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Digital habits on the rise in Southeast Asia as the new normal approaches – Mastercard Study

COVID-19 has driven momentum towards the digital economy in Southeast Asia by necessitating rapid adoption of ecommerce, home deliveries, and digital and contactless payments, according to the latest Mastercard Impact Studies. Even as countries in the region start to ease restrictions and prepare for a “new normal”, the report indicates that some of these trends and habits formed in response to the pandemic are expected to remain for the long-term. Gathering input from consumers across 10 markets in the Asia Pacific region, the report examines the effects of extraordinary events on attitudes and behaviors among consumers and/or business professionals. The recent results indicate a rise in online shopping in the region, with 40 percent or more of surveyed consumers in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand reporting they relied more on home delivery services in April than in March. Meanwhile, nearly half of the consumers surveyed in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand reporte

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Sweet & Strong Red Ribbon Dads: Paul, Doug, and Drew talk about fatherhood during quarantine

It doesn’t come as a surprise that many people rely on the strength of their fathers as the heads of the family.  Some fathers may be goofy, and some may be quiet, but one thing is for sure – dads have that natural ability to bring out the warmest smiles and unyielding courage in everybody within the family. And as we navigate through this trying time, we see our dads carrying on and exhibiting incomparable strength. While their guidance has allowed everyone to remain safe, their sweetness and lighthearted humor have kept the family hopeful and optimistic. This situation is no different for our Red Ribbon dad ambassadors, Doug Kramer, Paul Soriano and Drew Arellano, who by their time spent indoors allowed them to cement their position as the steadfast pillars of their families, all while keeping a cheerful and cared-for household. Doug Kramer has been spending much of his time as a parent recently, with him retiring from PBA November 2019, and his kids home-schooling for the past th

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#DearPa: A Quirky and Heartwarming Ode this Father's Day

On his special day, bring the spotlight to the one and only man of the house who always makes the family smile, laugh, and see the silver lining in every situation, especially during tough times.   Each dad has an unparalleled quirky humor, whose optimism will always be a source of strength and comfort for his family. Through the ups and downs, dads never fail to make the family break into laughter with their signature dad jokes and silly antics. That’s why on his special day, PLDT Home sends a reminder to celebrate the funny guy of the home and play along with his silliness with the latest #StoriesAtHome video, #DearPa. PLDT Home’s latest campaign video is an open love letter of gratitude and appreciation showing just how much the family loves his mischievousness and jokes - no matter how good or embarrassing they are. Because it seems that dads always have something new on their sleeves, the short film begins with a father getting ready for the day, dressing up to the nines, and se

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Five Dad-approved meals perfect for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is coming up this weekend, and while the current public health situation means we can’t go out and celebrate as we used to, it won’t stop us from enjoying our family’s company.  Celebrating Father’s Day under the New Normal entails that we have to be more mindful about physical distancing, including staying at home as much as possible. So if you’re looking for ways to honor Dad this coming Sunday, having a nice family lunch or dinner with great food from his favorite restaurants is a great idea.  You can easily organize Father's Day celebrations from the comfort of your own home as most restaurants today already accept online transactions. And with PayMaya, paying for your orders is not only much easier, it is also more rewarding.  Pay for your meals using only the mobile number registered to your PayMaya account for an added layer of convenience and security. With this payment option from PayMaya, you no longer have to input your card details on the website which makes

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Give dad a home celebration to TACO ‘bout with Taco Bell

Make your Father’s Day celebration memorable by throwing a taco party for dad with Taco Bell’s new Father’s Day Bundle for 4! The whole family can enjoy all their Taco Bell favorites in one pack! Get four crunchy or soft Tacos, 2 Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes, and a Cheese Quesadilla all for just P550. The bundle is available until June 30 so you can celebrate Father’s Day every day this month of June! Available for take-out, and delivery through GrabFood, Foodpanda, and their new hotline 8911-11-11. Want more for Father’s Day? Choose the Taco Bell Party Pack for you! Order a Party Pack of Tacos, Burritos, and Quesadillas and so much more. Party Packs start at Php399. “We all love to show our appreciation for our fathers on their special day. Through the Father’s Day bundle plus the Party Packs, you can make your dad feel special by giving him his Taco Bell favorites,” Angela Cruz, Marketing Manager for Taco Bell said. For more information about this offer and to keep updated about Taco Be

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UnionBank keeps promise not to leave anyone behind amid COVID-19

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) is keeping its promise not to leave any of its employees behind especially at this most difficult time. In the pilot episode of the bank’s e-TalkTales – a digital replacement of its get-togethers with media - chief human resource officer Michelle Rubio said the constant retooling and upskilling of its manpower even prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has been a major factor in maintaining its workforce. “Even prior to the lockdown, we have been retooling our people. There has been redeployment yes because jobs are changing, but that does not mean we cannot teach people new skills in order for them to adapt to evolving times,” Rubio said. UnionBank’s human resources team has been steadfast in providing different avenues for its team members to learn and develop new skill sets that are relevant in the new digital normal. This includes cross-department training, open conferences and workshops, among others. Rubio emphasiz

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Boost Your Immune System with These Three Simple Lifestyle Tips

A strong immune system is key to staying in the best shape. It's also the body’s first line of defense against any kind of disease. Many factors can contribute to lowering a person’s resistance to illnesses, such as stress, vices, an unbalanced diet, and more. While these daily activities which are often overlooked, contribute to a weakened immune system, a few simple lifestyle changes can make a difference in the long run. Here are three simple ways to boost the immune system: 1. Get Enough Sleep That’s right, something as simple as sleeping can be a step towards a stronger immune system. A complete sleep cycle is 7 or more hours each night for adults, 8-10 hours for teens, and 14 hours for younger children and infants. Inadequate sleep is often linked to the body’s vulnerability to contracting illnesses so limiting screen time or keeping an active day, for example, can help those who have trouble sleeping. 2. Be more active Engaging in moderate exercise can give the immune sys

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SKY TREATS DADS TO BLOCKBUSTER PREMIERES, TECH, AND SPORTS SHOWS

A series of blockbuster premieres on HBO, special interest shows on Nat Geo and Tech Storm, and exciting sports action on FOX Sports await dads on SKY this month of June. A thrilling action-packed hit comes every Saturday of June, starting with “Rambo: Last Blood” (June 13, 9 PM), followed by “Gemini Man” (June 20, 9 PM), and “John Wick 3: Parabellum” (June 27, 10 PM). Fun, feel-good classic Pinoy hit movies that are good for de-stressing with the whole family are also available on PBO. It’ll be hard to stop laughing with Tito, Vic, and Joey’s funny antics in “Tatlo Silang Tatay Ko” (June 20, 1 PM). Likewise, a young Aiza Seguerra in “Aso’t Pusa” (June 20, 4 PM) may remind fathers of their adorable children. There are also shows available for dads who have multifaceted interests. For those who are into food and cooking, they can catch “Gordon Ramsay Uncharted” (Mondays, 10 AM & 10 PM) on National Geographic. For tech enthusiasts, there’s “Robot Wars S10” (Fridays, 9:55 PM) on TechStor

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LG OLED TVs are "Eye Comfort Display Certified" for your family

As people are forced to stay home for longer periods of time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been glued to their devices and screens more and more. While bingeing your favorite shows and movies on Netflix seems like a winning proposition for most, one has to take into account the increased risk of eye strain. With the movement of social distancing together with stay at home orders, the use of digital devices and screen time has significantly increased. This proves to be quite a predicament as while we’re safe from the COVID-19 virus outside, the risk for eye strain or other ocular complications has risen. The reason for this is too much exposure to blue light, which can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina. Prolonged exposure, especially at night, can contribute to eye health issues and potential sleep disorders. One of the best ways to avoid ocular issues during this time is to designate breaks in screen time during the day and at least two hours before sleeping at ni

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#SupportLocalAtSM this Independence Day from your home!

Now is the time to taste, feel, and experience Pinoy pride – via your mobile phones! Together with SM Supermalls’ continuous support to local and MSME tenants as we now transition to a new lifestyle, let’s take this chance to #SupportLocalAtSM and get our hands on our all-time Pinoy favorites – whether it be food, fashion, wellness, or other essential needs – and we’ll have them delivered to you in a few taps! “This Independence Day, we encourage everyone to buy local as a way to help businesses, especially Filipino brands and homegrown MSMEs, who have been greatly affected by this pandemic,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing. Here’s a list of local finds you can check out at SM this Philippine Independence Day: ABE’s crunchy Knockout Knuckles Crispy Pata available for takeout or delivery at SM Megamall. 1. Filipino Food & Beverage. Crispy Pata, Kare Kare, Banana Chips, Tablea Chocolate, Cordillera Coffee, Suman Latik – these are just some

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