A Heartwarming Celebration for Dad this Father’s Day

This year’s Father’s Day may not be quite normal for all of us, especially with the ongoing pandemic. While we can’t celebrate this special occasion with a big gathering to honor and express our love for Dad, we can still make him feel loved on Father’s Day with these heartwarming ways suggested by Solane, the country’s leading LPG solutions provider:

Prepare his favorite dishes. This special day for dads is the perfect opportunity to cook his favorite dishes. If he’s a meat lover, then you can prepare a spread of burgers, steaks and barbecue. If he is trying to be more healthy, try out some new vegan recipes. Don’t forget to complement his favorite dishes with his favorite drink!

Host a surprise virtual party with his buddies. Because of social distancing rules, you can’t invite dad’s friends over, but you can still make it a memorable occasion by throwing him a virtual surprise party with his friends. Arrange for packs of drinks and pica-pica to be delivered to his friends’ houses and along with an invite indicating the time and log-in details for the online surprise party. Tell guests to sign in a little later than your dad for the added surprise effect. For sure, Dad will enjoy having drinks with his buddies who hasn’t seen in a while.

Grow a garden. If you’re thinking of a refreshing bonding activity with your dad, consider working on a gardening project together. The plants can add a breath of fresh air to your home during community quarantine. If you grow vegetables and fruits, you can also use them next time you cook in the kitchen together. Moreover, growing a family garden presents a great opportunity to putdown your phones and interact with each other face-to-face. That would be a very meaningful gift to give our dads this Father’s Day.

Build something together. Does your dad enjoy building things? This Father’s Day, why not join him and suggest to make something together like a birdhouse or plant box. If the kids are too young to use the tools, bring out the paintbrushes and let them decorate the DIY projects.

Go glamping indoors. In the house’s living room, set up a big mat with pillows, blankets, or beanie bags, where the entire family can comfortably huddle together for a night of bonding. Prepare smores, hotdogs on sticks, and other yummy snacks to lend to the camping feel, but a glamorous one, of course!

Even with everything that’s going on in the world, our dads deserve to have a fun and memorable Father’s Day celebration. For more tips and recipe ideas or to order your Solane LPG to cook for dad, visit www.solane.com.ph.

Feel Good Tricks to Look Good for Dad's Day

Life in quarantine and the new normal has been a big challenge but dads have been putting in a lot extra work as our all-around family man. From balancing different tasks to keeping the family together, a father's effort during these times is truly unrivaled.

So dads, take your well-deserved time-off and celebrate Father's Day by relaxing and bringing out the dapper guy in you.

Reward yourself for everything you've done during this pandemic and check out these simple tips from Blackwater to help you feel and look good this Father’s Day:

Try something new. Improving your look is an experiment -- if you aren't going to try it, how will you know if it will work for you? Now that hair salons are open, get a new haircut and style it using Blackwater Loose Flow Hair Wax (P120) for a sleek and manageable look that will surely surprise the missus when you get home to celebrate Father's Day.

Get your mind right. Part of feeling good is having the right mindset and attitude. Scents can subconsciously impact your emotions, so brighten your mood and boost your confidence on this special day by spraying on your preferred Blackwater perfume (price starts at P120 to P135). There different scents and notes to choose from earthy and floral to citrus and aquatic.

Practice self-care. Taking care of the body is just as important as the mind. It will make you happier which ultimately amplifies your handsomeness. Don't know where to start? You can find self-care and grooming products from Blackwater by visiting its website http://blackwater.com.ph/ or follow Blackwater’s Facebook page @blackwaterphofficial and official Lazada page.

Father’s Day or not, dads deserve to always feel and look their best after all the love and hardwork they provide

Essential Health Checklist for Dads

Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to let our dads know how important they are to us and how much we want them to be healthy — even moreso with the current pandemic.

As we celebrate this special day for dads, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, offers an essential health checklist so you can help dad achieve optimal health.

Remind him to get annual health screenings. Preventive healthcare is the most effective measure men can follow to live healthier lives. As your dad ages, it is important to encourage him to have regular medical check-ups to prevent health risks common among men such as colon and prostate cancer, stroke, diabetes, and heart attack. As soon as he turns 50, it is vital for him to get an annual prostate screening to detect prostate cancer, especially if it’s in the early stages, which may be easier to treat.

Encourage him to exercise. Studies have shown that exercising has great effects on one’s physical and mental wellness. It reduces the risk of developing diseases like diabetes, heart attack, obesity, and many more. It also reduces stress and the risk of depression, while improving one’s mood. It can even be a bonding activity with your dad. Invite him to start this healthy habit with you and exercise together at least 20 to 30 minutes a day.

Invest in his health. Sometimes, there are unforeseeable circumstances that affect our health and are beyond our control. When this happens, it’s better to be prepared by gifting your dad with health insurance like AXA Health Start which provides coverage for the top three critical illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, and stroke and some of their minor forms at very affordable prices.

Promote a well-balanced meal at home. Living healthy means eating a well-balanced diet consisting of protein, fruits and vegetables, healthy oils such as omega 3, olive oil, coconut oil, and many more. Make sure his diet is rich in vitamin C to boost his immune system to fight coronavirus, as well as other diseases, fatigue, and infection. Guavas, kiwis, and oranges are vitamin C-rich fruits that he can eat as a snack or dessert.

Help dad stress less. Stress can lead to a heart attack, obesity, and stroke. Help him reduce his stress by supporting his favorite relaxation rituals. On Father’s Day, you can help him relax by giving him a memorable celebration with the whole family.

As the provider and ultimate protector of the household, it’s important for dads to be in their best shape. Help them protect their health by encouraging them to follow these tips from AXA Philippines. To know more about AXA Health Start, visit www.axa.com.ph.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez Reaches out to the Americas’ Business Sector with Message of the Philippines’ Economic Resilience

Manila, Philippines — Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez presented the government’s response to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the Philippine economy and its initiatives to lay the groundwork for a new business environment in a webinar entitled “Philippine Business Environment: Post-COVID19,” held on 9 June. Hon. Jose Manuel Romualdez, Petronila Garcia, Demetrio Tuason, Philippine Ambassadors to the United States, Canada, and Mexico respectively, also gave special messages.

Secretary Lopez stressed that despite these challenges, the Philippines is still well-positioned to recover because of its solid macroeconomic and fiscal management. The recent legislation of crucial economic and tax reforms such as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, the Sin Tax Laws of 2019 and 2020, the Rice Tariffication Law, the Universal Health Care Law, and the Ease of Doing Business Law have all helped the Philippines prepare for any crisis.

“Investors are interested in our country because we’re the 2nd fastest growing economy in ASEAN and one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Our people are highly capable, highly trainable, fluent in English, and with cost-competitive talent. Plus, we have a robust electronics and semiconductor industry with strong support industries. Lastly, we have our FTAs and GSPs in several key markets,” he shared.

“The Economist magazine ranked the Philippines 6th among selected emerging economies in the world, and the best among those ranked from Southeast Asia, in terms of financial strength. This shows that the country has gained and continues to enjoy the confidence of the international community, which puts us in a position to finance our COVID-19 response measures sustainably,” he added.

Trade Secretary Lopez also highlighted that even during the imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, the IT-BPO sector remained operational and able to support global clients, particularly the IT-BPOs in healthcare which operated at a high 90% capacity. He also highlighted that the Philippines was one of the few countries that did not impose any restrictions on the export of critical medical products at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also revealed that one of the key strategies is to position the Philippines as a strategic complementary host country or alternative hub for manufacturing and production facilities, specifically to those looking to diversify their business locations to enhance competitiveness. Secretary Lopez also identified a number of key sectors such as electronics manufacturing, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals as areas where companies in North and South America can look to the Philippines for potential partnerships.

He explained that there is a compelling case for the Philippines to specialize in higher-value manufacturing. A successful core of high value manufacturing requires low cost of capital, access to technology, an educated workforce, and spending on research and development. The Philippines holds a number of key advantages in these sectors, including having a large pool of cost competitive and skilled labor.

During the Q&A session, Secretary Lopez provided updates on the government’s Build Build Build program and shared that many roads, highways, ports, airports, and bridges are being constructed to help lower logistic costs, which is a challenge in an archipelagic country. He stated that while many roads and highways have been inaugurated and airports already upgraded and reopened, there are more logistics-related infrastructure projects expected to be finished in two years before the end of President Duterte’s term. Actual projects include a connector road north of Manila that will bypass the main thoroughfare EDSA scheduled to be finished by December 2020, as well the opening of the last segment of the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX), which is expected to cut short the travel from the end of Manila to La Union from three hours to less than an hour.

When asked about the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the US, Secretary Lopez stressed their committed to pursue FTA discussions. He also mentioned that there is strong interest from the Mexican government to explore bilateral discussions and a potential FTA, since Mexico has historically been a strong trading partner of the Philippines.

The Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Trade and Investment Centers in Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Mexico City, in coordination with the DTI - Foreign Trade Service Corps and the Board of Investments, organised the webinar aimed to reassure the international business community. 338 participants from North America and other parts of the world attended the webinar, while the Facebook Live video garnered over 11,000 views as of this writing.

(From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) PITC-Toronto Senior Trade Representative Maria Roseni Alvero, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and BOI Managing Head and Undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Ceferino Rodolfo.

(From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Hon. Jose Manuel Romualdez, Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Hon. Demetrio Tuason, and Philippine Ambassador to Canada Hon. Petronila Garcia.

Reward your Dad with awesome treats at Midas Hotel and Casino

For Father’s Day, spoil him with a special gift from Rustan’s for his next business trip or order his favorite dish with free dining credits in any of the hotel’s restaurant outlets when you book a Deluxe Room for Php5,000 nett or the Executive Room at Php6,000 nett.

Dining promos

On June 16, reward your dad with a buffet lunch or dinner with the family at Midas Café or Yanagi for only Php1,500 nett per person.

A special gift item awaits dads dining in plus a photo booth pass for every Php4,000 single receipt!

Dine in for 4, and get a 5th person in for FREE!

Feeling like sampling the world’s tastiest cuisines? No need to book and buy air tickets as Midas Café got you covered! Feast on the world’s favorite cuisines as well as regional favorites with Haw-aii Love Buffets: Midas Café Buffet Indulgence promo! This June, we bring you International Buffet featuring dishes from Europe and the world over!

Call (+632) 902 0100 local 8108 for room or 8198/8255 for restaurant reservation. Visit Midas Hotel & Casino's Facebook page and www.midashotelandcasino.com for more details. 

AweSM DADventures at SM Supermalls

The month of June marks another exciting season for the whole family as SM Supermalls invites everyone to have fun DAD-ventures on Dad’s Day with a host of awesome and fun-filled activities, deals, and treats in 70 SM malls nationwide. “Over the years, SM Supermalls provides a second home for families, especially for celebrating important occasions such as Father’s Day. The malls serve as a venue to share family-first moments and to thank dad for all the things he does for his family,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing. Kids and moms can give dad the coolest gift by the experience of spending Dad’s Day at SM. Adventures include Dad-licious Dining deals, such as upsized meals, dining promos, and meal combos on June 13 to 24 at participating restaurants! Dad’s passion for speed and motorbikes is indulged at Extreme Wheels, an exhibit of pimped-up cars and bikes on June 13 to 18 or June 19 to 24. Tech for Dads teaches interested fathers how to pilot a drone or remote-controlled gadgets at the drone demo or RC exhibition on June 15 to 17 or June 22 to 24 in select SM malls. Dads and their families are welcome to shop at SM’s weekend of fun deals and discounts from June 22 to 24 for the #AweSM men’s fashion finds, as SM celebrates 60 #AweSM years in its malls across the country with exciting promos that laud the number 60, such as pay 60% off, pay only P60, pay P60 less, or pay only 60%. Meanwhile, digital fans of SM can get a chance to win DADmazing prizes by simply joining the #IdolDADS Photo App promo via www.smsupermalls.com. To know more about #DadsDayAtSM2018 and SM’s #AweSM 60 years celebration, visit www.smsupermalls.com. ### For exclusive news about SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through SM’s Viber Public Chat. Tweet your thoughts, upload and share your fun Dad-ventures at SM, then use the season’s official hashtag #DadsDayAtSM2018.