Shop & Ship with Surplus

As we embrace the new normal, keep your family safe and protected at home or anywhere you go with great nds you can Shop & Ship from Surplus.

There are face masks and smart thermometers to keep you healthy and protected. Surplus is also a one-stop shop for a healthy and happy home: air humidiers and revitalizers, as well as rechargeable handy mist fans to keep you cool this summer. You’ll enjoy homemade juices and smoothies with rechargeable juicers; as well as listening to your favorite tunes with portable Bluetooth speakers.

Join the Surplus’ Viber community to shop, then call the available branch you prefer to be assisted and pay through cash, debit or credit card or online transfer. You may also shop for Surplus essential items at ShopSM.com. Surplus stores that are now open to safely serve you.

Keep you and your family safe and stay updated as Surplus goes interactive. Like them on Facebook and Twitter at SurplusPH and Instagram at Surplus_ph to know more about the serving branches and great deals.

BDO Foundation, BDO Remit care

BDO Foundation : PRIORITIZING HEALTH

Repatriated overseas Filipinos at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) receive hygiene kits before they go back home to their respective provinces. In coordination with BDO Foundation, BDO Remit turned over hundreds of bags of hygiene kits to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 and the PITX, which were then distributed to overseas Filipinos who were sent back here due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

The repatriated overseas Filipinos, who have already tested negative in the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and completed their required quarantine period, were then transported back to their home provinces thru the assistance of OWWA.

You are SAFE at The Manila Hotel

TMH Lobby: The Grand Lobby of the historic Manila Hotel will light up again soon as the hotel partially reopens to accept guests beginning July 3, 2020

The historic hotel partially reopens in time for its 108th anniversary with upgraded
hygiene protocols for guest safety; and launches special anniversary promo

Just a day before the historic hotel’s founding anniversary, The Manila Hotel plans to partially open its doors to its valued guests, with the famed Café Ilang Ilang, the Lobby Lounge, and the Delicatessen resuming operations on July 3, 2020. A rebirth of sorts after months of following the government’s quarantine protocols, the hotel has adjusted along with the rest of the world in navigating the “new normal,” and puts a high premium on the well-being of guests. 

With the lobby shining bright anew signifying eternal hope, The Manila Hotel commemorates its 108th founding anniversary on July 4 by welcoming guests with an enduring brand of service that is now focused on enhanced health, hygiene, and sanitation protocols in line with DOH guidelines. 

As the hotel prepares for the reopening, Atty Joey Lina, the president of The Manila Hotel, assures the public, “You are safe here. We have taken every precaution to heart so you and your loved ones can have peace of mind when you visit or stay with us.”

To its valued guests who are waiting for Café Ilang Ilang to open, The Manila Hotel offers its 108th Anniversary Promo that gives the first 108 customers for the first 108 days of its reopening (including Saturdays and Sundays) a special dining rate of only Php1,250 for lunch, and only Php1,550 for dinner. Café Ilang Ilang likewise returns with a new system for dining where guests can “order and eat all you can,” meaning they can order as much food as they want from the selection of dishes at a fixed price. 

Both Café Ilang Ilang and the Lobby Lounge will be open with limited seating capacity. Thorough sanitation procedures will be implemented, and guests can order using disposable menu, eat using cutlery in sealed containers, and even use tables with acrylic dividers. Front-facing personnel communicating with guests like Guest Services Officers (GSOs) and waiters will don masks, gloves, and face shields. To limit contact with guests, Café Ilang Ilang is also fine-tuning its contactless ordering and payment system.

Adopting best practices, the hotel launches a comprehensive initiative to assure its patrons they are safe at The Manila Hotel. High-traffic public areas will have hygiene reminder signages and distance indicators, and guests will be asked to undergo mandatory temperature checks, and health declaration procedure. Limited capacity will also be implemented in elevators, while several hotel facilities will remain closed including the spa, swimming pool, gym, and other areas.  

High-touch points like door handles, elevator buttons, public area furniture, and others will be sanitized multiple times per day using UV technology. Tests reveal that UV sanitation greatly reduces the bacteria count on surfaces, as demonstrated by lower RLU readings—whose value is used as a measure of surface cleanliness—after the procedure. 

Barring announcements from the government to the contrary, the hotel also plans to start accepting room bookings by August 2020.  The public will be assured of rooms thoroughly cleaned first with UV-C light technology to eliminate germs, bacteria, and viruses; followed by medical-grade sterilizing and disinfecting solution. A change of fresh and sanitized linens; sanitation of touch points in the room including remote controls, lamps, etc.; and thorough bathroom disinfection are also art of the procedure. Guests will also receive personal wellness kits, issued a UV-sanitized keycard, and arrive to guestrooms with a seal of assurance that they are the first to enter the sanitized environment.

Because taking care of its own people means they can take better care of guests, The Manila Hotel has invested on testing its staff upon return to work to ensure they are healthy. The culinary team strictly adheres to stringent protocols on proper hygiene, hand washing, and food handling. Staff will be required to wear PPEs as needed, and a strict implementation of distancing measures will be done in the offices, front desk, and other areas frequent by guests. 

The Manila Hotel looks forward to welcoming both loyal and new guests with the kind of service it is known for, with the assurance that “YOU ARE SAFE HERE” is not just a tagline but a commitment it truly means to uphold.

SM Stationery donates school supplies to ChildHope Philippines and Caritas Manila

Kids receive their brand new school kits from SM Stationery as they wait for school opening and alternative programs. 

SM Stationery recently donated school supplies to ChildHope Philippines and Caritas Manila, to support the education initiatives of these non-government organizations for less fortunate children. While schools are not yet open, ChildHope and Caritas have come up with innovative programs to educate the young.

Each of the kits distributed by SM Stationery, the school and office supplies department of The SM Store, includes envelopes, notebooks, crayons, rulers, writing pads, ballpoint pens and pencils.

ChildHope Philippines has already helped in the distribution of the school supplies to poor communities in Marikina, and has worked with community and youth leaders to train mothers so that they can teach their kids basic writing, reading and life skills during the quarantine. Jem Tumbaga, Resource Mobilization and Communications Officer of ChildHope Philippines, said the other school supplies will be used in their EduKit Project and street learning sessions. 

“By donating essential school supplies, SM Stationery has helped ease the burden for these children and their parents, especially now that we are facing a severe health, education and economic crisis,” Tumbaga said.

Caritas Manila, the leading social arm of the Archdiocese of Manila, on the other hand, will use the donations to help its scholars, and sell the other donations in their Segunda Manastores The proceeds of the sale will be used to fund its projects to help not just students but also poor families struggling because of COVID-19. The SM Group has been regular donor to Caritas Manila’s COVID-19 relief efforts and its Youth Service Leadership and Education

Program. 

SM Stationery’s donations complement the active participation of The SM Group in providing relief to frontliners and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

SM Stationery, which offers a wide range of school and office supply products, is now

open in The SM Store branches nationwide. For more updates on its products and its Call to Deliver service, follow its social media pages @smstationeryph on Facebook and Instagram or join its Viber community.

SM Cares and Safeguard team up for the #SafeHandsAtSM campaign

Fact: Our hands touch everything. Proper handwashing is the least we can do to protect ourselves and those around us from getting sick. 

We usually wash our hands fast - but did you know that there are proper steps of handwashing?

Following the proper handwashing technique is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of virus and show care for yourself and your loved ones.

SM Cares and Safeguard team up for the #SafeHandsAtSM campaign to educate and encourage people to practice the five steps of proper handwashing - especially in this time of pandemic.

"As part of our safe malling commitment, handwashing is our first line of defense against illnesses, and is also crucial during a global health crisis. We very excited to partner with Procter & Gamble's Safeguard, the leading brand in health and personal care, to raise awareness on the importance of this matter," said SM Supermalls President Mr. Steven Tan.

To ensure that all areas of your hands are properly washed, simply follow these steps: (1) wash palms; (2) back of hand; (3) in between fingers; (4) fingernails; (5) and thumbs, and keep scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Afterward, rinse and dry your hands thoroughly, since good handwashing is our most effective shield and protection from all kinds of viruses.

"Safeguard, being 54 years in the country, has become much of a household name. From our beige bar soap from long ago to our hand sanitizers and liquid hand soap now, we have always committed ourselves to serve the needs of the Filipino people, just like SM has. And in the same way, I believe that both have been ingrained so much in Filipino culture that it is only natural to do this partnership," said Procter & Gamble Vice President for Skin & Personal Care Ms. Shweta Sharma.

As part of the #SafeHandsAtSM campaign, Safeguard has made its liquid hand soap available in restrooms of all SM malls across the country to help the community fight the spread disease-causing germs. Information materials on the five steps of handwashing are also deployed in restrooms and high-traffic areas in SM to remind customers while in the mall.

With this, Safeguard and #SMDaresYOU to take on the #SafeHandsAtSM Challenge on TikTok from June 23 to 30. Just take a full body video of you properly washing your hands and dancing to your favorite tunes, tag your squad and use the official hashtag #SafeHandsAtSM, and be one of the 10 lucky winners who'll get exciting giveaways!

This partnership with Safeguard forms part of SM's programs to ensure Safe Malling as all SM malls continue to carry out strict safety and sanitation measures to assure the community that the malls are safe, clean, and compliant with health and sanitation protocols over and above government regulations.

Through simple efforts like washing your hands, not only are you protecting yourself, but those around you. To know more about #SafeHandsAtSM, visit www.smsupermalls.com<http://www.smsupermalls.com> and https://www.safeguard.ph, or visit their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok.

CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY WITH SM CITY TAYTAY, SM EAST ORTIGAS AND SM CITY MARIKINA

SM Malls have now begun reopening dining establishments and other food merchants taking into account the directives of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).   Many restaurants including SM Food Court have reopened with 30 to 50% capacity. 

SM City Taytay, SM City East Ortigas and SM City Marikina are now open for dining customers.  Dining customers are advised to wear facemask, follow diagonal or solo seating to observe safe distancing.   Also, cashiers and stores are observing safety measures with sneeze shields and touch-free, cashless payment options mounted to minimize physical contact.  Contactless sanitizing stations, one-way foot traffic floor markers, and regular disinfection of facilities are also in place. Customers are advised to follow the 3-step dining etiquette: to buy food from mall restaurant, to stay for a quick bite, and to clean as you go.

For Father’s Day, restaurants are offering great deals for our loving dads.

At SM City Taytay, Rairaiken’s Father’s Day promo includes a special bundle of a 24-pc Gyoza Platter and five large (20oz) cups of Milk Tea by Ori Pearl Milk Tea.  Pancake House’s classic favorites for the classic dads include the 6-pc Classic Pan Chicken and a DIY Taco Box, all for only 899php.  A special treat of additional 2-pc Classic Pan Chicken will be given for advanced orders for June 21 delivery.

SM City East Ortigas’ offerings include Shakey’s free Jumbo Calamari Crunch for every 1500Php minimum worth of order, saving customers 796Php. Teriyaki Boy’s Father’s Day bundle offers a combination of 2 U.S. Pork Tonkatsu and 3 servings of Gohan; dads can enjoy a complimentary 8-pc California Rolls.

SM City Marikina’s Auntie Anne’s Fresh Box promo includes Almond Pretzel, Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel, Almond Cream Cheese Stix and Almond Choco Chip Cream Stix for only 300Php.  Max’s treat for dads are bundle deals including a whole chicken, cake, rice, Kare-kare with free 2 cans of beer or a Bar Chow Platter.

Take advantage of these Father’s Day treats with your family and make your dads feel extra special. 

PLDT launches new package of business-grade internet and digital solutions | Beyond Fiber

As the coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread globally, it has led to a volatile economy, working from home has become a new strategy for companies to continue their businesses. We need a reliable internet connection to be able to successfully work from home.

Leading telecoms and digital services provider PLDT, Inc. has launched its newest package of connectivity and digital solutions to help businesses gear up for operating in the New Normal.

Called BEYOND FIBER, the new service package offered by PLDT’s Enterprise Group features a set of curated digital tools ranging from productivity and collaboration tools to e-payments and e-commerce solutions. These services are combined with enterprise-grade WiFi running on premium fiber service—enabling small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) to fearlessly make the digital shift towards long-term growth.

Smart President & CEO and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer Al Panlilio

“We at PLDT and Smart are focused on putting the customer at the center of everything we do. Within the Enterprise group, we aim to do this through the launch of solutions such as BEYOND FIBER, which is set to benefit all our customers—regardless of size or industry. We look forward to seeing how this solution will inspire business to look beyond the current situation and take their businesses further,” said Smart President & CEO and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer Al Panlilio.

Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups

“Digitalization has now become critical for businesses that want to survive and thrive under the challenging conditions created by the COVID pandemic. We specifically designed BEYOND FIBER to equip businesses with digital solutions tailor-fit to the growing needs of today’s enterprises,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

For only P2,500 a month, SMEs and large enterprises alike can avail of the foundational components of BEYOND FIBER: enterprise-grade connectivity via a premium WiFi device and fiber connection, all supported by a dedicated business hotline.

BEYOND FIBER raises the bar by offering a more robust business-grade fiber link with speeds of up to 50 Mbps—harnessing PLDT’s extensive fiber optic network with over 322,000 kilometers of fiber cables and growing – to better enable the day-to-day business for an office, a branch or for people working from home.

To manage the expanding use of wi-fi connectivity in the workplace, BEYOND FIBER comes with a secure, enterprise-grade wi-fi router. Stores for example can have dual wi-fi networks: one for work, and one for guests. 

For businesses using telecommute or work-from-home arrangements, the WiFi service can enforce certain network policies to support their company processes.  This is made possible by PLDT’s partnership with Cisco Meraki – a leader in cloud managed IT with unmatched visibility and control.  

On top of this, PLDT is offering a selection of solutions that fit current and future digital needs of enterprises. This includes productivity tools available through Microsoft 365’s suite of work solutions, collaboration tools via MS Teams, appointments scheduling via MS Bookings.

BEYOND FIBER also offers solutions to protect work devices from cyber-attacks via ePLDT’s Endpoint Advanced Security, to enable cashless and online payments via Paymaya, and to provide secure & private connections through Cisco Meraki Z3.

“These are the solutions initially lined up under BEYOND FIBER.  We will have more in the months to come. This initiative is designed to help businesses to make their digital shift—so that they grow amid the COVID crisis and help power the recovery of the national economy,” Hernandez said.  

For more information on BEYOND FIBER by PLDT Enterprise, log on to https://pldtenterprise.com/solutions/internet/beyond-fiber. 

Give your Dad a day he deserves amid the Coronavirus

Father’s Day may look a little different this year because of the general community quarantine, but that doesn't mean you can't still devote the day to Dad. Got a special dad who deserves a special meal? Show him your appreciation with an exceptional family lunch or dinner with his favorite dishes. Whether you’re planning to fire up the grill or set up a sit-down meal indoors this Father’s Day, The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang Ilang Takeout service is here to help you create the perfect menu.

Express your gratitude and admiration to the greatest man in your life with an exceptional Father’s Day meal which you can easily make at home. Delight your dad with any of our Home Buffet options or A La Carte menu. Because the best dad deserves only the best, let him indulge with an enticing main course of any of our new Sous Vide Steaks offerings.

Eating steak is a sensorial gustatory experience: from the visual delight of seeing the marbling on your steak to the sizzle you hear as it cooks to the sensational smell of grilled meat. Dads will surely delight in our special imported meats. It's value-for-money, too. The cuts are enormous and good enough to share, for those who aren't voracious carnivores. Marbling is the main contributor of beef juiciness, flavor and tenderness. The steaks are superb, juicy, perfectly tender, and so good.

The Manila Hotel's cooked sous vide steaks, with easy to re-cook instructions, are:

*U.S. Beef Rib Steak, 500 grams—Php2,300 nett

*U.S. Beef Tenderloin with Black Peppercorn Sauce, 180 grams—Php1,500 nett

*Prime U.S. Beef Striploin, 280 grams—Php2,100 nett

*Black Angus Beef Rib Eye, 340 grams—Php1,900 nett

Enjoy 20% discount if you make an advance order with a minimum amount of Php2,500 nett from our Home Buffet or A La Cart menu or any of our new Sous Vide Steak Offerings from now until June 19,2020 (Friday) for pick-up or delivery on Father’s Day (June 21, 2020).

End the meal on a sweet note with any of our Cake Creations: trio of chocolate mousse layered Opera Cake, Mango Cheesecake and Ohaina chocolate gateau -- alluring desserts that your dad will surely love.

Enjoy a 10% discount on our Cake Creations if pre-ordered with our Father’s Day promo.

Additional fee for delivery within Metro Manila only. Other discounts are not applicable for this promo.

Call us now at 85270011 or SMS/Viber at 0998-950-1912 for your pre-orders.

Healthy diet safeguards against COVID-19

The COVID-19 Pandemic intensifies the Philippine’s battle against Double Burden of Malnutrition. Double Burden of Malnutrition is defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as “the coexistence of undernutrition along with overweight and obesity, or diet-related non communicable diseases, within individuals, households and populations, and across the life course.”

The limited distribution and access to food supplies aggravate the plight of poor and low income Filipino households to sustain each person’s required nutrients through healthy meals. On the other hand, home confinement due to the mandated community quarantine may cause more people to not only restrict their physical activities but also to overeat and/or consume more food with empty calories as part of coping with stress and/or boredom.

Given the importance of maintaining healthy diets to sustain our health and immunity against viruses and bacteria, we should turn to the practice of Pinggang Pinoy® as a viable safeguard to protect our family from diseases.

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) introduced “Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo 7-day Menu Challenge” as a way to encourage homemakers to serve variety of balanced meals to their families. Homemakers could access the Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo 7-day menu plan at www.ajinomoto.com.ph and facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH. This is part of the company’s “Eat Well, Live Well. Stay Well.” campaign to provide Filipino families with practical tips on proper nutrition, recipe menu and fitness activities to cope, stay well and enjoy life despite current COVID-19 situation.

Ajinomoto’s 7-day menu plan is composed of complete meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each meal provides recipe suggestions for Healthy & Delicious Pinggang Pinoy® Recipes that are easy-to-do and affordable. These recipes are simple, solutions to serve enjoyable Pinggang Pinoy® meals.  Homemakers could make use of their extra time to purchase widely available and inexpensive vegetables and fruits to complement rice beyond the usual supply of canned goods. Ajinomoto’s recipes make common ingredients more palatable like tofu sisig, meaty pechay picadillo, pork tapa and tomatoes, ensaladang talbos ng kamote, sweet and sour galunggong and many more. 

Here are three (3) recipe samplers done in three (3) easy steps:

Meaty Pechay Picadillo: 

1) SAUTÉ onion, garlic and ground pork and mix in carrots, green peas and pechay. 

2) SEASON with pepper, soy sauce and AJI-GINISA® Flavor Seasoning Mix. 

3) COOK for 1 minute more.

Tofu Sisig: 

1) FRY tofu until golden brown and set aside. 

2) SAUTÉ ginger, onion and garlic, add fried tofu and liver spread and mix well. 

3) SEASON with sugar and PORKSAVOR® All-in-One Seasoning mix and add chili peppers.

Pork tapa with tomatoes: 

1) MARINATE pork in water, sugar, soy sauce, pepper and SARSAYA® Oyster Sauce for an hour or overnight.

2) SAUTÉ onion, garlic and pork. 3) BOIL. Pour the marinate mixture and boil until mixture is thick.   

For full recipes and for more information about Ajinomoto and its products, visit www.ajinomoto.com.ph and facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH.

***

The Ajinomoto Group is a global company with specialties in the business of food and amino acids, guided by our leading-edge bioscience and fine chemical technologies.

Based on the corporate message “Eat Well, Live Well.”, we have been scientifically pursuing the possibilities of amino acids in supporting the healthy lives of people all around the world. We aim for future growth and continuous contribution to greater wellness by creating value through sustainable and innovative solutions for communities and society.

The Ajinomoto Group has offices in 35 countries and regions, and sells products in more than 130 countries and regions. In fiscal 2018, sales were 1.1274 trillion yen (10.1 billion U.S. dollars). To learn more, visit www.ajinomoto.com.

AWESOME GIFTS FOR DAD FROM THE SM STORE’S CALL TO DELIVER

Whether being homebound together has made you appreciate Dad more, or you’ve been missing him as boundaries separate, make him feel special with The SM Store’s Father’s Day Gift Essentials and have them delivered to him on his very special day through #SMCalltoDeliver!

The SM Store’s call to deliver catalogue features great gifts for Dad that will touch his heart:

Dads will love this Fujifilm X-A7 Mirrorless Digital Camera that lets him shoot pro-level photos and videos.

✔ A Gift of Memories. Whether capturing family’s best moments or his new norm adventures, dads will surely love a new gadget like the FujiFilm Mirrorless Digital Camera or Go Pro Hero Max Action Camera.

Sleek organizers for your dad’s favorite watch collection.

✔ A Gift of Time. Days with Dad are priceless, and it’s amazing how he has always found time for you despite his busy schedule. Organizers for his favorite watch collection will surely bring a big smile to his face.

Adidas Rubber Shoes for your dad’s fitness routine from home. 

✔ A Gift of Fashion and Fitness. A nice pair of rubber shoes, tees, shirts and dri-fit shorts for your dad’s work out from home activity.

Davidoff Cool Water scent

✔ A Gift of Scent-sibility. Either a new scent or his signature scent will add zest to his special day.

Keep your dad safe as he rides along with this Spyder, Spike Helmet. 

✔ A Gift of Cool. Keep Dad safe with smart and protective helmets as his takes his ride.

For other Father’s Day gift ideas, call the #SMCallToDeliver hotline (0917 800 1074) fromM ondays to Fridays, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM for inquiries, or check out the catalog

https://www.thesmstore.com/call-to-deliver-catalog 

Stay in the loop with latest #SMCallToDeliver updates, and join The SM Store Viber Community Group https://bit.ly/2XLyD0t

#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 of the hard-to-make-at-home Filipino delicacies we all miss, and are available to take out or pick up from SM tenants. Simply join the Viber community "Takeout and Delivery at SM" here<https://www.smsupermalls.com/post/take-out-and-delivery-at-sm-supermalls/> for a list of everything local that you crave.

Soft pastels and stripes for the modern Filipina in this Rafaella blazer from Kulturaa vailable in select SM malls nationwide.

2.    Local Fashion & Accessories. Filipino textiles and native design patterns are the new norm! Support local artisans by checking out a wide selection of locally made accessories, beachwear, and printed shirts and dresses available at SM.

Kultura's nito vine jars, coasters, and chargers made from the heart by the

Mangyans of Mindoro now available in select SM branches nationwide.

3.    Home & Living. Spruce up your space and shop for new tableware like woven placemats and coasters and locally made mugs and utensils for your quarantine home celebrations. Think local!

Oryspa's proudly Pinoy-made home & spa solutions are availablea t the following SM malls: Legazpi, Calamba, Davao, and Megamall.

4.    Health & Beauty.  Many Filipino health and beauty products are world-class and sought after abroad. From shampoos, soaps, lotions, and even organic oils - there is definitely much to choose from for skin and body pampering.

Get these cute baby loafers for your son from Gingersnaps at SM City North EDSA.

5.    Baby & Kids. Play dress up at home with your kiddos. From your newborns to your pre-schoolers, dress them in outfits that are proudly made by Pinoys!

All these and more can be viewed at SM's Philippine Independence Day Digital Catalogue. Plus, you can have your purchased items delivered to your home via our pabili and delivery apps! The complete catalogue with details on delivery services is now available for download on your favorite SM mall's Facebook page.

To give you some rock n' roll at the convenience of your homes, shoppers can get a chance to watch Pinoy rock icon Bamboo via SM Supermalls' first ever virtual concert happening on June 20 at 8pm via ZOOM. Fans can get a chance to win an exclusive pass for every single receipt purchase of P500 from June 10-14.

To know more about SM's takeout and delivery services, visit www.smsupermalls.com<http://www.smsupermalls.com> or join SM Supermalls' official Viber communities here<https://www.smsupermalls.com/post/take-out-and-delivery-at-sm-supermalls/>.

PhilCare CQ Study: Filipinos reinforced faith, most concerned with loved ones' health

The coronavirus has affected everyone and this has caused severe pain to all. Our current situation, which naturally brings a sense of grief, has actually made us Filipinos more spiritual and engaged in fewer vices while on quarantine according to the results of a recent study done nationwide by Philcare, one of the country’s leading HMO providers.

PhilCare panelists: Mr. Jaeger L. Tanco, PhilCare President and CEO; Mr. Raymong Tiangco,  PhilCare VP for Sales and Marketing; Dr. Ultra Tan, PhilCare Associate Medical Director; Roxanne Agustin, Host , and Dr. Fernando Paragas, Lead Researcher PhilCare Community Quarantine Wellness Index

Philcare is very keen on doing a lot of research and data gathering and the goal is to know the mindset and sentiments of the Filipinos. Philcare facilitated the recent survey to determine the Filipinos level of knowledge about Covid-19 pandemic, level of comfort over Community Quarantine (CQ) activities, causes of worry during the CQ, prevention practices, and information sources regarding Covid-19, level of health and wellness during CQ.

The outcome is revealing and inspiring and provided valuable data that should help private sectors, government, as well as individuals to transition to the "new normal".

Researchers of the PhilCare Community Quarantine Wellness Index saw this silver lining amid the restrictions of movements imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the disease.

The study, which aimed to determine the state of Filipinos’ wellness while in community quarantine, revealed that of its 800 respondents, eight out of ten (76.7%) said they prayed at least more frequently than they did before the community quarantines. 

Trailing behind were other practices like watching TV, spending time online, learning new things, and doing hobbies; while others said they often engaged in physical and mental exercises.

Meanwhile, six out of ten respondents (60.9%) said they much more rarely drank beer, wine, or liquor products compared to before; while half (50.4%) said they much more rarely smoked. 

The survey was first administered via phone calls to 400 randomly-selected respondents from May 11-14 -- the final stretch of the extended enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and several other areas. Another 400 were interviewed from May 16-20 -- the first days of the modified enhanced community quarantine in the metro and other areas.

“The community quarantines and the pandemic as a whole have altered the way we live, which shocked many Filipinos. This survey provided us the opportunity to take a deeper dive into their sentiments and behaviors when it comes to health and wellness,” said lead researcher Dr. Fernando Paragas of the College of Mass Communication at the University of the Philippines Diliman. 

“The ongoing pandemic naturally makes everyone feel helpless. What’s good about the findings is that we saw how Filipinos turned to spirituality -- which is a positive coping mechanism -- in order to deal with the anxiety. It is interesting that vices only played a minor role in helping Filipinos through the ordeal of quarantine,” said PhilCare Associate Medical Director Dr. Ultra Tan.

While many Filipinos have expressed becoming more prayerful, many have also indicated their fears of returning to work with the ongoing pandemic. Six of ten respondents (60.1%) particularly said they were not comfortable about going back to their offices, similar to the study’s preliminary results.

Nearly all respondents, nonetheless, are most concerned with the health of their loved ones (95.9%), a possible “second wave” of COVID-19 (94.1%), and contracting the disease itself (93.6%).

“We believe that the findings of the PhilCare Community Quarantine Wellness Index serve an eye-opener to employers and policymakers on how responsive they should be towards their respective stakeholders given that our way of life has dramatically changed. With these learnings, we hope to work together with various sectors in order for us to continue living healthy even amid the pandemic,” said PhilCare President and CEO Jaeger L. Tanco.

“The survey’s results just affirm our belief that we need to be responsive to the needs of the times, from the products and services were to being in step with our customers’ sentiments, both online and offline,” stressed PhilCare Vice President for Sales and Marketing Raymund Tiangco.

PhilCare launched its’ Wellness From Home workout videos as the lockdown across Luzon began last March. The videos, uploaded on PhilCare’s Facebook page, featured exercises taught by fitness experts to help followers achieve optimal wellness despite being unable to go out to exercise. To date, the videos have reached 500,000 people, of which 350,000 have viewed them.

In addition, PhilCare offers its DigiConsult service, a timely response to the study’s findings wherein members need not leave their homes to be able to consult a doctor on the phone anytime. They just have to use their HeyPhil app, which can be downloaded on Google Play and the App Store. The health maintenance organization (HMO) is also working to have the service available to non-members the soonest.

Prior to the PhilCare Community Quarantine Wellness Index, the HMO commissioned studies measuring the overall state of being happy, healthy, and successful among Filipinos in 2014 and again in 2019.