 10 UN SDGs.
The fascinating Sabang beach became our playground for three days. We enjoyed immensely playing with the waves. How many times did we fall but returned and continued to play with the waves?
I’ve always wanted to go to Baler in Aurora Quezon. I’ve been interested in the stories shared about the place. Back of my mind, “I’m not a surfer, not even an excellent swimmer. So, why the eagerness to go there?”
Baler is the capital of Aurora, a province popular for its natural wonders, pristine beaches, and surf-worthy waves, as well as its place in Philippine history and world cinema.
Without much planning, my family headed on a journey to Baler during the Holy Week break some years back. We traveled by land. First, we stayed overnight at the Harvest Hotel in Cabanatuan City. Then, from Cabanatuan City, we traversed the roads with the aid of GPS (geographical positioning system).
However, the GPS led us to the rough roads of Nueva Ecija and Aurora Province, crossed the shallow river to be able to hit the cemented roads leading to Baler proper. Indeed, the four and a half drive turned out to be an adventure! We were told that we should have taken the Pantabangan roads going to Baler.
Beautiful waves at Sabang beach.
The second challenge we faced was how to get a place to stay since most of the hotels and resorts were fully occupied by tourists. We continued to ask around until one gracious lady from the souvenir store referred us to her relative who has a transient house. In short, we were taken in for overnight accommodation.
Baler Boardwalk
After only 30 minutes of interval, the other nice lady from a transient house texted me that there was already an available air-conditioned room. So, we decided to transfer the next morning. We liked it there better since it was located on the beachfront, very convenient when we go swimming. We were truly lucky to get a decent place, and most importantly, we immensely enjoyed the fascinating Sabang beach!
Sabang beach is popular for being the surfers’ paradise.
Local and international travelers (surfers and non-surfers) are always captivated by the charm of Sabang beach. At first, you had this inner fear of being drowned.
But lo and behold, my daughter and I found ourselves playing with the waves. The vast beach shorelines became our playground. We laughed and anticipated every approaching wave to hit us. How many times did we fall but returned and continued to play with the waves?
Now, I understand, why surfers like it here; they are after the waves. They want to surf the waves! Thus, Sabang beach became the surfers’ paradise.
At the Manuel L. Quezon Monument.Museo de BalerThe Baler Monument symbolizes the 400th Anniversary of Baler township, created by foremost installation artist Junyee. His design is composed of four pillars — representing Baler’s 400 years of history interconnected by horizontal bars.
Traveling creates new discoveries – from within yourself, the places you have been, the people you met along the way – all these make our journey truly a memorable one.
