TPB mounts biggest international travel trade event in the Philippines for 2019

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is set to boost tourism in the Philippines as it simultaneously mounts the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) and MICE Buyers Invitational (MICECONnect) 2019 on October 20 to 27 to promote the Philippines as a prime tourist destination for both leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibits/Events).

Now on its 18th year, PHITEX is considered to be the biggest travel trade event in the country, with close to 200 sellers and 200 buyers participating. The main highlight of the event is the one and a half day business-to-business (B2B) session between foreign buyers and local sellers to encourage tourism-related discourse among the participants, and open doors for business opportunities.

“PHITEX is mounted annually as a support for stakeholders in the travel trade industry,” says TPB COO Marie Venus Tan. “Instead of working as individual operators and sellers, we provide a platform for them to connect to hundreds of buyers from all over the world in one venue, which saves them precious time and money. The event also gives buyers a more comprehensive view of the different destinations and packages that they can sell to consumers, either as individual or bundled tours.”

Participants also took part in the PHITEX educational seminar where industry leaders discussed new trends in tourism marketing as well as marketing strategies in mature and emerging markets while keeping the theme of “Philippine Tourism: Trailblazing Responsible Travel and Inclusive Growth,” in mind.

Giving their insights were Thomas Graham, Co-Founder of Make A Difference (MAD) Travel, Carlos Mori Rodriguez, the Chief Innovation Officer of EON The Stakeholder Relations Group, and Nelly Nuezca Dillera, CESO III, the Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Trade Training Center - Global MSME Academy, who ended the seminar on how DTI is building capabilities for halal development and certification."

Meanwhile, MICECONnect 2019, aims to accelerate the Philippine MICE industry by gathering MICE suppliers to showcase the country as a premium destination for international events and conferences.

Happening simultaneously with PHITEX, MICECONnect 2019 is the continuation of a two-year program as a comprehensive educational seminar for local MICE stakeholders to learn new and effective global trends, approaches, and methods. This year’s focus is conducting business networking opportunities to further develop the country’s MICE industry.

MICECONnect 2019 likewise features B2B sessions for Philippine and foreign MICE buyers, and include a hotel and MICE venue inspection. Moreover, MICECONnect delegates will be treated to post-event tours to highlight some of the country's premier MICE destinations including Iloilo City, Bacolod, Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Tagaytay, Manila and Batangas.

More importantly, both PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019 enable TPB to support and raise awareness on sustainable community-based tourism. Apart from promoting what the Philippines can offer, TPB also advocates for the protection of natural assets and expanding the benefits of tourism to communities that are directly and indirectly affected by the industry, consequently helping DOT towards achieving its goals for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

To know more about PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019, visit the following websites: https://www.phitex.ph/, https://www.micecon.ph, https://www.tpb.gov.ph/, or https://www.facebook.com/tpbphl/.

Maxicare holds its biggest health and fitness event with Maxifest 2019

Fitness is, without a doubt, the biggest trend in 2019 as it has the ability to shape better habits of living life to the fullest. With different exercise routines and innovative workouts that deliver sweat-inducing sessions, living your best life has never been more exciting.

For those who are always on the search for new and interesting ways to improve one’s fitness level, Maxicare Healthcare Corporation has got you covered as the country’s leading HMO provider that encourages people to live their best lives hosts MAXIFEST: Live Your Best Life at 5 E-Com, Harbor Drive, Pasay this coming December 15. The run is in partnership with one of the premiere race organizers in the country, RUNRIO.

“What makes this year’s MAXIFEST: Live Your Best Life different is that, aside from the series of running events which we have been doing for 2 years now, there will also be a Veggie Fest that will feature a festival of plant-based food products to promote healthy eating habits that one can incorporate into their life. We are also eyeing to become part of the Guinness World Record in our attempt to attract public attention on the importance of health and fitness. We hope that MAXIFEST will convince more and more people to make physical activity, as well as eating right, part of their daily routine to improve their quality of life,” said Maxicare chief marketing officer Archie V. Rillo.

Coming from the success of last year’s run, the event will once again include a 500-meter dash for three to 12-year-old kids, the 2k Senior Sprint for 60-year-olds and above, the basic 3k, the amiable distance of 5k, and the athletic 10k and 16k. The run is open to all as Maxicare encourages you to stay healthy so you can live your best life.

All runners will be given a race kit depending on their chosen course. It will include a race bib, timing chip, medal, singlet, and loot bag; an additional finisher shirt will be given to 16k runners. Assembly time is as follows: 500-meter dash is at 6:30 am; 2k at 6:15 am; 3k at 6am; 5k at 5:30 am; 10k is at 5 am; and 16k is at 4:50 am. Fees are also determined by distance: Php 550 for the 500-meter dash; Php 650 for 2k Senior Sprint; Php 800 for 3k; Php 900 for 5k; Php 1,000 for 10k; and Php 1,100 for 16k.

To generate more buzz and awareness on the importance of health and fitness, Maxicare will attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the most number of people hugging a soft toy simultaneously as the event aims to gather over 4,000 runners and event guests. For this event, each runner will be given a Maxibear, Maxicare’s official stuffed plushie, which runners will hug simultaneously to break the current world record. Cherry Run Elementary School (USA) in Burke, Virginia, USA is the current record holder.

At the end of the event, runners have the option to keep the Maxibear as a souvenir, or to donate it to kids of Kythe Foundation, Inc., the beneficiary of the event, as an early Christmas gift. Kythe Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, non-stock organization aimed towards improving the quality of life among hospitalized children with cancer and other chronic illness.

Macao Imperial Milk Tea is now on SM Masinag

Last Friday October 18, 2019 at   SM Masinag Antipolo City , Macau Imperial Tea branch was opened with the Media group who loves their kinds of tea that  brings joy and perks up their days of work activities on whatever kind of lifestyle a person should ever have.

Friendly and very accommodating servers will make your day complete as they give their
best smiles and good service. Although known globally as the ‘Vegas of China’, Macau is more than just casinos. Macau is beautiful, vibrant, and alive, and this change in perspective is what we want the world to see.

As one of the fastest-growing cafe chains that's proudly born in Macau, Macao Imperial Tea takes a deeply-rooted approach that highlights a mix of the rich Macanese culture and a personalized experience.

Genuine, memorable, and special -- this is what Macao Imperial Tea brings in each and every cup that’s especially made FOR YOU.

You can choose from their multiple kinds of flavors and among what I tried are the Wintermelon Tea , Mocha Tea , Chocolate with cheese, Matcha Tea and Yakult with Mango burst .

Like them on their FB at https://www.facebook.com/mitsmcitymasinag/

Exquisite Art and Antiques to be Auctioned Online at León XIII

Leòn XIII is Online Auction of León Gallery. This is the 13th edition under the Leonexchange platform and will be held on October 19 and 20 (Saturday and Sunday) starting at 11AM.  All bidding will be purely online at www.leonexchange.com.

  

Highlights of the auction are the elegant rare and prized antiques from home of Martin Jesus Tadeo Imperial “Sonny” Tinio, Jr, known in the cultural circles as the “Sultan of the Exquisite.” Up for auction is a treasure trove of precious tables in all shapes and sizes of valuable hardwood, inlaid with mother of pearl and bone or topped in marble alongside intricately designed mirrors, art nouveau frames, wooden sculptures, and a marvelous array of meticulously crafted walking canes embellished with gold, gemstone, and ivory.

Descending from a most illustrious lineage, his grandfather from the maternal side is Bicol’s Abaca King Cirilo Jaucian and his father is PCI Bank founder Martin Tinio, after whom he was named. His taste for the finest things in life and his passionate search for the best, however, trace back to the richest landlord of Nueva Ecija, General Manuel Tinio, the “Lion of the North”, who the Philippine-American War’s master strategist. He has scoured the archipelago for his collection, which he didn’t only collect but also studied, documented, and shared, such that he was known in the cultural circles, too, for his prodigious memory and scholarship which he narrated alongside the most interesting anecdotes.

A man of impeccable taste and critical eye, Tinio served as Leon Gallery’s consultant for antiques, artifacts, furniture, ivory, and precious metals. As Renaissance man, he designed Casa Manila in Intramuros; restored ancestral homes in Taal, Batangas and Kawit, Cavite; and, is remembered as an antiquarian, collector, genealogist, gentleman farmer, globetrotter, gourmand, historian, interior designer, scholar, and writer.

   

Side-by-side the exquisite collectibles from connoisseur Martin Tinio are paintings that will be auctioned by Aleah Angeles, whose “lyrical compositions exude a warm romantic flair”; Angelito Antonio, a prime mover of Philippine action painting and extended Cubism, who was among the first batch of CCP’s Thirteen Artists Awardees; Norma Belleza, a feminist proponent of folk art; Dex Fernandez, famous for his “Garapata” trademark and an Asian Cultural Council grantee; Froilan Calayag, the muralist and designer dubbed as the “Prince of Dark Fairy Tales”; Zhou Ling, known for her feminist Earth Mother imagery in the Yunnan Art School style; Jigger Cruz, whose shocking use of color and defacement create powerful abstractions; and, Juvenal Sanso, the Filipino-Spanish master acclaimed for his highly evocative impressionistic landscapes.

 These visual masterpieces complete the array of collectibles on the block alongside alluring crystal and silver pieces, chinoiserie, Filipino period furniture, fine China, coffee table books, and rare photographs for a truly complete and exciting sale.  

“One can indulge his or her taste for the beautiful items at various price points at the upcoming online auction and all that from one’s armchair or boudoir. The online auction gives clients the convenience of bidding through their mobiles, tablets or laptops, without having to trek all the way to where physical auctions happen,” Leòn Gallery Director Jaime Ponce de Leon. This convenience makes online auctions at lower starting bids—but no less fabulous pieces—trending.

The exhibition will be open to the public starting Monday, 14 October, Monday, from 10AM to 6PM. Previews of these lots will be at Leòn Gallery in Warehouse 14 La Fuerza Plaza, 2241 Chino Roces Ave. and at the G/F Eurovilla 1 Legazpi corner Herrera St., Legazpi Village, Makati City.

It’s as simple as going to www.leonexchange.com and registering as a buyer. Visit www.leon-gallery.com or contact info@leon-gallery.com or call 856-2781 for more information.

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Career Fair by JobStreet.com helps career hopefuls find the job they love

Getting a job aligned with your own life goals is never easy, especially for millennials and Gen Zers who are devoted to their passions and are on their way to becoming the biggest part of the workforce. JobStreet Philippines, the number one online job portal in the country, recently conducted a survey of more than 18,000 Filipinos across 25 industries to see just what this future workforce is looking for in a career.

“Our survey showed that Gen Y and Gen Z respondents found corporate social responsibility more relevant compared to other generations,” shared JobStreet Philippines Country Manager Philip Gioca. “Millennials and Gen Zers are looking for companies that make a positive impact on society and the environment. They are also more experiential, looking for travel and growth opportunities whenever possible, and believe that proper compensation is essential in any workplace. Work-life balance and a more flexible schedule is also something they place great importance in,” said Gioca.

With this in mind, JobStreet carefully curated companies that fit these needs and hosted Career Fair to help young talents and jobseekers find the career most suited for them.
Over 90 companies participated in the Career Fair, covering a variety of industries like IT and tech (Amazon), real estate (Alveo Land and Megaworld Corp.), hospitality (Resorts World Manila), fashion, retail, ecommerce and more. And for attendees who dreamed of working overseas, JobStreet also partnered with WorkAbroad.ph to bring agencies with job openings all around the world – from nurses in the United Kingdom to sous-chefs in Saudi Arabia – all registered and licensed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. There were also companies that offered on-the-spot hiring for people who were in a rush to find the job of their dreams.

The Career Fair was also a one-stop source for career hopefuls and all their job hunting requirements. JobStreet partnered with government agencies to help process documents like NBI clearances, TIN and SSS numbers and apply for Pag-IBIG memberships and loans at the Career Fair. JobStreet volunteers were also on-site to assist in printing ID photos for free, even helping participants spruce up their resumes to give the best first impression.
“Even though JobStreet is an online job portal, we still recognize the importance of offline events like job fairs to young talents who are looking for more hiring opportunities, and we hope that Career Fair was the first step in helping them find the job they love,” said Gioca.
For more information on JobStreet Philippines, visit their website at JobStreet.com.ph or Facebook page at facebook.com/JobStreetPhilippines.

Shopping and Learning in One: First-ever So Shop! Bazaar Brings Over A Hundred of Online Sellers Together

LBC’s social sellers bazaar highlights commitment to empowering MSMEs 

 More and more Filipinos are starting to venture into micro, small and medium enterprises nowadays.

With technology, anyone can be an entrepreneur and it has served as one of the personal goals for a lot of us – from fresh grads to millennials to retirees. However, starting your own online business may be a daunting task but with the right support, succeeding in it is not a far fetched dream. 

In its effort to empower online business owners, leading logistics company LBC Express Inc. held the first-ever So Shop! social sellers bazaar last October 5 at Function Room 4, SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The bazaar brought together over 100 online business owners, thousands of shoppers, industry speakers, and influencers in one venue, making it both a shopping and learning experience in one. It also gave social sellers the opportunity to meet and connect with their customers in person, showcase their products, and transact using LBC’s Cash on Pick-up (COP) and Cash on Delivery (COD) services. 

  

 Oliver L. Valentin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Philippine Branch Operations of LBC Express Inc.,             reinforces  LBC’s commitment to uplifting the Philippine e-commerce industry through LBC’s COP and COD services. 

“With more and more Filipinos setting up their businesses online, we at LBC, believe that it’s high time to bring online businesses together, in one venue, and get to interact with their buyers live. So Shop! is our commitment to empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises in the country,” said Oliver L. Valentin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Philippine Branch Operations of LBC Express Inc. LBC’s COP and COD services are designed to make online purchasing easier and more convenient for shoppers. With COP, LBC’s over 1,400 branches can serve as pick-up points for buyers to get the products they bought online while COD allows them to get it right at their doorstep. 

So! Shop for all your lifestyle must-haves  

Featuring diverse products from over a hundred booths, So Shop! became a haven for a weekend to shopping enthusiasts and people with various interests. 

For techies and gadget lovers, online gadget stores such as Kimstore, Juan Gadget, Droid Hero, and JBL Store PH provided exclusive deals and discounts. Beauty and makeup fans went gaga over the various shops: from Korean and Japanese beauty brands to sustainable beauty products. Those who love customized lifestyle pieces were also able to see their favorite online shops, making it a perfect venue to shop for personalized gifts including travel sets, accessories, and even kitchen wares. Moms who were on the lookout for early Christmas gifts brought home items that are perfect for the whole family. 

So Shop! also treated the shoppers to a host of surprises including Mystery Box gifts from participating social sellers and gadgets raffled off by LBC. 

Growing one’s online business 

Aside from the shopping experience, business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs also learned from a lineup of industry speakers, business owners, and influencers who gave talks on topics relevant to growing their business. 

Photo 3: “Don’t be afraid to share your business story on it [Facebook] because people love a great story,” shares Facebook Philippines Head of Agency Liam Capati. 

Facebook Philippines Head of Agency Liam Capati showcased the power of Facebook ads and how it can help businesses reach their customers especially at a time when cutting through the clutter in the online space is crucial. Canva Community Team Lead Gladys Lacorte emphasized the importance of having visually appealing social media pages through designs that represent a business’ personality. Creative Boss Founder Rachell Araja-De Luna knows very well why a website is a must-have for an online business, with it being a repository of one’s products online. Through her talk “DIY Your Dream Website,” Araja-De Luna discussed the simple ways a budding entrepreneur can create a website without breaking the bank. The power of online communities cannot be dismissed too — this is what PLDT Vice-President for Digital Strategy and Consumer Disruptive Business Carlo Ople highlighted in his talk. Ople shared why businesses should be present on the digital space and how to effectively tap online communities to reach a specific target market. 

   

      Gladys Lacorte                                        Rachell Araja-De Luna                            Carlo Ople  

Speakers from PLDT (Photo 6), Creative Boss (Photo 5), and Canva (Photo 4) shared tips on how online entrepreneurs can leverage the power of digital to succeed in their businesses

                                                 

Not only was So Shop! a learning-filled experience, it was inspiring too with panel discussions and success stories that moved the audience. Celebrity mom, wife, and entrepreneur Neri Miranda talked about her businesses and her role as a homemaker. Miranda, owning multiple businesses including Neri’s Gourmet Tuyo, online bedding and accessories store Very Neri, and an events place in Tagaytay called Neri’s Not So Secret Garden, gave mompreneurs tips on how to juggle it all.  

    

                                           Photo 7: Neri Miranda                   Photo 8: Wil Dasovich

Neri Miranda gives mompreneurs on how to juggle being a mom and a business owner at the same time while Wil Dasovich   shares his story as a content creator to excited fans. 

A panel discussion on the social impact of online businesses featured Jamico Jamlang, founder of sustainable businesses The Bamboo Company and Chesca De Mesa, co-founder and managing director of Refuse PH. Joining them was Havas Media Ortega Head of Data and Analytics Phil Tiongson who gave the audience a glimpse of Havas’ global study centering around consumers’ mindful consumption. 

  

            Photo 9: Kim Lato                      Photo 10: Alyssa Gibbs                   Photo 11: Aira Medina

Kimstore Founder Kim Lato (Photo 9) and Neon Island Founders Alyssa Gibbs and Aira Medina (Photos 10 and 11) share what it is like to become women founders of their own company. 

Women entrepreneurs also took center stage with Kimstore Founder Kim Lato and Neon Island Founders Alyssa Gibbs and Aira Medina. They shared what it’s like starting and growing a business, as women, and how they overcame the challenges that came with it. 

Hosted by 101.1 Yes FM DJ Rico Panyero and Love Radio DJ Raqi Terra, So Shop! was not just a star-studded bazaar but one that has taught online business owners new techniques to move their businesses forward. 

Photo 12: Chief Marketing Officer of LBC Express-Global Marketing Javier Mantecon closes the first-ever So Shop! event by thanking all the participating sellers and customers who showed up to support, making the event a true success. 

Javier Mantecon, Chief Marketing Officer of LBC Express-Global Marketing, reiterated the company’s commitment to move lives, including those of the social sellers. “As the e-commerce community continues to grow, LBC remains your partner. We hope that this is just the beginning of our long partnership. We want to help you take that move, wherever that may be.” 

SM's Fiilipino Elderly Week kick off , Walk for Life

This year’s celebration  kick-off"s with the annual “Walk for Life” event, which gathered more than 3,000 senior citizens at the Music Hall of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Walk for Life, which promotes the good health and well-being of the elderly, held last October 1, 2019 and hundreds of seniors  of every city especially on Metro Manila   aroundwalks  thearound MOAthe  complex at 6:00AM.

The walk have been capped by a program that features performances by, and entertainment for the elderly.

“SM supports the cause of the Filipino elderly, by hosting activities and projects that promote their good health and well-being. Through our CSR Program on Senior Citizens, we wish to let our elderly know that SM will always be their second home, and that there is life after 60 at SM. We also thank DSWD and OSCA for partnering with us for this advocacy,” said Danilo Chavez, Head of SM Cares Program on Senior Citizens.

Apart from mall events, and to further promote their social inclusion, SM offers a Community Service Program for Senior Citizens which invite the elderly to become project participants and do weekend jobs in the mall. This project is in partnership with OSCA.

To know more about SM Cares, you may visit www.smcares.com.ph, www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares, or send an e-mail to smcares@smsupermalls.com