“The whole idea that someone you dearly love is not well at the time of COVID-19 is really scary.” This was what Charo Santos-Concio had to say about her pandemic experience thus far. In the past year, she underwent one of her most trying challenges in her life because her husband, Cesar Rafael Concio, Jr. needed constant medical attention due to an existing health concern.

“I went through a roller coaster ride because my husband’s condition required us to make frequent hospital visits,” she recalls. “You really feel the anxiety, the worry, and the fear that you might get infected. However, it also strengthened my resolve to face these fears because my husband needs me.” Charo further shared that, despite the stresses, it was important to accept the circumstances, remain calm, and keep up with the flow. “Life goes on. We must all learn to adjust to the new normal. We cannot be paralyzed by our fears,” she says. “Kailangan nating harapin ‘yan. Tingnan natin nang mata sa mata. Hindi tayo puwedeng magpatalo.”

The experience also highlighted the importance of securing her and her family’s health. “We must never take health for granted,” Charo reiterates. “We must all live an active life and take very good care of ourselves. It is equally important to look after our mental well-being as part of living healthier.” And there’s also the importance of protecting one’s finances. Charo recognizes the importance of having a health protection plan to be financially secure should an illness strike. “Importante sa akin ang sense of security. Importante sa akin that whatever happens to me, I will not be a burden to my loved ones,” she says.

This was a lesson learned after the demise of her father, where the proceeds from his insurance policy allowed the family to financially cope after his passing. This experience taught her to be pragmatic and to embrace of the value of security and peace of mind that an insurance policy brings to the family. “Ayaw mong iwanan ang mga mahal mo sa buhay with uncertainty about their future,” Charo shares. “As we work hard for ourselves and our loved ones, we should also put our money to good use by investing it in insurance, health protection, and mutual funds.”

Today, Charo looks forward to living a full life with her loved ones. And while she has retired, she continues to take on interesting projects every now and then. With Sun Life as her partner in health, she is assured that no matter what happens, she and her loved ones are financially protected from life’s unexpected twists and turns. “Having a partner in health can indeed help you lead a brighter life,” she muses.

Just like Charo, you too can secure your future and be financially protected should an illness strike. Know more about Sun Life’s Partner in Health campaign by visiting https://sunlife.co/SLPIH.

 

Looking to upgrade to the latest smartphone, stock up on groceries, or try out highly-reviewed beauty products? You can do all that and more while enjoying greater savings when you shop at Shopee’s 5.5 Brands Festival! Until May 7, gear up for an exciting week full of awesome deals and discounts from your favorite brands, free shipping w/ 0 min. spend, 10% off vouchers daily, and 50% off brand bundles. If that’s not enough to get you excited, Shopee is offering users sitewide free shipping daily with ₱199 min. spend from May 1-5, so you can truly make the most of your shopping.


Exciting offers and exclusive launches from leading brands

The Shopee 5.5 Brands Festival is the perfect place for techies to upgrade their gadgets. Gamers can look forward to the new realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Edition, which features a sleek design, powerful gaming performance, and freebies guaranteed to satisfy fans of the popular mobile game. Meanwhile, self-care enthusiasts can score the new Colgate Electric Toothbrush for a smart way to personalize their oral hygiene regimen.

Aside from these exclusive product launches, the Shopee 5.5 Brands Festival offers a wide assortment of brand deals that value-seekers can take advantage of. With 50% off brand bundles until May 7, big savings await shoppers who stock up on family essentials and skincare staples from leading brands like Unilever Beauty, GSK, innisfree, Belo Essentials, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle, and many more.

1. An EXTRA P150 OFF w/ code SUPERPAYDAY, minimum Spend of P400.
2. Multiple stores - One delivery fee!
3. If you have cravings? They also have 50% OFF when you order from your favorite 2 or more restaurants at SM Malls Online App from 2pm-6pm, use the code PAYDAY2orMORE.

 

Last April 24, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, together with its logistics arm Shopee Xpress, teamed up with NORVIC Drugs Corporation and NutriAsia to collect and deliver sanitation kits and refreshments to Visayans affected by Typhoon Agaton. These donations were repacked and distributed by Shopee Xpress volunteers in the area.

For those looking to help victims affected by Typhoon Agaton, Shopee invites users to donate through its partner charities found on the app.

 

Angeline Quinto, Fana, Gigi De Lana, Jona, Kyla, and Morissette are ready to bring all the heartbreaking emotions of the hit drama series “The Broken Marriage Vow” into a musical extravaganza dubbed “The Broken Playlist,” happening on Friday (April 29) at 8 pm on ktx.ph.

A joint production of Dreamscape Entertainment and ABS-CBN Events, “The Broken Playlist” is a celebration of the most-talked about ABS-CBN Entertainment series—the Philippine remake of “Doctor Foster”—for its riveting story about love, betrayal, and revenge.

Fans can expect to witness the special performances of the show’s official soundtrack, including Angeline’s “Walang Pagsisisi,” Jona’s “Tinatapos Ko Na,” Kyla’s “Init Sa Lamig,” and Morissette’s “Gusto Ko Nang Bumitaw.” Gigi and Fana are also performing the main and alternate versions of “Sa Dulo,” respectively.

Jona is thankful that her song is part of the concert repertoire. “I’m so grateful because this song ‘Tinatapos Ko Na’ came from Himig Handog 2018 then it became a theme song of the Philippine airing of the ‘The World of A Married Couple.’ And now, it’s part of ‘The Broken Marriage Vow,’ adding to the emotions and ‘gigil’ that the series brings out,” she said.

Meanwhile, “The Broken Marriage Vow” lead stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Sue Ramirez, Zaijian Jaranilla, and Zanjoe Marudo will be joining the concert’s afterparty to finally meet the show’s loyal fans with VIP access.

Aside from great music, Jodi revealed that viewers will get to see exclusive behind-the-scenes footages at the concert. “Not only will they get to see the performances of our singers, they will also get the chance to see never-before-seen footages, and isa pang exciting part is they will get to mingle with the cast and performers at the afterparty,” she said.

Tickets to the concert are still up for grabs on ktx.ph for only P499 for VIP access—with the main concert link and Zoom afterparty exclusive—and P199 for regular access to the concert.

Don’t miss “The Broken Playlist: The Broken Marriage Vow Digital Concert” this Friday (April 29) at 8 pm on ktx.ph.

For other ABS-CBN news, follow @ABSCBNPR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

Lively and bursting with color as SM Supermalls brights the world of SM shoppers this summer. Starting April, SM Supermalls is giving its shoppers of all ages a spectrum of hope, happiness, and fun with delightful and safe activities that everyone in the family can look forward to when they visit their favorite SM mall.

Snap-worthy rainbow play areas! Multifunctional play pods in all colors of the rainbow await you at the indoor and outdoor play pods that kids and kids-at-heart will love. From rainbow staircases to larger-than-life displays, you’ll have no trouble getting the best and most colorful #POTD entry!

Sizzling hot summer deals! What’s summer without a mall-wide sale? Go on a shopping spree and get all your summer essentials, including must-have toys, at the nearest SM mall. Delight your kids with sporty knick-knacks, inflatables, and bikes to amp up their summer activities even while at home. Visit the pop-up stores in select SM malls for great finds and exclusive deals!

Sweet treats and Summer Eats! Sip, eat, repeat, and satisfy those cravings with a wide array of food and drink choices at SM Summer Eats! A weekend al fresco market awaits you with delicious meals and refreshing drinks all in IG-worthy colorful dining spaces! Watch out for Summer Teas happening on April 16 to 30 where there will be lots of discounts on the best milk teas to quench your thirst too!

Big News for all mobile gamers, enthusiasts, and fans!

SM Supermalls has partnered with none other than Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and is the official venue for the Season 9 Playoffs watch party happening on April 28 to May 1, 2022.

In partnership with SM Cinema, SM Cyberzone, and Smart Communications, Inc., enjoy an immersive viewing experience as you cheer for your favorite teams while watching the matches on the big screen! Select SM Supermalls would include SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta. Mesa and SM City Bicutan who will be having their viewing parties on April 28-29, and SM City Taytay, SM City Masinag, SM City Manila, SM City BF Paranaque and SM City Sucat on April 30-May 1, or until the Grand Finals. Tickets are sold at only Php170, inclusive of a tub of popcorn and exclusive freebies from Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Fans may purchase tickets from SM Cinema's official website, SM Cinema ticket booths, or via the SM Cinema app.

The MLBB Professional League Watch Party is part of SM Supermalls’ 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 Campaign –your ultimate hub for aweSM new experiences dedicated for the avid online gamer, music lover, sports enthusiast, and certified social media techie!

 

Hamilo Coast through its developer, SM Prime’s Costa Del Hamilo, Inc. safeguards a 20-hectare mangrove forest, the largest of its kind in Nasugbu, Batangas. Together with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines), Hamilo Coast continues to preserve over 50,000 mangrove trees to date as it remains committed to its advocacy for environmental and social sustainability.

 

Education is always the driving factor of an individual, for individuals who want to be skilled, Tech-Voc education is the answer. That is why in the Philippines, Technical-vocational education is encouraged by private TVET institutions to have it professionally accredited and issue a proper licensing. A call to action to review the trifocal system of education in the country. More importantly, the need for tech-voc instructors with expertise are the ones qualified to train our future skilled professionals making way for the Philippines to be recognized as a globally competitive tech-voc school in Asia.

If our technical-vocational institutes (TVI) are managed and monitored well, they will be able to produce world-class and skilled graduates who can compete strongly against our neighboring countries. Tech-voc graduates fill an important role in different industries in the country and overseas. And if our tech-voc graduates become job-ready and globally competitive, they could contribute a lot to the national income and economy. One industry that is in dire need of skills and various technical knowhow is the service industry, and we are talking worldwide here, what a big void to fill!

Highly-industrialized countries like Japan, Singapore, and Korea have made necessary advancements in their educational system, focusing on academic excellence and technology innovation. These progressive countries teach their citizens to become productive, income-generating and contribute to the national coffers. They put emphasis on the quality of products and service and really invested in technical training. These countries believe in the strength of their manpower and their role in the national economy.

Tony Galvez an expert in the technical and vocational education and training industry in the country once said: “Philippine TVET ang pag-asa para sa kinabukasan ng mamamayan at ng bayan, kung maayos at maganda ang programa.” Noted for his strong advocacy of technical vocational professionalism for global competitiveness in the Philippines, Galvez also said: “Magagawa nating umangat at umasenso ang pamumuhay ng ating mahihirap na kababayan kung mabibigyan natin sila ng kahalagahan at maiaayos ang posisyon ng technical vocational education and training ng bansa. Hindi lang ang hangarin ay upang maging isang simpleng manggagawa. Kung hindi, tulungan natin silang linangin bilang mga tunay na eksperto sa iba’t-ibang larangan ng industriya upang ang lahat ay maging kapaki-pakinabang at mapabilang sa pandaigdigang kompetisyon na makapagpapalago ng ating ekonomiya.”
v It is therefore time to put an end in the fairy tale that a four-year course is the only avenue to attaining a decent lifestyle. The technical field is very, very wide, uncharted and not yet competitive, which is a far cry from the competitive, dog-eat-dog corporate world.

 

Philippines’ A&Q Entertainment and Prime Stream, Inc. has announced a groundbreaking link with South Korea's Sun Mobile Commerce (SBT) as the two companies signed an agreement on April 6 at their newly opened headquarters in Quezon City.

 

Vivamax welcomes you to a new place, an island that comes with so much mystery. Once you’re in, there’s no going back. This summer, a new slice of paradise is about to be explored. Let’s run to the Island of Desire, streaming on Vivamax this April.

Adding to the list of Vivamax Original Movies for 2022, Island of Desire is a sexy drama starring Vivamax’s rising stars, Christine Bermas, Sean de Guzman, Jela Cuenca and Rash Flores.

A young woman named Martha (Christine Bermas) is assigned to work remotely on an island called “Isla Bato.” She becomes a nurse at its Regional Health office, and she also befriends some of the residents, Tess (Jela Cuenca), a midwife on the island, and Leloy (Sean de Guzman), a Habal rider. Being a constant companion, Leloy becomes closer to Martha, and they end up falling for each other.

As she stays longer on the island, she begins to discover the strange things about the place and its secrets, including a cult with fanatic followers and an abusive leader. Here is where she also reunites with her long-lost sister, who warns her and tells her to escape the place while she can.

Witness how the mysteries of this enchanting island filled with passion, lust, and love unfold before Martha’s eyes.

Fresh from the success of her other Vivamax Original Movies - Siklo and Moonlight Butterfly, Christine Bermas will once again leave the viewers in awe in Island of Desire. It also stars Vivamax’s most in-demand actor, Sean de Guzman, who caught the crowd’s attention from his Vivamax Originals - Nerisa, Taya, Bekis on the Run, Mahjong Night, and Hugas.

Joining them is Vivamax’s crush, Jela Cuenca, who starred in Silip sa Apoy, Palitan, and Boy Bastos. The star of Palitan, Rash Flores, plays a very crucial role in this film.

Island of Desire is by the multi-awarded and highly regarded director in the Philippines, Joel Lamangan.

From Viva films, be enchanted by its beauty and find yourselves lost in the Island of Desire, streaming on Vivamax starting April 1, 2022. .

For you to watch this desiring film, all you need to do is subscribe to Vivamax for only P149 per month or P399 for three months.

Visit web.vivamax.net or download the app and subscribe via Google Play Store, Huawei App Gallery and App Store.

For payments via website, you may choose EC Pay, 7 Eleven, All Day, All Day, Pay Mongo, GrabPay, GCash, or PayMaya. For payment thru app, you can have Globe, Smart, GCash, Paypal, Visa, or Mastercard as options. For payment thru Ecommerce, you may choose from Lazada, Shopee, Comworks, Clickstore, or Paymaya. For payment thru authorized outlets, choose from Load Manna, Comworks, Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Express, and Load Central. VivaMax’s cable partners are SkyCable, Cable Link, Wesfardell Connect, Fiber, BCTVI, Cebu Cable, Zenergy HD, Cotabato Cable Television Network Corporation, and Concepcion Pay TV Network, Inc.

Island of Desire can also be streamed on Vivamax Middle East. For kababayans in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, watch all you can for only AED35/month. Vivamax can also be streamed in Europe for only 8 GBP/month.

Vivamax is also available in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, Macao, Vietnam, Maldives, Australia, New Zealand, and now also in Canada and the United States of America. Vivamax, atin ‘to.

Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano’s romantic series is finally making its highly-anticipated premiere this summer to bring more ‘kilig’ and lessons on family and friendship in “He’s Into Her Season 2,” following the record-breaking first season that topped all shows on iWantTFC.

The series will premiere first on iWantTFC on April 20 for iWantTFC premium users outside of the Philippines and all iWantTFC users in the Philippines and Indonesia can watch it for free on April 22.

“He’s Into Her” was the recipient of three awards at the 2021 Asian Academy Creative Awards for Best Direction (Fiction), Best Original Program by a Streamer/OTT, and Best Theme Song or Title for “He’s Into Her” (BGYO). The series was also the lone Philippine nominee in the Cross Platform Programming category at the 2021 Venice TV Awards.

In “He’s Into Her Season 2,” former-enemies-turned lovers Deib (Donny) and Max (Belle) are officially the newest power couple in Benison International school. Their relationship seems to be smooth sailing until problems from their past begin to haunt them and unanswered questions start to resurface.

Deib and Max will face the highs and lows of a young couple as they endure real problems that come with a more mature relationship.

The hit romance series also gets exciting as the ‘barkada,’ consisting of Lee, Naih, Michiko, Ysay, Lorde, and Migz (Joao Constancia, Criza Taa, Kaori Oinuma, Vivoree Esclito, Gello Marquez, and Limer Veloso), gets entangled in more teen drama, including an unexpected love triangle, another chance to rekindle a romance, and a heartbreaking realization when one suddenly gets ghosted.

Will Deib and Max still get their happy ending? How will Deib and Max’s friends resolve the issues within their ‘barkada’?

The “He’s Into Her” gang also adds more fun and good vibes with the addition of new characters played by JC Alcantara, Reich Alim, Zach Castañeda, Shanaia Gomez, River Joseph, CJ Salonga, Rajo Serrano, and BINI member Mikha.

 

Lazada’s Epic 10th Birthday Sale is just around the corner--this means exciting deals and incredible treats await OPPO shoppers in this once-in-a-year event. And yes, this time, you will get first dibs on the best deals as OPPO offers up to 57% off on selected OPPO gadgets, such as Reno7 5G, A16 (3GB), and A94.

Starting this March 27, you can also enjoy and take advantage of many exciting vouchers. For instance, you can get Php 200 off for every minimum purchase of Php 9,999, a Php 400 discount for a Php 14,999 minimum spend, a Php 1,000 off for each Reno7 Series purchase, or a free shipping voucher for every minimum spend of Php 500.

OPPO has more treats in store for you for this big birthday sale because you get a chance to have free G25 Bluetooth earphones for all mobile phone purchases for a limited time on March 27, from 12 AM to 2 AM and 8 PM to 11:59 PM.