Daughter of former flower farmers lives a vibrant life through the SM Scholarship grant

Stability is the foundation of a well-lived life. With basic needs fulfilled, people have the opportunity to develop themselves, explore various facets of life, and contribute to the welfare of the community.

When aspiring youth, especially those from low-income households, are given the chance to stand on solid ground, they readily take the chance. They utilize it as a seedbed where they can cultivate their dreams and aspirations.

One testament to this is SM scholar alumna Jonnah Jane Sacamay, who grew up in a family where stability seemed like an uncharted territory. Years back, Jonnah’s family’s main source of living was flower farming. This made them walk on a thin line as the demand for flowers was seasonal, and they were also often affected by unpredictable weather disturbances. 

But while they had journeyed through life with uncertainty, they had always planted in her mind the power of education.

“Given that the nature of farming is very seasonal, our income is not stable. Aside from augmenting our daily needs, we also had to ensure that my education is secured. I was informed that I got accepted as an SM Scholar. From then on, a huge weight was lifted off my parents' shoulders. I could pursue my chosen degree in my chosen university. The SM Scholarship helped me reach my dream of becoming a CPA, and this opened doors for me, enabling me to land a job that empowered me to help my family. My experience in retail has given me wide knowledge in different areas. With this, I always make sure that my family makes informed decisions in all aspects of life. One thing that has become a tradition among SM Cebu scholars during my time was to have an outreach program. In our own way, we were able to pay forward the help that we received from SM. It was a fulfilling experience that we could share our blessings in our own little way. Having a degree enabled me and my family to experience more in life. It paved the way for me to secure a stable job, which allowed me to travel, treat my family to a nice meal, take them shopping on special occasions, and most importantly, support my parents and their medical expenses. Aside from providing me with a scholarship grant, working in SM has provided a sense of security for me and my family.” ~Jonnah Jane Sacamay, SM Scholar Alumna

Holding on to the power of education

And so, to help her family, she studied hard in grade school as soon as she learned about others who had the opportunity to pursue college through the SM College Scholarship Program. With her whole heart dedicated to learning and her eyes set on the SM scholarship, she finished high school as the class valedictorian. Once the forms were available, she immediately processed her application at the SM Store in Cebu.

Through the scholarship offered by the SM group through SM Foundation, she was able to focus on the development of her skills and knowledge not only in accountancy but especially in life. She became a Magna Cum Laude graduate of BS Accountancy at the University of San Carlos.

Jonnah currently serves as a Senior Accounting Manager at the SM Store, Cebu. Aside from financial security, she currently takes care of her parents’ medical expenses and lets them enjoy vibrant life experiences after retiring as flower farmers.

Opening doors to more

SM Foundation made it its goal to help create an environment where low-income families can thrive and achieve stability, just like how the SM College Scholarship Program paved ways for Jonnah and her family.

For the school year 2023-2024, the application period is open from February 1-March 31, 2023. The selected scholars may specialize in accounting, information technology, engineering, and education with full tuition and monthly allowance, including enrichment programs and activities. 

For more information about the SM College Scholarship program, visit https://www.sm-foundation.org/what_we_do/college-scholarship-program. 

Fly to and from Manila for As Low as PHP 88 with Cebu Pacific's Special Seat Sale

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, continues its 27^th anniversary celebration in March as it launches a special seat sale for travelers to and from Manila.

 

From 10 AM on March 24 until March 30, CEB travelers to and from Manila can book their flights to select domestic and international destinations for as low as PHP 88 one-way base fare, exclusive of fees and surcharges. The travel period is from June 1 to September 30, 2023.

 

CEB is running a “March Pinabongga” month-long series of promos and seat sales as gratitude to its loyal customers over the past 27 years. Aside from seat sales, CEB is also offering up to 27% off on select add-ons to make flying more convenient for its passengers.

 

With CEB’s low fares now made more affordable by seat sales, every Juan will have more chances to go enjoy the freshly picked mangoes from Cebu, go island-hopping in Puerto Princesa, and satisfy your cravings with the delicious dishes of Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, and General Santos.

 

Take photos with the most scenic locations in Japan, Indonesia, Bangkok, and Hanoi, and shop till you drop in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taipei with direct flights via Cebu Pacific.

 

Passengers with existing Travel Funds may use these to pay for flights and other add-ons. Apart from the Travel Fund, other payment options such as payment centers, credit or debit cards, and e-wallets may also be used.

 

CEB currently flies to 34 domestic and 25 international destinations, spanning across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

Book your flights now via bit.ly/CebuPacificSale.

No Need to “Play Safe”: How to Switch Up Your Sex Life the Safe Way

When done right and with proper caution, very few things feel better than sex with your partner. But with all the misconceptions and inaccuracies surrounding the topic, many couples tend to be tentative with their approach, likely compromising the quality of their sex life.

For one, a lot of people are too afraid or conscious to do more adventurous things with their partner simply because they don’t know what counts as “too much” or “safe enough”.

Are dotted or glow-in-the-dark condoms safe to use? When is it okay to add sex toys and devices into the mix? Will your partner welcome the idea of using a lubricant? These are examples of often-unanswered questions that can lead to more inhibitions, which in turn cause you to play it safe for the sake of, well, being safe.

When it comes to safe sex, there’s no such thing as too safe. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make room for new ideas and experiences that can help invigorate your sex life. Here are some things you can do to switch it up in bed without crossing any lines:

Begin your list of “yeses”, “noes”, and “maybes”.

The first step to spicing things up is to identify the factors that will help pique your partner’s interest. Separately, write down two things: What you want to change and retain about your sex life, and what you’re willing and unwilling to do in bed. Use your respective lists as an opportunity to meet in the middle and decide on items that match up.

Create a joint fantasy with your partner.

Build anticipation by creating a sexual fantasy that you and your partner can get on board with. Incorporate details that will serve your needs and wants, but be receptive to their ideas as well. It doesn’t have to be a full-blown scenario; a joint fantasy can start with something as simple as agreeing on where to do it or adding something minute to an otherwise established routine.

Add or remove sensory experiences.

Sometimes, merely pleasuring the senses makes all the difference in bed. Other than giving your partner what they want to see and hear, give their sense of touch (fabrics like silk and leather), smell (aromatic scents from candles and oils), and taste (fruit-flavored condoms) a treat as well.

Explore products that can make sex more exciting.

Safe sex doesn’t mean you’re limited to what you can do during sex. In fact, there are now contraceptives that can even help heighten the pleasure a couple feels during lovemaking. PREMIERE Condoms, for one, offer different variants that can certainly elevate the experience. Here are some examples:

Ultra Thin

An ultra thin condom for a more sensitive feel.

Dotted

Condoms with raised pleasure dots that provide an intense experience.

Air

Soft, smooth, and super thin condoms that imitate a bare-skin contact.

Nice & Tight

Lubricated with SENSITIGHTR that helps create a tightening effect on women.

Cruise Control

Condoms with a special additive to help prolong performance.

Glow

Glow-in-the-dark condoms to light up your night.

Earthquake

Features a vibrating O-ring for an “earth-shattering” experience.

Cool Watermelon

Condoms that give a fresh watermelon taste

Another possible recommendation is a product like EZ Lubricating Jelly, a water-based, condom-friendly lubricant that provides the feeling of natural lubrication. You can also look up toys, devices, and other intimacy products that will fit in nicely to your joint fantasies.

Whatever you decide to do as a couple, always prioritize safety and pleasure. All it takes is one conversation on how you want things to go from here. Maybe you can even show your partner this article!

Here are some of the biggest Asian acts performing at the City of Firsts

Here are some of the biggest Asian acts performing at the City of Firsts

Memorize those fanchants, gather your merch, and take out your lightsticks because some of the biggest pop acts in Asia are taking over the City of Firsts!

Starting this weekend, some of the most in demand and popular artists are coming to Manila to meet their fans and treat them to exciting performances.

First are Moonbin and Sanha who will be having their first fanmeeting and concert at the New Frontier Theater this Saturday, March 25. Moonbin and Sanha is the first official sub-unit of ASTRO, and they have chosen Manila as the first stop of the MOONBIN&SANHA (ASTRO) Fan Con: [Diffusion]. Get ready for performances and special stages that were especially prepared to thrill Pinoy Arohas. To get your tickets, for the MOONBIN&SANHA (ASTRO) Fan Con: [Diffusion], please visit this link.

Next, we have WayV who will be coming to Manila for their Phantom Fan Meeting tour this Sunday, March 26 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. WayV, the Chinese sub-unit of the hugely popular NCT, will be performing here in the country with five members, Kun, Ten, Xiaojun, Hendery, and YangYang and will be performing many fan favorites such as Take Off, Love Talk, and their latest single from their fourth mini-album, Phantom. Aside from non-stop performances, the members have many surprises in store. So, WeiZenNies, make sure to be there for WayV’s first fanmeet in the country. To secure your tickets, click this link.

The fun doesn’t stop there because you’ll get to see back-to-back-to-back K-pop performances from a Hallyu legend and two of the biggest fourth gen acts today! On April, 11 see The Boyz, Aespa, and Taeyeon dominate the stage of the Big Dome for K-Verse at the Big Dome. Prepare for a night of powerhouse vocals and energetic performances at K-Verse. Visit this link for tickets and more information.

Another Korean celebrity is also coming to the New Frontier Theater to meet his fans! Kim Mingue, who rose to stardom after his career-defining role on The Heavenly Idol, is meeting his Pinoy fans at the Heavenly Moment: Kim Mingue 1st Fanmeet in Manila on April 14. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this event! Buy your ticket here.

Meanwhile, EXO-Ls can celebrate because EXO-SC, the sub-unit composed of Sehun and Chanyeol, is coming to Manila for the Back to Back Fancon Tour. It will happen on May 20 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the boys have prepared many performances and surprises for Pinoy Exo-Ls. More information will be provided soon, so stay tuned!

Lastly, the it girls of K-Pop are also headed for the Big Dome! Get ready for The Prom Queens: IVE The First Fan Concert on June 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Sing your heart out to IVE’s monster hits like Eleven, Love Dive, and After Like at their first concert here in the Philippines. Stay tuned for more details and ticketing info for this event.

Here are some of the biggest Asian acts performing at the City of Firsts

For more information about these events, visit the Ticketnet website. To learn more about the Smart Araneta Coliseum, please visit www.smartaranetacoliseum.com. And to discover what the New Frontier Theater has to offer log on to www.newfrontiertheater.com.

Experience OPPO’s Future-Forward Innovations at Inspiration: Ahead this March 18

Leading global smart device brand OPPO puts innovation, openness, elegance, and technology at the forefront in the Inspiration: Ahead event on March 18, 2023 at the BGC Amphitheater in Taguig City. Everyone is invited to see the latest offerings from OPPO, get up close and personal with the brand’s ambassadors and content creators, and participate in interactive booths. Get the chance to also meet OPPO celebrity brand ambassadors Bea Alonzo and Nadine Lustre! 

“OPPO looks forward to bringing to life our brand mantra of ‘Inspiration Ahead,’ through this one-of-a-kind experience for Filipinos. We aim to spotlight OPPO’s innovation in products and services and how they add more value to the lives of our consumers and community.” ~Joanarc Sales, PR and CRM Head of OPPO Philippines

Discover OPPO’s Latest Innovations Firsthand

OPPO Inspiration: Ahead will highlight the brand’s latest smartphones for people to appreciate their cutting-edge features. The soon-to-launch OPPO Find N2 Flip, which has an industry leading hinge that offers users a more refined foldable screen, long-lasting battery, and a generous cover screen display. Those visiting the Inspiration: Ahead event can be one of the first in the country to try out the much-anticipated OPPO Find N2 Flip’s Hasselbad camera capabilities alongside the recently launched OPPO Reno8 T 5G and its 108MP Portrait Camera and Microlens Technology in various booths and activities.

Be Inspired by OPPO’s Brand Ambassadors Bea Alonzo, Nadine Lustre, and more

The program will also feature sessions on useful photography and fashion tips and tricks from some of the best in the industry. Learn how to level up photography skills from celebrity photographer Magic Liwanag and content creator David Guison while fashion experts Daryl Chang and Pam Quinones will show guests how to maximize their OPPO smartphones to unleash their creativity and discover the best style that suits them. Enjoy music from today’s up

 

Be one of the first few to be part of an exclusive meet-and-greet with two of OPPO’s superstar brand ambassadors, actresses Bea Alonzo and Nadine Lustre! 

Register in the venue as early as 4:00 p.m. and be one of the first to complete all tasks in the interactive booths. The first 25 Bea Alonzo fans and first 25 Nadine Lustre fans who present their fully stamped wristbands at the redemption area will qualify for the meet-and-greet.

To know more about #OPPOInspirationAhead, visit the OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com.ph/ or its official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO provides its users with the ColorOS operating system and internet services like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 Research Institutes and 5 R&D Centers worldwide, as well as an International Design Center in London. More than 40,000 of OPPO's employees are dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

A taste of Argentina and Japan in one hot bowl

Ramen Nagi has something new for you! 

Any bowl of hot, authentic ramen from Ramen Nagi is always a treat, but the ramen chain just keeps on giving us new flavors to rave about. 

Ramen Nagi has given us innovative ramen bowls such as the Tom Yum King, the Crab King, and who could forget the Unbelievable Niboshi King? Ramen Nagi has been creating new hot bowls of ramen and partnering it with flavors we’ve only dreamed about. 

This time around, Ramen Nagi has partnered with Bolzico Beef to create another king-worthy bowl of ramen - the Bolzico Sukiyaki King. 

A medley of both Japanese and Argentinian flavors, the Bolzico Beef Sukiyaki is an ode to a classic Japanese dish - the sukiyaki. In Japan, sukiyaki is a type of  nabemono or hot pot dish and best served piping hot with a side of white rice. Definitely a staple of Japanese cuisine! 

The Bolzico Sukiyaki King is a guaranteed treat—a hot steaming bowl of freshly-made noodles in their signature tonkotsu broth mixed with a special sukiyaki sauce. This is topped with thinly-sliced tender strips of Bolzico beef, soft cubes of melt-in-your-mouth tofu, leeks, an egg yolk for some richness, and fire sauce for a touch of heat. Definitely a hot bowl of ramen fit for a king!

It is truly a hearty meal that offers a medley of flavors and beef that simply melts in your mouth.  This special treat will only be available for a limited time! 

Head to your nearest Ramen Nagi branch to taste their new and innovative Bolzico Sukiyaki King from March 1 - 31, 2023. 

The Bolzico Sukiyaki King is available for dine-in and delivery through your app of choice - Grab, FoodPanda, Pickaroo, and ToktokFood. 

For more details, check out Ramen Nagi PH on Facebook or Instagram.

Lime El Nido Resort - The Next Food Destination

Everyone is getting ready for their next vacation spot, where sand and swimming are top priorities, as summer approaches. The Philippines has a number of world-class beaches with stunning scenery and crystal-clear waters.

Picturesque mountains, limestone cliffs and white sand as well as the dreamy waters teeming with aquamarine life are surely guaranteed to amaze anyone who steps into Palawan, also known as the Last Frontier of the Philippines. Lime El Nido Resort is the perfect place where one can enjoy nature’s wonders together with the comforts of a luxurious resort that offers a relaxing stay, world-class amenities and excellent service.

Synonymous to an island retreat is good food. Lime El Nido Resort aims for locals and guests alike to have a total feast of the senses with the Celebrity Chef Series which will kick off this March featuring guest Chef Sau del Rosario of Sawsaw and Cafe Fleur. Chef Sau has refined his culinary craft not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of the world. Throughout his more than 20-year experience, he has mastered the art of Filipino cuisine, putting his own distinct touches in the process.

“I am pleased to collaborate with Lime Hotel and Resorts for the Celebrity Chef Series. ‘Arkipelago: Featuring Food From Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao’, brings together the unique mix and tastes of the three major islands of the Philippines. I hope anyone who goes to El Nido will be pleased with the line-up I prepared as they rediscover the culinary delights that are part of our culture.” ~Chef Sau

His menu offerings will be available from March 15 to June 30, 2023. The wonderful spread includes some of these mouthwatering delights: Kinilaw na Maya-maya, Pinoy Style Caesar Salad, Chorizo & Citrus Chicken Jus, Sous-vide Lengua Pastel, Lamb Shank Caldereta, Sisig, Crispy Pork Belly with Macadamia Kare-kare Sauce and Deconstructed Halo-halo.

One of the main activities at El Nido is island hopping. Visitors can enjoy the novelty of having their lunch arranged and brought at any of their stopovers. While this has been a norm for quite some time now, it still has a long way to go in terms of quality, serving and presentation. The Celebrity Chef Series aims to level up this service by going the extra mile. On top of a well-curated menu, food will be served hot and fresh, with guests being comfortable with a cozy table set-up, completing the perfect island experience.

“Lime Hotel and Resorts is known for providing fun-loving individuals an unforgettable visit across our three destinations, namely: Lime Resort Manila, Lime Resort El Nido and Lime Hotel Boracay. We want to elevate the El Nido experience with a unique gustatory adventure showcasing the wonderful flavors of our country. Through the Celebrity Chef Series, we envision Lime El Nido as the perfect food destination in the island. We are glad to work with Chef Sau in this endeavor and look forward to the next collaborations with other chefs in the coming months.” ~Emil Po, CEO

Lime El Nido Resort is about 15-20 minutes away from the airport and Lio Beach. For more information and reservations, visit www.lime.ph.