August 2023 - Krish Catapang

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Opening Game goers get FREE Jollibee Cheesy Yumburgers

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is all set to kick off at the Philippine Arena on, August 25, 2023, and Jollibee has an exciting promo in store for those who attend the Opening Game!

Throughout the 17-day tournament, national basketball teams from all over the world—including the country’s very own team—will be competing against one another for the coveted FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 title. As a proudly Pinoy brand and an avid basketball supporter, Jollibee will be giving away FREE Cheesy Yumburger coupons to all of those who will attend the highly anticipated Opening Game kick-off.

“The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Opening Game will surely start everyone off on a high note, and we want to continue uplifting the Filipino spirit and bring joy through one of our well-loved products—the Cheesy, Beefy, Langhap-Sarap Cheesy Yumburger,” said Pam Reyes, AVP for Jollibee Handhelds. “This momentous basketball event will foster a sense of unity and pride especially towards our Philippine team, and as we share in this sentiment, we look forward to offering something a little extra to our fellow basketball enthusiasts.”

From August 25 to 31, 2023, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Opening Game attendees will be able to claim their Cheesy Yumburgers through these simple steps:

As you enter the Philippine Arena today and present your ticket, you will also be handed a FREE Jollibee Cheesy Yumburger coupon.
You can then drop by the Jollibee-on-Wheels booth at the Philippine Arena grounds on the same day (August 25), or at any Jollibee store within Mega Manila and Bulacan until August 31, 2023, and present the your Jollibee coupon and Opening Game ticket (whether physical or e-ticket). And from there, enjoy your FREE Cheesy Yumburger!

For more information and updates on Jollibee’s products, like Jollibee on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Philippines on YouTube, and follow @jollibee on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

Modess Philippines’ Menstrual Health CampaignWins Big at the 5th Global Influencer Marketing Awards

Modess Philippines achieved a brand first at the 5th Global Influencer Marketing Awards, bringing home a Bronze in the Most Effective Collaboration or Partnership category for the Modess 2022 #BeNextPeriodReady campaign held in cooperation with the Miss Universe Philippines Organization.

The annual Global Influencer Marketing Awards recognizes effective, creative, and inclusive collaborations that authentically connect brands with consumers and push boundaries to deliver excellence in the digital industry.

Driving word-of-mouth through the right mix of influencers and partnerships with the right organizations is key to successful campaigns and collaborations that are vital in ensuring meaningful change. Understanding this, Modess Philippines collaborated with the Miss Universe Philippines Organization to advocate for better menstrual health among young women who, owing to the lockdown caused by the COVID pandemic, were left feeling uncertain and unsure about their monthly periods.

Working with Pulse Communications, Modess Philippines mounted a multi-faceted influencer-led campaign across social media platforms, sparking engagement through influencer and community partnerships. Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu’s advocacy around menstrual equity perfectly complemented Modess Philippines’ #BeNextPeriodReady campaign messages, and supporting content was created by Miss Universe Philippines candidates and content creators on their social media assets.

Modess Philippines’ collaboration with ABS-CBN Foundation connected the Miss Universe Philippines Organization with young Filipinas, whereby Period Ready Kits were distributed to communities across the Philippines.

The campaign quickly gained momentum through hashtag challenges, reaching millions of young Filipinas and inspiring them to join and raise awareness about caring for their menstrual health. Apart from this, Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu’s speech at the campaign’s launch event, where she encouraged the youth to embrace their bodies and health positively, went global when the Miss Universe Organization shared it on its social media pages.

“We are honored to receive this award for #BeNextPeriodReady, a campaign we feel resonated with many young Filipinas by breaking the stigma around periods, and advancing education around the importance of caring for their menstrual health. We at Kenvue Philippines believe in the extraordinary power of everyday care, empowering women, particularly teenage girls, with the support, education, and resources they needed during uncertain times. Our work is far from over, and our menstrual health advocacy continues to be a point of focus,” said Jason Khu, senior brand manager for Modess Philippines.

Jollibee launches its delightfully newstalgic Peach Crumble Sundae

Available for a limited time only in Luzon stores!

If you’re a fan of Jollibee’s sundaes and Peach Mango Pie, then you’ll definitely love their newest dessert offering—the Peach Crumble Sundae! Available for a limited time only in Luzon stores, it’s a creamy, peach caramel delight that you won’t want to miss.

This new sundae combines classic Jollibee favorites—sweet peach fruit chunks from the well-loved Peach Mango Pie and the brand’s signature creamy vanilla soft serve—and elevates these with butter cookie crumbles and rich caramel sauce to create a newstalgic delight! “Newstalgia” is a coined term to describe one’s desire for something comfortingly familiar yet exciting, and has become one of 2023’s top trends for desserts.

“As we created the Peach Crumble Sundae, we made sure that it offers both the comfort we seek from familiar favorites as well as the thrill of trying new flavors and textures,” said Luis Berba, Marketing Director for Jollibee Complementaries. “This is why we’re very excited for everyone to try this newstalgic delight!”

The Peach Crumble Sundae will be available for PHP 59.00 in all Jollibee stores around Luzon for a limited time only. Make sure to drop by your nearest Jollibee branch and treat yourself to this delightfully newstalgic dessert via dine-in, take-out, drive-thru, or delivery!

For more information and updates on Jollibee’s products, like Jollibee on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Philippines on YouTube, and follow @jollibee on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

TypeKita, the newbie-friendly platform for Pinoy writers and readers

If there’s anything Filipinos love, it’s a good story—funny, drama-riddled, or romantic, we’re quick to sniff out a saga and follow it to its conclusion. Whether fact or fiction, there’s nothing quite like having oneself immersed in the twists and turns of finding out who said what, did what where, and who were they with?

Plots and characters have come to life on any number of platforms throughout the years, but one relatively recent emergence is quickly finding its legs: TypeKita is a newly launched app that aims to empower young Filipino storytellers by rewarding their creativity with accessible and self-determined monetization, while gifting readers with an interactive and visually stimulating reading experience. While the rest of the world criticizes Millennial and especially Gen Z readers for choosing shorter, digital formats, TypeKita promises to inspire and encourage the diversity already present in reading material available today.

At TypeKita’s official launch on August 16, Head of Growth Ysabel Yuzon, Vice President of Strategic Management Dana de la Vega, and Creator Manager Erich Valdevioso took questions from attending members of the press and detailed the ins and outs of the app, as well as its growing potential to “open doors even for those who may not have considered writing before,” according to Yuzon. Live readings of current TypeKita favorites Babalik Sa’yo (Rej Martinez), The Day I Said Goodbye (Miyuki Jeishi), and Hush Lucas (Arki Aaron) were then performed by rising stars Nour Hooshmand, Ian Pangilinan, and Benedix Ramos, bringing to life all the ups and downs of romance in fiction. Finally, singing champion and Silver Badger Featured Live Kumu Streamer Kathleen Anne wrapped up the program with some contemporary classic love songs, as well as her own single, Nagkulang.

The app is a localized version offrom the Thai original Joylada, and is further powered by homegrown social entertainment platform Kumu—a partnership that speaks to the growing online fiction community. “We have always been on the lookout for talent of all kinds, and TypeKita is the space we’re dedicating to the written word,” says Rexy Dorado, Kumu President and Co-founder. “We believe creative people always find their way to each other, but this is where we can also help people find the creativity within themselves, bolstered by a safe community. Both Kumu and TypeKita share a similar moderator system to keep things appropriate and any hate out of the picture.”

But that safety doesn’t mean stifled storytelling; if anything, the shorter bursts of creativity that TypeKita champions through the chat-fiction format effectively refashion the digital novel experience, making both

SM prepares PWDs, elderly for emergency preparedness

Disaster Management Specialist Doki Natividad teaches Joey Manzano, a member of the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique without using mouth-to-mouth breathing.

Experts maintain taking the proper actions of duck, cover, and hold during an earthquake can save lives. For Mr. Ramon Apilado, a member of the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan it may not be as easy as it sounds.

It is one of the reasons SM Cares, a part of the SM Group, held its annual Emergency Preparedness Forum (EPF) at the SM Mall of Asia to ensure individuals like Mr. Apilado and other persons with disabilities (PWDs) together with senior citizens are informed of what to do in emergencies.

Engr. Bien Mateo, Senior Vice President for Mall Operations and Program Director of SM Cares Disability Affairs, emphasized inclusion in the annual forum to equip vulnerable sectors of the PWD and elderly community with the ability to save themselves and the people they love.

In preparing for emergencies and calamities, SM Cares believes that no one should be left behind,” he said. “That is why we continue organizing this yearly Emergency Preparedness Forum. Our goal is to empower PWDs and senior citizens with the essential survival skills.”

Inclusive survival tips for the community

During the forum, attendees were encouraged to participate in several practice emergency scenarios led by Mr. Gerard ‘Doki’ Natividad, an instructor on disaster management and rescue-survival expert.

Consultations with the community were held to enhance inclusivity practices in an earthquake, including the duck, cover, and hold protocol. For wheelchair-bound individuals, it is better to lock, cover, and hold. This means locking the wheelchair brakes, covering the head with a bag or hand, then holding it for stability until the shaking stops.

The visually-impaired community is advised to hold their guide canes and stick to the walls since all of them lead to windows and doors.

For Mr. Natividad, disaster risk reduction practices must be inclusive.

“It should not be just a third party thinking for them,” he said. “Let’s ask what works or consult what is the most effective way for them.”

Mr. Apilado, of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, (TWH) a non-profit organization that uplifts the lives of PWDs, sees the importance of a consultative approach in emergency preparedness.

“Mas maganda talaga na may consultations,” he said. “Di naman iisa ang disability. Whether you’re blind, deaf, or you’re on a wheelchair, dapat lahat kasali para alam ang gagawin.”

(It’s much better that there are consultations. There are many kinds of disabilities. Everyone must be included in emergency preparedness whether you’re blind, deaf or you’re on a wheelchair.)

Committed to serving the community

There are at least 1.44 million PWDs in the country according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). SM continues to promote a disability-inclusive environment through its programs, especially across its malls. With initiatives like annual sensitivity training, Angels Walk for autism awareness, and other special celebrations, SM has become one of the most PWD-friendly establishments in the Philippines.

To Ella Onnagan, President of the Valenzuela Persons with Disabilities Federation, inclusion encourages their members to be more active in events such as this.

“Bukod sa invitation na binibigay po nila sa amin, meron po silang proper at designated places for our community,” she said. “Ang SM, nagbibigay sila ng kasiyahan sa mga PWDs at seniors. Yung inclusion, nararamdaman namin na welcome kami sa SM.”

(Besides their invitation, SM gives proper and designated places for our community. SM provides happiness to us PWDs and seniors. We feel included—that we are always welcome in SM.)

SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation, Inc., launched the first of eight forums in July in celebration of National Disaster Resilience Month. This marks the seventh iteration of the forum. In terms of scope, it offers the biggest coverage launching in eight different locations to encourage more PWDs and seniors to take part in the initiative.

Subsequent locations include SM City Tuguegarao, SM City San Pablo, SM Center Lemery, SM City Consolacion, SM Center Ormoc, SM Lanang Premier, and SM City Bacolod.

Kultura: Social Enterprises as Partners in Green Living

In this rapidly changing world, it’s not enough to simply showcase attractive, trendy, and functional products.

Kultura is proud to be among those consciously promoting more sustainable, meaningfully-crafted and locally- sourced merchandise for green living. With a loyal following and many branches across the country, Kultura takes their mission to building a greener Philippines seriously.

Kultura President Ivy Yap expounds, “Retailers can influence customer purchasing decisions depending on our product offerings, pricing strategies and promotions—from product displays to discounts and loyalty programs. Using this influence for good, Kultura helps consumers adopt greener lifestyles by offering a wide selection of products that are made from natural materials that are biodegradable, upcycled or repurposed, aside from being locally sourced.”

Today, the Kultura store is stocked to the brim with Green Finds that make it easier for customers to lead a sustainable lifestyle.

Platform with a Purpose

Kultura, an SM Retail Affiliate, has been key to advocating Green Finds– products that are sustainably sourced and support local communities.

SM through Kultura, has become a Platform for the growth of MSMEs. Millie Monday and Haspe are two Filipino retail brands that have been engaged with Kultura and grateful for how Kultura has been an effective incubator for their respective enterprises.

Mariel Ching of Millie Monday relates how this division of their Primex printing company was named after their mother, and how it specializes in merging art and print technology to create functional paper-related products and accessories for the home. “It was borne out of the pandemic as regular printing jobs vanished, and the family had to find ways to diversify our output, and keep our personnel and machines occupied.”

Today, Millie Monday has expanded its product lines, to include other non-paper products. Thanks to Kultura, Mariel was happy to report that bulk orders, and outright purchases from foreign countries like Singapore and Tokyo, have transpired. Their collaborations with established artists produce collections that are very well-received, and they credit Kultura for helping create awareness and goodwill for their brand.

On the sustainability features of the Millie Monday brand, Mariel spoke about their sustainably sourced paper, and soy-based ink, as well as their Heidelberg offset machine, acquired with a proviso that involved planting trees in Africa. “We are the only Asian printer given the Green Leaf Award by Kodak in 2019. We don’t print on tarp, as it isn’t biodegradable.”

Haspe is the Spanish/Filipino word for wood grain, and it’s a clue to the world of Baliwag, Bulacan native Arch. Eric Gonzales, who designs and creates the wonderful wood-based products and accessories that have caught the eye of shoppers that frequent CITEM, FAME and ArteFino fairs. “Our ‘sungka’, and chess board, made of mahogany wood and solihiya (rataan weaving), are among our signature products”.

As Haspe has no Metro Manila showroom, Eric credits Kultura for being invaluable in terms of brand awareness. “We started off in 2016 with big traditional furniture pieces, and was inspired in 2019 to make use of the excess wood, and design smaller pieces.” He expanded to incorporate rattan, bone inlay, and other locally sourced materials. The wood he uses are sustainably farmed in Mindanao.

Sustainability comes easy to Haspe as the products are a form of up-cycling, since the wood utilized to create these products come from ‘retasos’, or leftover materials, that would have been thrown away. Haspe’s products have become the pride of Baliwag, Bulacan.

For both Millie Monday and Haspe, the sustainable aspects of how they operate their businesses are givens, as they acknowledge the need for being more responsible entrepreneurs.

While they’ve been involved with Kultura for less than a year, they both credit their engagement with Kultura as godsends, and are pleased to be placed under the umbrella of Green Finds.

Being sustainable and green conscious is a collective effort, from the manufacturers and the retailers, all the way to the consumers; and SM is happy to be driving the education, awareness and marketing of this new consciousness.

“By educating customers about the importance of sustainability and providing easy access to mindfully-crafted merchandise, we aim to promote changes in our customers’ behaviors and move them to lead more eco-conscious lifestyles. We hope our efforts inspire other businesses and lead to the adoption of more eco-friendly practices in the retail industry, and ultimately contribute to a more sustainable future for the country,” says Yap.