Launching & Inauguration

Cebu is fast becoming known as a premier destination not only locally, but internationally as well. The beautiful beaches, the thriving city life, the festive vibe—it’s no wonder why Ibiza-born plimsoll brand, Flossy Style, has found its way here.

Miss Sunshine

Embodying a relentless spirit of travel, the brand continues to be made in Spain but has found a second home in London.  It’s no wonder then that Flossy has launched its latest collaboration with UK franchise, Mr. Men Little Miss. Little Miss Sunshine, Mr. Tickle, Little Miss Princess; do these characters ring a bell? These colorful illustrations are now digitally printed (they won’t fade even after tons of washing) on those easy breezy Flossy plimsolls!  The collection is available in 8 characters for kids and 3 for adults.  As with all Flossy prints, the collection is on a limited run so go ahead and check them out at Flossy’s SM Cebu branch.

Miss Princess

Mr. Men is a series of children’s books by British author Roger Hargreaves. The simple stories, coupled with the brightly colored character illustrations made the book such a hit.  Nowadays, you can find various Little Men Mr Miss collectors’ items, as well as everyday products printed with those lovable characters.

Mr. Bump

Mr. Strong

You can find yourself a pair of Mr Men Little Miss plimsolls at Flossy’s SM Cebu store (Upper Ground Floor, Northwing) or at ResToeRun Ayala Cebu and ResToeRun Robinsons Galleria Cebu. For more news and updates, check out their Facebook page Flossy Footwear PH, or follow them on Instagram at @flossyfootwearph. Flossy is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by the Primer Group of Companies.

More and more Cebuanos have fondly been enjoying the inexpensive weekend getaway of nature hikes and mountain climbing. Cebu is composed of 80% highlands and many are still unexplored, which makes it really interesting for adventurers delve into.

Well, each region in the country has distinctive destinations to offer to hiking enthusiasts. Being a tropical country, it has a wide range of biodiversity that will surely amaze any adventurer. Philippines also has some impressive, world famous volcanoes and 7,107 islands that offer peaks with breathtaking views of the sea.

Last Thursday of July, Dr. Gideon Lasco, founding president of the UP Med Outdoor Society and a physician and medical anthropologist by profession, visited Cebu to share with Cebuanos his guide book,  “Day Hikes and Nature Trails from Manila.” The book is an invitation to explore the capital’s outdoors and is a perfect guide for beginner mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts who would love to get started in their adventures.

Day Hikes and Nature Trails from Manila is the 6th book published by CORE, Primer Group of Companies’ advocacy arm, as part of their Information Education Campaign program which aims to educate the community and promote tourism, travel and exploration. This program also gives CORE athletes and ambassadors to share their knowledge in their expertise through a different medium.

Day Hikes and Nature Trails from Manila is now available at ROX Ayala Cebu for only P390.

Substance Ltd is a local brand producing quality clothing line who aims to also give back to the community – that’s style with a purpose.

Substance LTD‘s debut line is the Be Casually Bold College Series. These are university shirts with designs that are not over the top nor under stated -shirt designs that are easy to mix and match with other pieces. College shirts for (1) Architecture, Fine arts and Design, (2) Arts and Sciences, (3) law and governance, (4) Business and Economics, (5) Health Care Professionals and (6) Education are available for only PhP350 (on sale until August 6 for PhP299 only).

With every shirt purchased, PhP10.00 will be donated to iLearners Inc., a non-profit organization who is dedicated to supporting, enriching and enhancing the learning experience of all students in the rural areas, where illiteracy is of great number, investing its resources in education and youth, eliminating illiteracy one child.

Visit Substance LTD’s Facebook Account to check out the entire collection. For orders and inquiries, contact them at 09327723520.

11 June 2016, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa – It was Global Wellness Day and Shangri-La hosted a wholesome fitness event in observance of this international celebration. Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa treated media guests to an early morning Yoga at Chi Spa, a relaxing massage session and a hearty breakfast at the stunning Ocean Pavilion.

Simultaneous with the commemoration of Global Wellness Day, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa formally opened Maco’s Hub: Marine Conservation Kaakohan Center, located at the resort’s beachfront. Inspired by its drive to uplift marine biodiversity, the center was named after the resort’s mascot, “Maco”, a seahorse, a known icon of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. 

‘Maco’ stands for marine conservation and “kaakohan” is a Cebuano word meaning ownership. Having a strong sense of ownership towards marine environment is what the hub aims to promote to its guests. Learn and get to know the species of our fish friends that reside at the resort’s sanctuary. Also, the hub will soon be a venue for guests to participate in corporate social responsibility activities under the resort’s Care for Nature program.
Maco’s Hub inspires to create a healthy environment for over a hundred species of fish that call the Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary home, and ultimately to raise awareness on the importance of protecting underwater life throughout the world.

Know more about the beautiful property of Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa by clicking here! 

If you have recently dropped by National Bookstore Ayala Center Cebu and passed by Cashier 6 entrance, then you’ve probably discovered that Japan’s iconic stationary brand Itoya is finally available in Cebu. The first National Book Store branch outside of Metro Manila to distribute exclusive labels from the premium stationary brand, the Itoya corner carries over 700 SKU, giving Cebuanos more options to personalize their stationary needs with Japan’s finest pens and papers.
With Manileños warm fondle with the  Itoya brand since the launch in October 2015, National Book Store brings the brand to the Queen City.
“National Book Store has always been on the lookout for new items that we can offer to our customers. We have started bringing in brands from the United States, Spain, Germany, Japan, and other parts of the world to give Filipinos a lot of options. We also want to make sure that every member of the family can find something for school, office, travel,, and for everyday needs at National Book Store. We are truly honored that iconic brand such as Itoya has partnered with us. We are excited to showcase their carefully curated merchandise with high quality craftsmanship that is sure to rev up the school and work spaces of our customers especially here in Cebu,” says Xandra Ramos-Padilla, National Book Store’s managing director during the Cebu launch last June 10, 2016.

This is a very good opportunity for Itoya and National Book Store. National Book Store is a well-established and popular company in the Philippines and we feel that it is a great collaboration given their passion to constantly improve and offer something different. It is really perfect timing as both companies are entering into a new phase. Itoya is not just a traditional company but a company that is constantly evolving over the past 111 years. Just like Itoya, national Book Store is a heritage brand but their willingness to change and enter a new stage in their business for the future is highly commendable. We hope that the Cebuanos will also love Itoya’s products,” says Isamu Suzuki, Itoya’s senior vice president.
Color Chart, Romeo, Contrail, Helvetica and Kolo are the labels from the Itoya brand that are available at National Bookstore Ayala Center Cebu.
Color Chart is a collection of colorful range of beautifully designed products for the working professional. Available in Magenta Pink, Sunset Orange, pear Green, Sky Blue, Navy Blue and Earth Brown. The collection includes ballpoint pens and accessories, mechanical pencils, notebooks, leather jackets for journals, pouches, binders and office supplies.
Romeo is based from the first fountain pen made by Itoya in the Taisho era almost 100 years ago. Relaunched in 2004, the label Romeo is intended for the modern businessman. Its products are mostly 100% handmade and well designed using only the most premium materials.The bestseller Romeo No. 3 pen has its unique acrylic swirls making sure no pens are alike, and the crown of each pen is designed to be reminiscent of the crown of a clock. The Romeo collection also includes pad bands with pen holders, file binders, notebooks, pencils and leather products such as card cases, memo pads, ID Holders and pen cases.

Romeo

Contrail offers tools for those who are always on-the-move. The pens are reminiscent of maritime flags that are perfectly paired with incensed cedar used in the barrel. The collection also includes the “on-the-go” and “street” journals which features attractive patterns and are lightweight.

Contrail

Helvetica is a typeface that was created in Switzerland in 1957. After 50 years, the simple typeface is still well-loved and used all-over the world. itoya’s Helvetica Products similarly bring in simple and timeless designs while maintaining its smart functionality. The Helvetica collection includes ballpoint pens, mechanical pencils, pencil extenders, pen cases, dual ring binders and more.
Kolo photo albums capture life stories and are great memory keepers. kolo is committed to making archival photo preservation products. The albums are made with materials that are acid and lignin free which resist decomposing, disintegration, discoloring or reacting to other materials over time.

Visit National Bookstore Ayala Cebu branch to browse on the beautiful and high-grade Itoya products. You may also shop online via nationalbookstore.com.

The launch of PLDT and Smart Communications’ new logo last 13th of June made quite a buzz online, generating mixed opinions from both the brands’ subscribers and e-readers. On the other hand, the surprise of bringing together the Eraserheads to play during the launch had everyone on the venue (and I bet those watching on Facebook Live as well) singing in unison to each song performed by one of the country’s biggest OPM bands. Ahhh, it was both surreal and nostalgic! PLDT had successfully set the mood and brought back some fun memories – like the first telephone call I made to a classmate during elementary, asking for help (ahem..the answers… haha) on a school assignment due the next day, and those times in the past when the entire family gather each Sunday at the living room to make a long distance call to our families in the USA. A reminder that PLDT has been part of our lives since and is still is.

The iconic 33-year old PLDT logo we all got used to which resembles a repetition of the abstract figure of a telephone receiver to complete four sides bade farewell during last week’s inauguration of the new logo of PLDT and Smart. Some may still be sentimental about the change, but here are some points that will surely make you appreciate the leading Philippine telecom’s new logo. Read on to learn what the new identity stands for and to know what “A New Day” brings-forth.

With PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan

Eli Buendia of Eraserheads

THE NEW IDENTITY. The new logo symbolizes the convergence of PLDT and Smart, merging fixed and wireless technologies to serve both individual and enterprise customers.
The logo is of the symbol Delta, the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet, which stands for “Change.” Each side of the Delta represents the Company’s business pillars -exceptional people, meaningful innovations, and it’s valuable customers.
“Taken together, these three pillars create a tremendous energy that will enable our customers to achieve their limitless potential. The triangle’s three sides support each other. Thus, an inherent strength flows harmoniously among the sides to sustain the structure,” PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

PLDT Inc. Logo

A NEW COMPANY NAME. The new PLDT logo comes with the recent change in the name of the company from “Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company” to “PLDT Inc.” to better represent the country’s current thrust to decisively shift its business to data-driven services.

A New Day has Come: Faster, Efficient and Convenient.  

FASTER. Both PLDT and Smart embarked on a three year pivot aimed to transform into the country’s most data capable infrastructure delivering a growing array of compelling digital services.
This year alone, the Group has allocated P43 Billion for capital expenditure. Around $100 million more in capex will likely earmarked, following the acquisition of the telecoms business of San Miguel Corp which included the utilization of the so-called digital-dividend, the 700MHz frequency band.

EFFICIENT and CONVENIENCE. PLDT and its various subsidiaries such as voyager Innovation and digital technology services that offer the Group’s customers higher levels of efficiencies and convenience.

“Rather then allow ourselves to be disrupted by new technologies, we are disrupting ourselves. We have embarked on a digital pivot to enable us to serve the increasing needs of our people’s digital lifestyle and the country’s growing digital economy,” said PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.
“We shall lead the digital revolution by embracing the smart life within the organization, pursuing digital innovations and enabling our customers to go digital in their own ways. The biggest winners will be our customers who will have a growing range of choices at their fingertips,” Pangilinan stressed.

On its 88th year, PLDT is still leading innovations and changing lives of Filipinos. And with the advancements to come, it will empower both consumers and enterprises even more in navigating the digital age.

This year, Serenitea makes your summer season extra special with its new drink offerings.

Feeling the summer heat? Head over to your nearest Serenitea store and enjoy our limited-time Summer Series drinks made delicious with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The summer series comes in two delicious flavors: Chocolate Slush and Matcha Slush both made with Reese Peanut Butter Cups for only Php 185.00. This offer is available in all Serenitea stores from March 20- May 31, 2016.