The past year has been a reminder of the value that TVs bring to our homes and lifestyles. Once regarded as a device purely for watching TV and playing video games, they now double up as conference rooms, fitness hubs, and even a space for virtual socializing as we look towards a new normal in 2021 and beyond.

Perhaps now is the best time for you to consider investing in a new TV for your living spaces, with the launch of Samsung’s latest Lifestyle TV innovations. Here’s a guide to picking the right TV that matches the demands of homes and lifestyles, today and tomorrow:

For art connoisseurs looking to elevate room aesthetics with a statement piece: The Frame

Do you miss visiting art museums and exhibitions? What if there was a TV that can display an ever-evolving collection of renowned artworks?

Coming in sizes from 43”, 55”, and 65”, The Frame can be used as a blank canvas for virtual artwork. In Art Mode, The Frame can bring over 1,400 pieces of virtual art works from leading art houses, content creators and world-class museums, straight to your living room. Imagine being inspired by an impressionist masterpiece from Vincent Van Gogh today, and then moving photography from Steve McCurry the next day.

Additionally, The Frame’s Adaptive Picture can intelligently adjust screen brightness and color based on the lighting conditions in your house, accurately depicting the color fidelity of the artwork on display.

With attachable bezel options in four colors and two different customizable styles — Modern and Beveled — there’s an option to match the theme of any type of room, aesthetically. The 2021 version’s frame is about halfway thinner[ 46% slimmer than the previous models.] compared to previous iterations, mirroring the depth of a traditional picture frame.

But apart from displaying virtual artworks, you can turn The Frame into a full-functioning TV to watch your favorite shows, play video games, make conference calls, and even do a virtual workout session right in your living room.

For those who value personal taste and constant design evolution at home: The Serif

The home is often a reflection of one’s self, and that includes your choices in TVs. For those with a keen eye for design, The Serif is a perfect match.

Recognized for its iconic 360° design, The Serif is a portable TV that is beautiful from any angle. Co-created with French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, The Serif comes in two sizes: 43” and 55”, each with a detachable stand to give you the flexibility to display it however you want, and instantly add style to your home.

The Serif features Ambient Mode+, where the screen can mimic the background of the wall behind it when turned off or display the time, weather details, and more. You can also seamlessly play music or stream content with Tap View just by tapping your smartphone on The Serif.

In addition to its portability, The Serif features lifelike 100% Color Volume. Thanks to Samsung’s Quantum Dot Technology, which delivers a billion shades of color to bring out the best of your TV program – down to the tiniest detail.

For those who are looking for the best immersive experience: The Premiere

Nothing beats watching a movie in the cinema and listening to live music. Now, you can bring that home with The Premiere. With screen sizes up to 130”, it’s the perfect big screen TV experience for the whole family.

With this 4K triple laser projector[ Triple Laser and 4.2Ch 40W speakers available on the LSP9T model only. ], watch anything from movies to concerts in cinematic quality from the comfort of your own couch. No need for any additional equipment as The Premiere has built-in 4.2Ch 40W speakers and subwoofers. Just place it a few inches from a wall or screen to get movie night started.

Not sure what to watch? Not a problem – The Premiere comes with all the features of a Smart TV, with pre-installed apps such as Netflix, YouTube, and the web browser.

Innovation for the ultimate display experience

The role of the TV has changed drastically over the past year, and Samsung is constantly innovating to redefine new experiences at home. Have your TV how you want it, and bring your style and personality to the living room.

To find out more about the full range of display options, visit www.samsung.com/ph or simply drop by any authorized Samsung dealer.

As more individuals start to adopt digital payment methods like mobile wallets, ShopeePay, Shopee’s mobile wallet, partners with ten lifestyle brands to provide users contactless in-store payments. Starting today, consumers can safely pay with ShopeePay at National Bookstore, Penshoppe, Sebago, Kipling, Digital Walker, MemoXpress, Puregold, Newstar Shopping Mart, OXGN, and Regatta.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee is happy to partner with these top brands to make it easier, safer, and more convenient for users to transition and embrace alternative payment methods such as ShopeePay. As the nation continues its fight against the pandemic, we want our users to feel safe by using cashless transactions even if they’re shopping in-store. We will continue to collaborate with top brands from different categories to provide quality digital payment services to the Filipino consumers.”

To make the experience more rewarding, users who pay with ShopeePay via QR for in-store purchases will get 20% coins cashback* up to a maximum of ₱500 coins until June 20, 2021. There are two easy ways to Scan and Pay using ShopeePay:

Partner merchant scans user’s QR code:

User opens Shopee app and tap the “Scan” icon

Click ‘Generate QR Code’

Enter ShopeePay PIN

Show the generated QR code for the cashier to scan and wait for confirmation of payment

User scans the partner merchant’s QR code:

User opens Shopee app and tap the “Scan” icon

Scan the QR code displayed on the shop’s tabletop card

Input the amount to pay and tap “Confirm”

Enter 6-digit ShopeePay PIN and wait for confirmation of payment.

ShopeePay users can easily top up their accounts using their debit card or other convenient methods to enjoy in-store payments. From May 24 - 27, users can also enjoy these 6.6 ShopeePay Cashless Festival deals on Shopee:

Free shipping vouchers with ₱199 min spend and daily 15% cashback deals

₱1 deals from your favorite brands such as Jollibee, McDonald’s, Chowking, Bonchon, and Domino’s

₱10 data for ₱1 for new digital buyers, and ₱5 load for ₱1 for all users

Up to 25% cashback on Bills Payment

For more information on how to Scan and Pay using ShopeePay, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopeepay-scan-and-pay. Check out the details about the 6.6 ShopeePay Cashless Festival here https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

 

CTTO

Why Big City Life is Fun? Have you ever lived in a big city? Well, I somehow do. And living in it brings you to a state of enjoyment, security, and satisfaction. Well, it's just me speaking from what I have experienced together with my kids. Of course, there are ups and downs, but the good side outweighs everything. Big city life is fun!

There are many big cities in different countries, and the level of development, living, and security differ in each city. Life in cities like New York, Paris, Tokyo, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Toronto is way more different than cities in third-world countries. But cities are cities, and living in them requires much higher financial stability.

There are plenty of opportunities that the big cities have. That is why most rural people aspire to live and work in the city. It is to have a better life and experience. That is why they tend to risks everything to be in that situation.

Like I said, good things outweigh the negative ones. That is why it is fun living in the big city. If you're a mom, that is great because everything your kid wants and needs is accessible. They may not be 24/7, but they are within your reach. If you're single and ready to mingle, it is even great. Like what most yuppies would say, "work hard, play hard." The work and play are always in balance.

Here are some of the things that showcase living in a big city is fun.

The Midnight View

I have seen the fascinating view at night, it was marvelous, but if you're a mom like me, this is an opportunity to let your kids think of it as stars at night. It is an easy way to calm the little ones and let them fall asleep fast.

It's a Food Haven

Yes, the bigger the city, the broader your food choices. From babies to kids, to moms, to dads, and up to the grandparents, the food selection is abundant. All you need to do is to decide. Of course, there are options of having you cook your very own meal.

In places like New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Toronto, and other cities, they all have different cuisines for different nationalities. Food is probably the peacemaker of every nation because everyone is open to understanding the different tastes.

All Forms of Entertainment

From small to the big and extravagant form of entertainment, the big cities cater to that. They have big movie theaters, large stadiums for the big game, music lounges for good soothing voice, and many more forms of entertainment that will surely entertain you.

Accessibility in all Transport

The big city isn't always the busy district. These big cities also have peripheral areas where some people still love the little nice and quiet mood in the side area. But are still considered living inside the city. It is their little way to be part of that city.

Real Estate in Toronto, New York, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and other cities are fascinating because of the opportunity to see, experience, and live inside the city.

If an opportunity occurs to acquire properties in the big city, you should take action and grab it. It is a rare situation for people to live in big cities and own property.

So, is big city life fun? Well, it depends if you're personality is an outgoing type or a party goer. The big city offers more life after dark.

Medical frontliners are the modern-day heroes in our ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. As they continue to save lives of our kababayans, we can stand behind them by practicing health safety measures and utilizing technology. 

Utilizing digital apps like PayMaya are making it easier for Filipinos to participate in bayanihan movements for the community – this includes making donations to organizations whose beneficiaries are healthcare workers. Here are some of the ways you can show support to our medical frontliners, with the help of PayMaya:

  Practice safety health standards in your day-to-day activities 

  The easiest and sure way to curb the spread of the virus is by keeping ourselves within the safety of our homes and staying healthy. We must always ensure that we follow safety health standards in our daily activities.  

  One way to keep ourselves safe is by going cashless. With apps like PayMaya, you can easily pay your utility and government bills, send money to your loved ones, purchase essentials at the PayMaya Mall, and even buy prepaid load with just your mobile phone--no need to go out to do these transactions.

  Donate to initiatives supporting medical frontliners 

  Many of PayMaya's partner organizations, including the Philippine Red Cross, PGH Medical Foundation, PLDT-Smart Foundation, and Alagang Kapatid Foundation, have initiated programs supporting our healthcare workers. Their initiatives provided care packages, food, supplies, and medical kits to frontliners.

  Today, you can easily support the Philippine Red Cross, PGH Medical Foundation, PLDT-Smart Foundation, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, and other similar orgnanizations using your PayMaya account. All you have to do is go to the Bills feature of your PayMaya app, choose Donations, and select the organization you’d like to donate to. Simply key in '00000' as the account number and enter your donation amount, then proceed to complete your donation.  

  If you are abroad or would prefer to use your card to donate, you can go to PayMaya's donation website, https://donate.paymaya.com/ . In the site, you can choose from PayMaya's 50 Donation Partners with COVID-19 relief and response efforts and donate to their cause using any Visa, Mastercard, and JCB credit, debit, and prepaid cards, or other e-wallets.

  Purchase digital products at PayMaya’s in-app shop to provide meals to medical frontliners 

  From May 18-20, 2021, PayMaya is doing a flash donation for our frontliners. Each time you purchase digital products such as telco load, gaming pins, on-demand content credits, and transportation credits from the in-app PayMaya Shop, the digital payments company will donate Php1 on your behalf to build a pool of fund to distribute packed meals to a total of 10,000 medical frontliners of 26 public hospitals for five days. This initiative, in partnership with PLDT-Smart Foundation, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, and Cignal, is a way to pay tribute to our modern-day heroes who work tirelessly to save lives of COVID-19 patients.

Make an emergency donation to the Philippine General Hospital through the PGH Medical Foundation

One of the PGH’s pay ward was recently struck with fire that damaged a portion of its facilities and displaced patients. It has called for food, non-food, and cash donations. You can extend your help to the PGH through the PayMaya donation channels of PGH Medical Foundation. You can simply visit pymy.co/pghmedicalfoundation to donate using any credit, debit, or prepaid card or go to the Bills page in the PayMaya app to make a donation (Go to Bills > Tap Donations > Choose PGH Medical Foundation > Enter ‘00000’ in the Account Number field and put the amount you wish to donate).

  Let's show our support to our medical frontliners by doing safer cashless and contactless transactions. Together, let's stand as #OneAgainstCOVID19.

As more Filipinos shift to online shopping for their daily necessities, many businesses are also turning to digital platforms to widen their reach and establish a strong online presence - especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). To cater to the growing number of online sellers, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues to partner with organizations to support MSMEs who are looking for better opportunities in e-commerce.

In 2020 Unilever and Mano Amiga, a non-governmental organization that advocates for community transformation and inclusive growth through education, first partnered with Shopee for their Beauty That Cares Campaign, to offer assistance to 25 micro-entrepreneurs. Through this partnership, Mano Amiga sellers gained a strong understanding of e-commerce and learned how to maximize the digital space’s full potential. Sellers had access to monetary funding, entrepreneurship training programs, and Shopee’s e-commerce tools to help them expand their reach. Two Mano Amiga sellers share how Unilever and Shopee supported their business growth:

Janette Lagundi of JTL Trading (https://shopee.ph/alexandermoses_0503)

For Janette Lagundi, a mother of two, it was tough when she first started her online business. Despite having no prior entrepreneurship experience, she decided to start selling cleaning products and home decor items such as Himalayan salt lamps, to get her family through the pandemic. She admitted that it was difficult for her to adjust to selling on e-commerce platforms as she was not very tech-savvy.

Through learning the ropes at Shopee, Janette saw her business thrived. “Because of Shopee, not only are my sales increasing, my store is also gaining better recognition through plenty of promotions. I learned a lot about selling online through the training programs and masterclasses. I am determined to explore more opportunities on e-commerce, and I’m glad that Shopee and Unilever helped me adjust and adapt amid the pandemic,” she said.

She added that the support from Shopee and Unilever helped her family immensely. “This business is my bread and butter and I feel more confident in growing my business because I am more competent now. Because of this opportunity, I can provide for my children.”

Cecilia Comia of C plus D Design (https://shopee.ph/designbycplusd)

Cecilia Comia used to run a food business and even designed her own food stalls, but due to the pandemic, she had to shut down her food business and focus on selling decal stickers and labels instead. “We started our business in 2018 with a passion for good design and we wanted people to appreciate and see how small design details can change an entire product or experience,” she said. The strategy shift, although promising, posed some obstacles. “The competition is tough online. Reaching a wider audience and achieving effective customer engagement are both constant challenges. We are still struggling when it comes to establishing our business. The prices of our competitors are tough to match,” she added.

Shopee and Unilever provided her with the much-needed support. “Unilever’s program connected us with Shopee. It gave us an edge in terms of knowledge in selling online. Unilever’s financial assistance also helped us with our cash flow and allowed us to increase our stocks and improve our equipment.”

To support the transition and growth of MSMEs in the digital landscape, Shopee partners with Unilever once again to give MSMEs a spotlight at their Yes to Positive Beauty Sale this May 17 to 19, 2021. The campaign is part of Unilever’s renewed purpose and commitment to bring about positive change through real actions - to do more good, not just less harm, for people and the planet.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are proud to partner with Unilever to support a cause that aims to uplift the lives of local sellers and their loved ones. Shopee believes that every Filipino entrepreneur can succeed in e-commerce as long as they have the right tools, opportunity, and platform. We will continue to collaborate with brands like Unilever to support the local communities, their livelihood, and their families.”

Dorothy Dee-Ching, Vice President for Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever Philippines, said, “Yes to Positive Beauty is a movement for all Filipinos to champion a new era of beauty and personal care that’s inclusive and sustainable. As the number one beauty and personal care company in the country, we acknowledge the part we play in being a force for good, and Yes to Positive Beauty encompasses our commitment to do this through our brands. This includes championing for equal opportunities, which we have been able to do through our continued partnership with Shopee and Mano Amiga, as well as lending a helping hand to MSMEs, especially those greatly impacted by the current crisis.”

To provide consistent support for the sellers, Shopee’s relationship managers worked closely with them to create irresistible discounts to attract more customers, and also assisted them in mapping out advertisements for their products via social media. With the sale happening in just a few days, both sellers are preparing to stock up on their inventory to meet the expected increase in demand. To support sellers like Cecilia and Janette, check out the Yes to Positive Beauty Sale this May 17 to 19, 2021.

For more information about Unilever’s Beauty That Cares campaign, visit https://shopee.ph/m/unilever-super-brand-day.

Shop, buy load and pay bills with ShopeePay. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Premium smartphone brand TECNO Mobile has officially announced a partnership between its POVA gaming phone series, and popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB). The collaboration was conceived with the gaming community in mind, particularly in the Philippines, where MLBB continues to be one of the top mobile multiplayer games. With the slogan #TogetherWeAchieveMore, the POVA x MLBB partnership celebrates camaraderie among players, and the ability of teams to overcome odds and obstacles as long as they work together.

The partnership between the two brands coincides with the upcoming release of TECNO Mobile’s upgraded POVA 2 later this May. The perfect smartphone to use for playing MLBB, POVA 2 provides a smooth gaming experience like no other, powered by a game engine that boosts your ability to win. This gameplay enhancer helps to improve a player’s game skills, allowing even novices to become gods in the game. POVA 2 also comes with a super large battery and huge display, for awesome gaming anytime, and anywhere.

Known as a performance beast, POVA is equipped with a Helio G80 gaming processor and 4GB/6GB DX4 Fast RAM, delivering the smoothest experience, and even running 10 apps at the same time without any lag. This giant power with its 6.8 Dot-in display is one big hard disk, equipped with 128GB ROM with enough space to save loads of photos, music, vidoes, and games. Equipped with a 6,000mAh super big battery, POVA is an energy king, providing up to 30 days standby time, 8 days of playing music, 64 hours of continuous calling, and playing time of up to 20 hours. And, with POVA’s super fast charge speed, a quick 10-minute charge can already provide up to 20 hours worth of music playback. POVA x MLBB Facebook Challenge Cosplayers dressed as popular MLBB characters will also be coming to select TECNO Mobile stores to add fun and festiveness to the celebration. Catch them on May 15 and 16 at the TECNO Mobile Concept Store at SM North EDSA, and this June at SM San Mateo.

A one-of-a-kind TECNO Mobile livestream featuring some of the Philippines’ most popular game streamers is in the works as well. Slated for June 5th, the live online event promises excitement for both gamers and non-gamers, along with over 170 prizes and giveaways to be won.

To stay updated on exclusive deals and giveaways, be sure to like and follow TECNO Mobile Philippines. Visit www.tecno-mobile.com/ph to learn more about your favorite smartphones and gadgets.

Abbott, a global healthcare company and Shopee, a leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and the Philippines, are coming together to help improve nutrition at every stage of life for people in the country. Nutrition for the Whole Family, a regional initiative across six countries including the Philippines, will be held on Shopee Super Brand Day in May.

The Nutrition For The Whole Family campaign aims to nurture families to live fuller lives through good nutrition, and through this program, families will receive nutrition tips, engage with a nutritionist and get to select a range of Abbott’s science-based nutrition products for children and adults.

Today, consumers are prioritizing their health by being more mindful of their diets[]. Eating is no longer just about taste and sustenance – nutrition has become a key element in living better and healthier. According to Abbott’s annual brand health study, Filipino consumers are engaging in outdoor activities like gardening, as well as taking vitamins and minerals to supplement their health and wellness habits.

More people are shopping for health-related products such as nutritional supplements online, with the Health category on Shopee growing year-on-year. To meet the growing demand online, Abbott and Shopee want to support families in choosing the right nutrition products for their needs. Abbott brands participating in the campaign include Similac GainSchool, Similac TummiCare, PediaSure Plus, Ensure Gold, and Glucerna. Through Shopee's suite of engagement tools, consumers can look forward to fun ways to improve their nutrition.

Dr. Jose Dimaano, Medical Affairs Director Asia-Pacific at Abbott, says, “Proper nutrition is the foundation for living your best life. That’s why Abbott strives to strengthen communities around the region through the power of science-based nutrition as we believe that with good nutrition, every stage of life can be a healthy one. Through our partnership with Shopee, we can empower more families to choose nutritious food by providing valuable information and tips as well as a range of specialized nutrition products to eat healthy.”

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, says, "It is crucial for consumers to get access to reliable information when shopping for health-related products. As such, we’re happy to work with Abbott, a globally trusted brand, to launch this campaign that educates consumers on nutrition in a fun and interactive way. We invite consumers to join us and learn about science-based nutrition tips, as well as shop for Abbott’s high-quality nutritional products through this Super Brand Day.”


Starting May 12 until May 14, shoppers can access special content features, including: Nutrition Tips: A healthy immune system is supported through good nutrition. Consumers can receive nutrition tips on the Alagang Abbott Facebook page to discover the different nutrients and how they help fight against illnesses and infections.


Shopping Guide: Good nutrition starts with making smart choices in the store. Abbott product listings on the Shopee platform will feature the nutrition benefits of the products to help consumers select the right specialized nutrition supplement according to their needs.

Find out more about Abbott’s Nutrition for the Whole Family at www.facebook.com/AbbottNutritionPH/. Click here www.shopee.ph/abbottph to purchase on Shopee.

If there’s anyone who deserves some overdue pampering, it will have to be the mothers of this world. Day in and day out, pandemic or not, moms are always juggling a thousand and one responsibilities, all for the sake of their families and loved ones.

To thank all moms for their tireless efforts, Mega Prime and the Prime Mom Club have organized a one-of-a-kind virtual glamping event that allowed moms to relax and bond with fellow moms. The session, entitled All About Mom, pampered moms by giving them some me-time to relax while learning alongside their peers who share their cares and interests.

Different from the past Prime Mom Club workshops, a virtual glamping session, the perfection relaxation hotspot for our Prime Moms was created. As a way to connect with one another while also reminding our moms that it's important to care for themselves, guests were encouraged to interact with all that was in store for them. They had a blast with trivia games and other interactive game booths, as well as learning home tablescape styling hosted by Pinky Tobiano topped off with a cooking segment using Mega Prime Oyster Sauce and Canned Fruits. The online event was attended by members of the Prime Mom Club, Mega Prime’s exclusive club for moms who want to continuously elevate their homemaking skills.

Leading the event was the Prime Mom Club’s honorary member and Mega Prime’s brand ambassador, Marian Rivera Dantes, who spoke about the importance of bonding with fellow moms through shared passions such as cooking, which are good for one’s well being especially during this pandemic.

Chef Rosebud Benitez unveiled special recipes using Mega Prime Choices Oyster Sauce. She also whipped up scrumptious desserts using Mega Prime’s Canned Fruits. Together with Mommy Connh Cruz, the winner of The Search for the Next Prime Mom, both of them participated in an online cook-off and shared some practical cooking tips and ideas.

“Mega Prime deeply appreciates the efforts that all moms extend for their families and loved ones. We wanted to celebrate them and thank them for everything that they tirelessly do through Prime Mom Club. This shows our commitment to empower moms, not just through cooking workshops but also through events that focus on their overall well-being. We hope to have more of these events for Prime Mom Club members in the near future,” said Marvin Tiu Lim, Mega Global Chief Growth and Development Officer.

 

The Prime Mom Club has been an avenue for moms to improve their skills as homemakers. Combining information and education with interactive and engaging events,

Prime Moms are given exclusive access to enriching activities featuring experts and celebrities to guide them. Be sure to sign up for the Prime Mom Club at www.primemomclub.com to join the growing community of modern home-makers and receive exclusive information on future events and perks. For more information, be sure to follow @megaprimequality on Facebook and Instagram.