Daily Newsmakers

The holidays are merrier and sweeter with everyone’s favorite treats from Rebisco! Rebisco Products It’s the time of the year when families get together and share in the warmth of each other’s presence.  As Christmas in the Philippines also means indulging in delicious and satisfying feasts with loved ones, there’s no better way to spread holiday cheer at parties and gatherings than with everyone’s favorite snacks and treats from Rebisco, now a part of Filipinos’ lives for more than 55 years.                                                        “No matter how simple or grand the Christmas feast is at your home, there’s always space for the family’s favorite Rebisco snacks,” said Lulu dela Peña, Rebisco’s Marketing Communications Head. “We’re proud of having been an important part of the nation’s celebrations for generations now.”

Exclusive promo vouchers perfect for your Christmas shopping all in one app To celebrate the coming of Christmas, Globe At Home aims to delight customers with exciting promos from top brands via their app!  The Globe At Home app is your best partner in managing your home internet connection, delivering easy digital experience for postpaid and prepaid Globe At Home customers. It offers ease and convenience through features such as bills payment, data usage tracking, activation of content subscription plans, promo alerts and resolving basic connectivity issues that make monitoring your plan hassle-free. And for a special holiday treat, exclusive promos and discounts will be available via the app starting December 12, 2019 ! 

As part of its efforts to support UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence though its own #SpeakOutListenUp campaign, AVON Philippines visited Safe Refuge to get to know how the organization empowered victims to speak out, recover, and rebuild their lives. 

After just one season, the much-awaited book that narrates the amazing rise of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons -- from cellar dwellers of the collegiate league to finals contenders in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) -- was launched December 9 at the UP Executive House in Diliman. 

After years of lackluster finishes in the Southeast Asian Games, Philippine volleyball showed resurgence this year with strong performances and podium finishes all throughout against the rest of the region’s powerhouses.

Basta holiday shopping, don’t pay cash, PayMaya!         Giving is always better than receiving, especially during the holiday season. As you complete your gift list for family and friends this upcoming 12.12 sale, take your shopping game to the next level and receive more perks and rewards when you give more to your loved ones with the help of PayMaya.   This 12.12, take advantage of multiple cashback on top of the already awesome deals offered by your favorite brands both online and in-stores when you shop using your trusted payment buddy, PayMaya.    

From November 30 to December 31, get your hands on Sperry Gift Certificates, JBL Clip 2 Speakers, or even game codes for Borderlands 3 or The Outer Worlds by just purchasing your own ASUS TUF Gaming notebook!  

This year, gift-giving can be more meaningful not only to the receiver, but also to you as the giver. Aside from showing your appreciation for your loved ones, you can also take this opportunity to help local communities and the environment by supporting social enterprises.  For this year’s BPI Sinag ng Pasko Bazaar, BPI Foundation will be bringing together Filipino social enterprises to a one-day fair offering a wide range of sustainable gift options to choose from. Most of these brands are offering products are handcrafted or made from recycled materials and other organic ingredients.  Here are some of the homegrown brands you shouldn’t miss in this year’s bazaar.  Habi Footwear Crazy about shoes? The Habi Footwear has a wide range of comfortable footwear like espadrilles and sandals that are 100% guaranteed environment-friendly. This stylish and affordable brand uses recycled materials such as upcycled fabrics and airplane tires for its espadrilles. Every pair you buy w

GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, is making strides in fulfilling the country’s goal of developing e-payments at the grassroots level, as it empowers micro-entrepreneurs and small enterprises to transact with customers through their mobile phones.  Aside from huge mall establishments, quick-service restaurants, and supermarkets, GCash has also empowered the simple sari-sari store and tricycles to make digital transactions via GCash’s QR. 

‘Tis the Season to Share as ASUS Philippines Celebrates the Holiday Season with the Biggest Christmas Promo Yet! ASUS Philippines’ Share 2019 Christmas campaign offers buyers of select ASUS laptops an incredible bundle of upto Php 18,994 worth of freebies featuring Fujifilm Instax cameras ASUS Philippines officially launched its annual SHARE 2019 Campaign , with the tagline #CreateToShare , which highlights the company’s new strategy of introducing its latest  series of ASUS laptops for the Content Creator market.

A heartwarming video featuring Jollibee Chickenjoy will remind you why Christmas spent with family is always the best

Ready to excite your taste buds? Look no further as one of the world’s most popular and celebrated shopping days of the year is just around the corner. Black Friday means irresistible promotions, discounts, and bargains that are not to be missed, and with Yellow Cab’s offer, it truly is a shopping day that will be so worth it. 

Philippine volleyball fans, are you ready for this year’s SEA Games in Manila? The Philippine national men’s and women’s volleyball teams have released their official line-ups for the games, featuring a pool of talented professional and competitive players. Here is a look at our Volleyball representatives eyeing a podium finish in the regional meet.

BPI-Philam Life Assurance Corp. (BPLAC), the leading bancassurance company in the country , recently presented a cash donation worth P3.4 million and handed over 200 iPads to Philam Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Philam Group.

Dubbed as the heart of Asia, Taiwan beats with a fiery passion that attracts many Filipinos. In fact,  the number of Filipinos who visited the island republic increased in 2018 by 44.13% from 2017.  For some, Taiwan is a food destination and picturesque views. To many others, it is the home of  cutting-edge technologies and life-changing innovations. 

K-food lovers can now experience a more exciting and rewarding food adventure as they get a chance to win a one-year supply of BonChon's K-Style fried chicken when they scan-to-pay with PayMaya at BonChon.  

Pack an orange for lunch for a juicy, flavoursome punch Taste Australia is bringing the highest quality Navel Oranges back from Australia’s south east regions to the Philippines.  Only sourced from the highest quality crops, Australian oranges are at their prime and Taste Australia encourages consumers to make the most of the peak season and indulge in this colourful, sweet, juicy and nutritious fruit.  Welcoming the citrus season to Manila, Hort Innovation ’s Taste Australia campaign aims to cement existing trade relations and develop new partnerships between the two countries.

The holiday fever is on! Mall sales, Christmas tiangges and bazaars are up and Chtistmas shopping is on everyone’s mind.  It’s easy to get stressed even just by thinking of how to navigate through the hustle and bustle of the days ahead, how to survive the horrendous traffic and get all one’s Christmas errands done.

Junior golfers in the Philippines will get a chance this December to showcase their game and talent and possibly get recruited to some of the best universities in the world! DreamBig Events, a sports events company dedicated to providing a positive, motivating and  challenging platform for young athletes living in Asia to improve their sporting skills is bringing  world-class golf coaches for the first time in Asia. Its Gold Series Golf Camp, headlined as The Road To U.S. College Golf, is open to junior golfers aged 12 to 18 years old and will be held at the Orchard Golf & Country Club on December 17 and 18, 2019.

PLDT mobile subsidiary Smart Communications today announced it will offer the latest products from Apple, including iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, a new pro line for iPhone, as well as the new dual camera iPhone 11. Customers will be able to pre-order iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 ProMax beginning today, Oct. 18, at Smart Stores nationwide. The new iPhones will be available at Smart Stores starting Oct. 25. For complete pricing details, please visit www.smart.com.ph/Postpaid/iPhone11.

Getting the best of everything for the whole family is always a top priority. Globe At Home Prepaid and GCash have made it even easier to level up your home internet experience with Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi now available with no cash-out using GCredit via your GCash app at just P1,499 .

Picture this: it’s merienda time, your stomach’s rumbling, and you’re craving for a snack that you know will never fail to hit the right spot. With so many options, you’d want to go for something that’s definitely filling and enjoyable.

This Christmas, break away from your old gift-giving patterns and up the ante with luxurious iconic brands for your friends and loved ones. Before you say you’re too broke to shop, check out one of the biggest Christmas sales at the upcoming The Luxe Series by BPI, which will be held on select weekends starting October 11 until November 24 at The Preferred Center, BPI Shangri-La Shaw branch, Level 1 Main Wing, Shangri-La Plaza. 

The Department of Tourism (DOT) unveils its new website on Tuesday at one of the many century old buildings in Escolta, Manila - the HUB: Make Lab. This is part of DOT’s efforts to showcase and conserve the country’s natural heritage.  The new DOT website (philippines.travel) makes the 7,641 islands of the Philippines more accessible to both foreign and local travelers. DOT Assistant Secretary Howard Lance A. Uyking and GTTP General Manager Rabbi Vincent Ang launches DOT’s new tourism website at Hub: Make Lab in Escolta, Manila.

The Philippine National Volleyball training pools are currently working hard to bring their A-game in this year’s Southeast Asian Games to be held in the Philippines this coming November. Whatever the final line-ups will be, the men’s and women’s teams will continue a storied tradition of volleyball excellence when they step on the court to represent our country. Current volleyball fans may be familiar with today’s collegiate and professional stars, but did you know that the Philippines has produced top players for decades? Philippine volleyball has had quite the glorious history, thanks to the contributions of these five legendary volleybelles: Nene Ybanez-Chavez (Photo courtesy of Arvin Lim)

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced on its monthly infomercial, Meralco Advisory, a Php 0.42 per kilowatt hour (kWh) reduction in power rates this month. The downward adjustment this month equates to Php 84 in total savings for a typical household consuming 200 kWh and represents a total net decrease of almost P1.00 per kWh since May 2019. 

A more premium and sophisticated experience awaits customers at Lenovo’s Exclusive Concept Store SM Megamall, which recently underwent a redesign in its efforts to deliver outstanding customer service. Located at the 4 th floor in Cyberzone, the refurbished store now gives more room for visitors who want a firsthand experience of Lenovo’s latest devices, accessories, and peripherals.   LENOVO SM MEGAMALL CONCEPT STORE GETS A FACELIFT. In its bid to provide customers a premium experience, Lenovo, the number one PC and smart devices developer, redesigned its exclusive concept store in SM Megamall. Sporting a more sophisticated and modern look, the store showcases Lenovo’s latest devices and accessories, all of which are available for visitors to personally experience. In photo from left to right: Michael Ngan, Country General Manager, Lenovo Philippines; Derrick Yu, President, AccentHub; Mike Taino, Vice-President Sales and Marketing, AccentHub; and Sally Yu, Consumer Lead, Leno

Industry-leading enabler of digital solutions ePLDT Inc. introduces its newest ICT offering, Managed IT Services, to help mitigate potential sources of system downtime in the modern business world and allow enterprises to shift their time and focus on core operations and critical business imperatives.  In the PLDT Enterprise’s Connected Survey Report, it was ascertained that almost 90% of companies in the Philippines had experienced incidents of system downtime within the last 18 months. About 43% of hardware failures stemmed from mechanical or internal failure, while 36% were due to lack of IT infrastructure maintenance.   ePLDT's Managed Operations Center (MOC) adheres to global standard processes in IT Service Management and is operated by subject-matter experts in critical IT infrastructure operations

When someone says Greenhills, people instantly think of tiangges, apparel stores, and pearl accessories, making it one of the most notable malls in the country. Its popularity has been maintained throughout the decades, with the help of good management, and constantly embracing innovation. And it’s this spirit of embracing innovation that will soon transform the whole area into a cashless shopping center. GCash’s Chief Commercial Officer for Payments JM Aujero (left) and Ortigas Malls Head of Leasing Cathy Duenas (right) doing an inaugural ribbon cutting at Shoppesville

Start-ups have been emerging all over Manila in the past few years. To date, there are an estimated 500 start-ups in the country, 60% of which were established between 2012 and 2017. Though this may seem a lot, most of them are successful and have become fully-fledged companies.

Pre-order from August 9 to 15, 2019 with Globe Postpaid to get exclusive freebies In today's fast-paced society, it's more important than ever to be efficient with our time and stay productive whenever we can. The way people work now means they're not tied to any one place - from designing in cafes, presenting in co-working spaces, or even sending emails in transit. Hence, it's essential to have digital tools that allow you to strike any time while the creative iron is hot.

Protect the planet for the better with one good deed every day. With the threat of rising sea levels, combined with the increasing presence of plastic waste, the Earth needs our help more than ever, do your part by saying goodbye to single-use plastic bottles. Instead, consider making the change to Vaya Drynk; a handy and sophisticated temperature-controlled bottle made from sustainable materials!

The first in-app livestream of #PampersGrandPlayday will showcase baby shower games, toddler playday, and a chance for parents to win up to P100,000 worth of prizes, exciting promos and packages. More than just tickles and giggles, play time with babies is crucial in unlocking the endless possibilities for their mental and social development. Play is how children learn about themselves, others, and the world around them, and is equally critical in building a child’s confidence, and all the fundamental skills they’ll need to grow up happy and healthy! 

Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) President Butch Meily showcases the organization’s large-scale digital mapping of the Philippine fault zone in their command center Disasters may happen anytime, anywhere yet more frequently in the Philippines with its high vulnerability and exposure to natural hazards. Raising national awareness and preparedness on natural disasters, however, can reduce its disruptive damages and risks to loss of life.

Repertory Philippines (REP) , one of the country’s leading theater companies, has appointed Liesl Batucan as its new Artistic Director , following the footsteps of theater stalwarts Zeneida "Bibot" Amador , Baby Barredo , and Joy Virata . Batucan returned to REP as its Managing Director in 2018. Prior to this, she was the Associate Artistic Director of Tanghalang Pilipino , the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). 

You can now reload beep™ cards straight from your BPI account as AF Payments Inc. announced that a reloading option is now available via BPI Online and the BPI Mobile app even without pre-enrolling your beep™ accounts.

Searching for a staycation destination with specific hotel amenities can be a daunting task.  This is especially true for certain types of travelers: A decent room with a comfortable bed works for the on-the-go traveler. The picky eater needs mouthwatering buffets or a la carte dishes from flagship restaurants. A water baby prefers to stay under the sun in a cozy pool, while a socialite might look for a hip in-house bar. One can also require an impressive first impression from the reception area’s aesthetics.  That said, Traveloka has rounded up a list of 25 staycation hotels with the best amenities to help those who are looking to have staycations in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao. The list features lodging luxuries such as swimming pools, breakfast buffet service, flagship restaurants, in-house bars, and even the lobby, as well as distinct activities. For the hotels with best swimming pools, Richmonde Hotel and Mella Hotel in Ortigas and Las Pinas, respectively, start the