Travel the world this summer with budget-friendly roaming promos from Globe

As global travel steadily returns to normal, Globe is excited to unveil its latest line-up of roaming offers tailored to meet the evolving needs of budget-conscious people who love to explore the world without breaking the bank. 

"Value for money has become a key factor in travel decisions, so Globe has designed roaming options that address the challenges faced by our customers seeking affordable connectivity while abroad. With no need to change SIMs or carry a separate device, we make it easy for them to maximize their trip to the fullest so they can keep creating those core memories,” said Coco Domingo, Globe Postpaid and International Business Vice President.

 

Globe's innovative roaming offers cater to the diverse needs of today's travelers. For one, GoRoam is an exclusive offer available through the GlobeOne app, which provides country-specific promos that match local SIM offers.

With GoRoam, travelers no longer have to get a local SIM to enjoy unbeatable rates. This convenient solution empowers them to remain connected to their loved ones and access essential information without the hassle and expense traditionally associated with roaming services.

 

Meanwhile, Roam Surf Longer Stay, which grants travelers access to data roaming packs that gets more affordable the longer you use it. For as low as P200/day, customers can enjoy up to 20GB data good for 30 days.

 

Available in over 90 countries worldwide, Roam Surf Longer Stay makes it easy to do cross-country trips. All you need is one promo as customers country hop from one destination to another! Simply choose from 3-day to 30-day data packs!

 

By providing affordable and convenient solutions for staying connected abroad, Globe aims to capture and heighten its relevance among travel intenders during the summer season.

 

Don't miss out on these incredible offers from Globe, designed to make your trips more enjoyable, connected, and budget-friendly. Get started by registering to your promo of choice via the GlobeOne app, which also lets customers track their usage in real time.

 

For more information, visit Globe.

Filipino Fashion Fair 2023 in Davao

 

                          

SM Supermalls will officially open its doors for the first regional leg of the Filipino Fashion Fair slated at the Atrium of SM Lanang Premier in Davao City from February 25 to March 3.

The fashion fair aims to shape the Philippine fashion industry to make it a top player in the international fashion scene.

The event, which is organized by private fashion trade organization fashX, features the Philippine Fashion Coalition (PFC) not only to celebrate Filipino design but to make it accessible to Mindanao shoppers.

 Edgar Buyan’s Filipiniana dress in silk gazaar of banig weave patterns

PFC unifies a group of creative visionaries representing the regions of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with a goal of standardizing and developing the industry. These designers have joined forces with SM Supermalls to create a new marketplace that champions Filipino fashion designers in the Mindanao region.

The participating brands and designers for the first-ever pop-up of PFC in Davao include: 

• Edgar Buyan
• ORIAS
• Jor-el Espina
• Viña Romero
  Debbie Co
• PQLA by Puey Quiñones
• Beatriz
• Costa del Sol
• Studio Regina Aquino
• WYC
• Egay Ayag
• Vestido
• Poivre,
• Limited pieces from the Paris collections of the fashX collective--Rajo Laurel and Dennis Lustico.

Fall in love with this Orias Solihiya Roller bag made of high-quality

genuine leather

This diverse pool of creatives will sell their exclusive and unique works— from one-off pieces to ready-to-wear clothes and accessories. This event aims to raise funds for the projects of the Philippine Fashion Coalition, as it continues its efforts to create a path and a future for its stakeholders. This activity also aims to support the makers and artisans of an all-inclusive local fashion community in the areas of textiles, arts and craft, design, and creative services.

DOST XI brings solar-powered digital library to DavNor school

STARBOOKS Operator Nikko Paña demonstrates the proper operation of the Digital Library

A total of 202 students and 11 faculty members of the Gamban Dadatan National High School (GDNHS) in Kaputian Island, Davao del Norte will now have access to a solar-powered digital library through a donation by the Department of Science and Technology Region XI (DOST XI). 

The digital library, also known as the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks or STARBOOKS, will provide the school with digitized science and technology resources for investigatory projects, K-12 resources, and other learning materials in various formats.

DOST XI Personnel Gamban Dadatan National High School teachers 

during the installation of STARBOOKS

“We thank you for giving us this opportunity. Your generosity will be very beneficial to this school since we are located on an island with no access to internet connection,” GDNHS School Head Juvelyn Parilla said. 

Davao del Norte Provincial S&T Director, Engr. Judy Donna Nueva Ecija, thanked the teachers and faculty members during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for their commitment to deliver quality education for their students despite the limitations in resources. 

“Ang STARBOOKS kay makatabang ug dako sa mga estudyante, mga maestra, ug sa tibuok nga komunidad. Hinaot inyong ampingan ang STARBOOKS para sa kaugmaon sa atoang mga kabataan,” she added. (STARBOOKS will significantly help students, teachers, and the entire community. Hopefully, you will take great care of it for the future of our youth).

GCash among Top 10 Apps in PH in 2022

GCash, the country’s top finance app and only double unicorn, is among the top 10 apps in the Philippines in four categories, according to the just released 2022 State of Mobile report of data.ai (formerly App Annie), cementing its position as the top e-wallet for Filipinos. 

The mobile wallet, operated by the Globe Group’s Mynt, ranked the #4 top app in downloads in the Philippines, and #5 in terms of monthly active users in the country across all categories. Notably, it was the only fintech app on the top 10 list in both categories, alongside social media, chat and e-commerce apps.

 

Meanwhile, GCash’s parent Globe was ranked the #4 top company in terms of app downloads across all categories, edging out the only other telco in the list operating an e-wallet, which was in 8th place.

 

Among finance apps, meanwhile, GCash was ranked 2nd in terms of the category breakout monthly active users, but is the top mobile wallet on the list.

 

“We are proud to be among the top 10 apps in several categories in the new data.ai report. This affirms our standing as the country’s undisputed No. 1 fintech app and inspires us to continue evolving our services to achieve our goal of Finance for All,” GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon.

 

Now valued at over $2 billion, GCash has maintained market leadership despite the entry of new players as it continues to expand its financial services and lifestyle offerings under one superapp. From payments and cash transfers, GCash now offers credit, savings, wealth and insurance products, and also features retail, food, wellness, travel, recreation and even real estate services.

 

It currently has 76 million registered users, logging staggering growth during the pandemic from around 20 million in 2019. It has also been supporting Filipino entrepreneurs with 5.8 million merchants and social sellers on board, and 855 GLife merchant partners.

 

Through its GLoan, GCredit and GGives services, GCash has disbursed over ₱57 billion in loans life-to-date to 2 million unique borrowers.

 

GCash has been ramping up efforts to expand its presence in more corners of the country through partnering with local government units.

Rogen Inn hits 70% occupancy rate

Rogen Inn, a Department of Tourism XI accredited establishment, is located at the corner of Mt. Apo & Lopez Jaena Streets, Davao City. For reservations call 0917 687 6436 or email reservations@rogeninn.com.

For a young hospitality establishment that’s barely a year old, Rogen Inn recorded an impressive patronage in 2022, hitting an average of 70% occupancy rate in the last quarter of 2022. 

Rogen Inn opened in May 2022, still an uncertain time in the course of the pandemic with the widespread infection caused by the Omicron variant earlier in the year. 

“We continued building Rogen Inn even during the pandemic following the safety protocols strictly. With 212 rooms in two of the three buildings ready for operations, we decided to open Rogen Inn. It was timely with the health restrictions easing up and vaccines are widely available in Davao,” Rogen Inn Manager Gene Bangayan said.

Rogen Inn’s promotional thrust as “an inn but just like a hotel,” the low introductory room rates, dining choices within the compound plus its location in the city center caught the attention of travelers. The market Rogen captured in the first few months of operations were walk-ins and domestic tourists in transit, and were very satisfied with their stay, shared Bangayan.

With regional travel picking up in the third quarter of 2022 and the Kadayawan Festival in August, Rogen Inn got its share of city visitors and peaked at 60% occupancy on average. 

In the fourth quarter of 2022, the inn surpassed the previous quarter’s numbers and peaked at 70% occupancy.

With people more comfortable with face-to-face gatherings, the last quarter brought in the events and Rogen Inn’s function halls calendar was full. The demand was high, thus the management decided to temporarily convert areas allocated for other purposes into additional function rooms.

Bangayan said that 2022 was a good year for Rogen Inn and they have lined up the plans for a better hospitality establishment this 2023.

“Part of the plan for the first quarter of 2023 is to convert the planned gym space into boardrooms or meeting rooms that will accommodate 10 to 20 people. We saw the need for additional function rooms of this size as Rogen Inn currently has a large function hall that can be subdivided into three halls,” bared Bangayan.

Heeding to the needs of business travelers, Rogen Inn will be setting up a Business Center soon. 

The North Wing, the third building, will be open for operations by the second quarter this year, adding another 128 rooms to the inn’s total inventory. 

“Rogen Inn’s restaurant row has become a byword and we pride ourselves on the dining options we have. Five are homegrown brands: Marinatuna and Boiling Crabs for seafood lovers, Habi at Kape serves Davao-inspired cuisine, and Vines is Thai fusion and dessert haven Yoh Froz; Rogen Lounge is a wine and coffee bar; and Korean restaurant Samgyupsalamat is a Manila brand,” she shared.

Amenities such as a travel desk at the lobby and Elements, a salon and day spa, add convenience to guests.

For the coming two red letter dates on the calendar, the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day, Rogen Inn has lined up room promotions and presents for guests checking in on specified dates. Check out the great deals, visit the Facebook page of Rogen inn.

Gifts of Wonder from The Body Shop

From vegan beauty treats to blissful body care, stocking-sized surprises to more indulgent premium gifts, The Body Shop has gifts to delight everyone on your list - and every budget. And the gifts don’t just spread wonder to those who receive them, but those who helped make them too.

The Body Shop is wishing for a fairer future for all. That’s why every one of its gifts is enriched with ingredients and/ or packaging from its Community Fair Trade partners. 

Community Fair Trade is The Body Shop’s bespoke program that helps its small-hold producers gain market access and invest in social and environmental projects that benefit their communities. 

So each time you buy a present, you’ll be supporting communities around the world.

It doesn’t stop at Community Fair Trade partners, either. With every purchase you make at 

The Body Shop, customers also support Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation for its 3rd year and this time our goal is to build starter classrooms for the children of Salat High School, Cotabato.

These are available at The Body Shop stores and on its online store.

SM Malls in Davao spread holiday cheers

SM Lanang Premier Assistant Mall Manager Previous Ann Legario hands over SM's Christmas gift to Davao residents 

SM Malls in Davao spread the holiday cheer by simultaneously conducting gift-giving activities in different communities in Davao City on December 13, 2022. 

SM Lanang Premier and SM City Davao visited different communities to hand over hundreds of Christmas food baskets to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and war veterans, respectively.

SM Supermalls give back to the community through gift-giving every Christmas

SM Lanang Premier’s Assistant Mall Managers Precious Ann Legario and Kimberly Ann Remolona gathered 4Ps beneficiaries and PWDs in Barangays San Antonio, Ubalde, and R. Castillo for the gift-giving event. This was made possible with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development XI and the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Because at SM, they've got it all for you!

On the other hand, SM City Davao Mall Manager Lester Tantoco and Assistant Mall Manager Leah Delarmente, also handed out food baskets to senior citizens and war veterans and households in Barangay Bucana. The beneficiaries were identified by the Office of Senior Citizens' Affairs (OSCA).

Every Christmas, SM Supermalls conducts nationwide gift-giving activities as a way of giving back to communities. The founder of the largest mall chain in the Philippines, the late Henry Sy, instilled among its employees the importance of social responsibility.