8 back to work must-haves this 2021

Ever since quarantine measures have eased up, many have returned to working in the office – and that number is expected to increase with the start of the New Year. If you’re one of those people, every single safety precaution is a must. Apart from strict social distancing, here is a list of back-to-work essentials that will help keep you safe as you hustle in the new normal.

 

Mask and shield. Of course, this has to be first on the list! If you’re going back to the office, you can't leave your house without a proper face mask. In case you run out, leading stores at SM offer a variety of options from the usual surgical and KN95 masks to the more colorful and fashionable cloth masks.

 

     

   

 Kinepin Kn95 face mask and face shield from The SM Store

 

 

All-in-one pouch!  Ever struggled rummaging through your bag just to look for your alcohol spray? A travel pouch could be the solution! You can insert a small travel pouch in your bag with all your safety essentials, such as hand sanitizers, soaps, and wipes. That way, you can easily find it inside your bag. Another possible solution is alcohol sprays on keychains so you can easily attach them outside your bag. Watsons at SM has a lot of cute options available!

  

Head to The SM Store to get travel pouch for your safety essentials, a case for your face mask and bottle holder for your alcohol or hand sanitizer.

 

Drink on the go. Invest in a tumbler so you can always have water or your favorite juice with you to stay healthy amid the pandemic. Plus, you get to save money and help the environment at the same time! The SM Store and top brands at SM offer a wide variety of options for you that you can even personalize to your heart’s content. 

 

Clean breathing space. Wearable air purifiers claim to release negative ions to purify the air around you from airborne pollutants, which may help drive viruses away from your immediate breathing zone. Some studies state that they may have many health benefits, such as boosting your mood, reducing stress levels, and improving sleep. Check out SM Cyberzone and leading stores at SM for yours!

 

  

Air purifier necklace available at SM Cyberzone and The SM Store

 

 

Always on plan.  After a year when most things were out of your control, experts say a planner can be therapeutic. It allows you to have some control in your life. It also lets you be more organized and less frantic since it can help you keep track of deadlines. The best part of having a planner: you get to make the most of your time and save some of it for yourself and your family. Now that's work-life balance! If you want a selection of 2021 planners with a variety designs, check out different bookstores and office supplies stores at your local SM mall.

 

The Leuchtturn1917 Daily Planner 2021 (left) and Moleskine Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Daily Planner (right) available at National Book Store. Visit Shopmag for more planners to keep your life on track.

Can’t have too many umbrellas. Beat the scorching heat or the pouring rain when you go outside. Even before the pandemic, an umbrella has always been an outdoor essential in the Philippines, especially since the weather can be unpredictable. Whenever you go out for work, make sure you have an umbrella inside your bag – you'll never know when you'll need it. The SM Store has plenty of options for you!

 

Music to relax. Many believe that music can enhance cognitive performance. If you find yourself getting a bit stressed out, just put on your headphones and play your favorite song on a low volume. This will help you relax a bit and create personal space. As a result, you get to focus on your work, regain concentration, and improve productivity. Aside from that, headphones may also come in handy during those virtual calls and online events you have to attend for work. You can check out SM Cyberzone to get quality headphones and your other tech needs.

 

  

Sennheiser HD206 (left) and Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones (right) available at SM Cyberzone

 

 

New year, new look. What better way to say "new year, new me" than by rocking a whole different look from head to toe? After a tough 2020, treat yourself to some enjoyable shopping and get the latest fashion items! And once you go back to the office, surprise your officemates with your upgraded style and aesthetic. If you want a new look for the workplace, SM has all the leading stores that have the best clothes, shoes and bags from business casual to formal wear and everything in between.

Sport a new back-to-office look with wide clothing selection from SM Woman and SM Men at The SM Store.

 

For more updates, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

 

theAsianparent Philippines invites Filipino mothers to join Team BakuNanay and learn more about protecting families through vaccination

theAsianparent Philippines is building a safe space for Filipino mothers to openly discuss immunization with a new online community called Team BakuNanay. 

Partnering with global healthcare company Sanofi Philippines, the regional publishing company and parenting community launched the private BakuNanay Facebook group last December as a proactive initiative to combat public health misinformation online. 

Finding trustworthy information about family health is an important priority for parents, especially as questions over vaccine safety continue to persist in the country. In the Philippines, the Department of Health has noted the need to strengthen immunization efforts nationwide. With this new online community, Team Bakunanay is able to complement official health programs promoting immunization for vaccine-preventable diseases such as the flu, polio, and measles. 

Sanofi General Manager Dr. Jean-Antoine Zinsou asserted that information campaigns necessarily go hand-in-hand with immunization campaigns. “Community support is so important to help address vaccine hesitancy. This is a great step towards building a healthier, and more informed Philippines,” he said.

Meanwhile, theAsianparent Philippines General Manager Frances Ang shared that the group’s main goal is to support parents. “We hope to provide the necessary support for those seeking information about how to best protect their families from these diseases,” she says. “Through our BakuNanay campaign, Filipino mothers are encouraged to speak up and share personal experiences on how vaccines have helped protect their children,” she added.

One of the group’s first major activities is an open forum with infectious disease expert Dr. Lulu Bravo this February 10. Members will be allowed to ask the expert for advice and information related to vaccines. The group is administered by officials from theAsianparent Philippines who make sure members only share verified news and respectful discussions. The community currently has over 1.5 thousand members and is seen to be particularly helpful for first-time parents. Interested mothers can join the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bakunanay/.

Love & Luck Shopping at SM City Masinag’s 3-Day Sale

The love month is here and SM City Masinag treats you with great shopping deals! This Valentines weekend, SM City Masinag holds its first 3-Day Sale for 2021. Up to 70% discount are up for grabs on selected items plus extra deals on each day on February 12, 13 and 14, 2021! 

Get a chance to win a brand new Suzuki Suzuki S-Presso MT at the grand e-raffle draw. For every single or accumulated receipts of P1,000 equal to one (1) e-raffle entry.  Shoppers on Saturday and Sunday will get double the chance of winning as qualified raffle entries are doubled on both days. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-112118, Series of 2021. 

Shopping for your sweetheart is made sweeter with The SM Store’s special deals on all 3 days! Prestige Card holders can avail additional 10% off on Friday, February 12. SM Advantage and BDO Rewards card holders can avail additional 10% off for every P3,000 single receipt purchase on February 13 & 14. While BDO Credit Card holders can get 5% discount on minimum P5,000 worth of purchase for both and installment transactions. A maximum of P5,000 discount can be applied per transaction. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-112573, Series of 2021. 

Make sure to check out SM City Masinag’s official Facebook account for updates on the best deals you can get on its first 3-Day Sale this 2021. 

Prudence Foundation and JA Philippines host Asia Pacific’s First Virtual CCFA Awards 2021

Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc in Asia and Africa, the parent company of leading life insurer Pru Life UK, together with Junior Achievement (JA) Philippines kick-started 2021 by celebrating the achievements of the Cha-Ching Curriculum at the Cha-Ching Financial Accreditation (CCFA) virtual award ceremony on January 15, 2021.

“The future of a country lies in the classrooms of today; and by providing children with the right financial skills and knowledge, we are building a generation equipped with responsible financial behaviors that will help them achieve their goals and navigate a successful life,” said Marc Fancy, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation.

Amidst the ongoing pandemic, JA Philippines has acknowledged the Cha-Ching teachers through a new series of educational and institutional awards in the beginning of the year.

“We at JA are committed to empowering young people. A great way to drive this is to nurture and recognize outstanding teachers who dedicate and distinguish themselves in such a noble pursuit,” shared Maziar Sabet, President and CEO of JA Asia Pacific.

Celebrating its 10th year of launch in the Asia-Pacific region, Cha-Ching is a financial literacy program that teaches elementary students money-smart concepts of Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate. Through animated music videos and other educational resources, children as young as seven years old are exposed to foundational financial concepts that help guide their decision-making throughout their lives.

Launched in the Philippines in 2016, the Cha-Ching Curriculum, created by Prudence Foundation in partnership with JA Philippines and sponsored by Pru Life UK, is complemented by the rollout of the Cha-Ching Financial Accreditation (CCFA), an online assessment tool which aims to develop educators’ competencies in teaching the Cha-Ching Curriculum in their respective schools and regions, endorsed by the Department of Education in the Philippines and across Asia. Developed in partnership with JA Asia Pacific, the CCFA is aligned with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Core Competencies Framework on Financial Literacy for Youth and the ASEAN Teachers Competency Framework.

Teachers who successfully completed the training have received a CCFA certification as an acknowledgment of their dedication and professionalism in implementing the Cha-Ching Curriculum. Special awards were also given to teachers who have shown exemplary commitment and excellence in teaching young children the value of financial literacy.

“Pru Life UK remains committed to supporting financial education among Filipinos. We encourage everyone to join us as champions of this advocacy,” shared Allan Tumbaga, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Marketing Officer of Pru Life UK at the awarding ceremony.

Rose Fres Fausto, a renowned investment banker and current columnist at the Philippine Star, delivered a keynote speech focused on financial education at the ceremony. She also answered questions and shared valuable insights about the impact of financial literacy on personal development at a discussion forum.

Krishna Alejandrino, Executive Director of JA Philippines also graced the event.

A total of 2,075 Cha-Ching teachers registered and passed the accreditation for the School Year 2019-2020. These teachers are hailed from Negros Occidental, Camarines Sur, and Albay.

The following top awards were conferred during the virtual ceremony. The Top Certified CCFA Passers, given to teachers who scored full marks on their accreditation, were awarded to 50 out of 2,000 recipients across Negros Occidental, Camarines Sur, and Albay.

The Outstanding Educator of the Year Award recognizes teachers who exemplify remarkable dedication and implementation of the Cha-Ching Curriculum despite challenges around resources, geographical location, and fallout from COVID-19. The awards were presented by Marc Fancy to Vicky Sugino from Negros Occidental and Jerica Quitalia from Albay.

The Outstanding CCFA Network Partner went to Goa Elementary School, for their outstanding implementation and program structure. While the Cha-Ching Bling Award went to the school with the best implementation of Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate through school activities, resulting in the greatest impact on students and their community. Pagatpat Elementary School was the proud recipient of this award, with a cash prize for Brigada Eskwela.

Over 157,000 students in the Philippines have benefitted from the Cha-Ching program in the past year. Going forward, this will be expanded with modules further integrated into the country’s existing elementary school curriculum.

FUN WAYS TOY KINGDOM WELCOMES THE YEAR OF THE OX

Did you know that the Ox, the second sign in the Chinese horoscope, is associated, with  Water  a symbol of strength reliability, and diligence? It is not surprising that children born in the Year of the Ox are from a young age aimed at success, and try to make their dreams come true.

Ox children are distinguished by their endurance and diligence. It seems that there are no obstacles for them. Silent and purposeful, they amaze us with their responsible approach to the smallest task.

The Ox girl is a faithful mothers assistant  she loves cleanliness and order, loves cooking. Sweet in disposition she is trustworthy, and prefers to spend time for useful lessons instead of idle chatter. She is drawn to the world of art, and likes attending exhibitions and theatrical performances.

The Ox boy from early years demonstrates practicality, reliability, diligence. He likes to play sports and at the same time have excellent mental abilities. Practical and frugal, they are happy to play with old cars and designers. They possess logical and spatial thinking, and create new constructions from the simplest details.

Celebrate the coming of the Year of the Ox with Toy Kingdoms collection of adorable and lovely ox inspired plush toys that will surely bring luck and lots of playtime fun into your homes. 

These toys and more are available in most Toy Kingdom stores located in most SM Supermalls nationwide. You can also shop at the comfort of your homes because Toy Kingdom is now online, just check out https://www.toykingdom.ph/ for more amazing toy finds. 

 For more updates, follow @ToyKingdomPH at Facebook and Instagram. 

Araneta City extends free AutoSweep RFID installation until February 15

Araneta City is giving travelers until February 15, 2021 to get a free AutoSweep Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker quickly and conveniently at the City of Firsts!

Interested car owners may head to the Gateway Mall for registration and free installation of the AutoSweep RFID stickers from 10 am to 6 pm (or until stocks last). Riders are advised to park at any level of the Gateway Mall parking. No RFID sticker installation and testing shall be done outside the Gateway Mall parking.

Only 250 RFID stickers will be issued per day. The “no vehicle, no installation” and “first come, first serve” policies will be observed. Be sure to come at the Gateway Mall early to avoid the cut-off.

Prepare P200.00 cash as initial load for your Autosweep card. Once the RFID sticker is installed onsite, you are ready to go! Remember to be a responsible driver: stay safe, and don’t drink and drive.

AutoSweep RFID is exclusively used at Skyway, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX), Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

PROCEDURES:  

STEP 1. Bring your vehicle at Araneta City and park at the Gateway Mall (any level).

STEP 2. Proceed at the AutoSweep booth located at the ground floor (near Taco Bell and Breadtalk).

STEP 3. Fill out form (or submit accomplished form, if downloaded online) at the booth.

STEP 4. After presenting your form, the Autosweep representative will conduct a short interview to assess your vehicle. Pay the P200 initial load (strictly cash only).

STEP 5. After paying, accompany the Autosweep representative to your vehicle for the installation and testing of RFID sticker.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

1. Promo is on a first come, first served basis.

2. Only 250 RFID stickers will be issued per day.

3. No online or phone-in reservations will be allowed.

4. No vehicle onsite, no RFID sticker issuance policy.

5. Payment of P200 load shall be made in cash only.

6. No RFID sticker installation and testing shall be done outside the Gateway Mall parking.