On the celebration of the golden year of the Department of Tourism (DOT), President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., together with Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and other officials, led the unveiling of the country’s enhanced tourism campaign “Love the Philippines” as the highlight of the Department’s 50th founding year celebration at the iconic Manila Hotel, Tuesday (June 27)

Proudly presenting “Love the Philippines” to a crowd composed of former DOT chiefs, officials and employees of the Department's central and regional offices, heads of government agencies including Cabinet Secretaries, house representatives, tourism stakeholders, and the media, Secretary Frasco described the enhanced campaign as timely for the DOT’s golden anniversary celebration.

“As we cap the last fifty years of the DOT and welcome this new era of tourism for the Philippines, it is but right that we welcome this opportunity to reintroduce the Philippines to the world,” Secretary Frasco said.

“Love the Philippines goes to the very heart of every single Filipino with the distinct grace and hospitality with which we welcome every guest that comes into our shores, our communities, and our homes. Love the Philippines is a recognition of our natural assets, our long and storied history, our rich culture and diversity,” she said, while noting that there is so much more to the country than “the fun and adventure” that has so far been articulated.

“The Philippines is a powerhouse of mega biodiversity, being only one of 18 mega biodiverse countries in the world, a deep well of culture and history, a profound burst and taste of flavor and gastronomy, a tapestry of indigenous peoples and creative communities by whose work of their hands have safeguarded the dignity and integrity of the Filipino identity. This is who we are. These complexities and nuances of the Philippines have yet to be fully articulated to the world for indeed, the story of the Filipino has yet to be fully told, and we shall tell that story by telling them the story of love. Love the Philippines,” Secretary Frasco said.

PBBM’s unequivocal support

Gracing the milestone event for Philippine tourism, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed his utmost support for "Love the Philippines", saying that the enhanced tourism campaign “springs from the genuine love that you, me, and all of us have for the Philippines.”

“And what better way to express that love than by directly incorporating it into our country’s newest tourism campaign slogan, Love the Philippines. This new branding which we unveil today, will serve as our guidepost for the Philippine tourism industry moving forward. Allow me then to express my sincerest appreciation to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and for the DOT team, because aside from the promotion of the country’s tourist destinations, the campaign that you have conceptualized aims to enhance the overall experience of every travel, included in that list of targets are to promote regional products, build more infrastructure for ease of travel, and champion green movements, among others,” the President enthused.

Adjusting to the post-pandemic tourism landscape and changing trends

With the everchanging global tourism landscape post pandemic, and the growing desire of travelers for more immersive experiences in their travels, the DOT viewed the enhanced brand as a timely response to the demands of the industry.

In a recent survey conducted by the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO) among its member countries, market repositioning and rebranding strategies is among the priorities identified after the pandemic based on its Survey Findings on Member Priorities for UNWTO program of work 2024-2025.

With an enhanced tourism campaign in tow, the DOT’s focus now is to show more of what there is to “Love the Philippines” as it works towards the realization of President Marcos, Jr.’s vision for the country to become a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

“Indeed, if we are to compete with our neighbors in our effort as well to partner with them for Asia to become a powerhouse tourism region in the world, the time has come for us to add to the value proposition of the Philippines by telling the world how much more we have to offer,” Secretary Frasco said.

“We have multiple facets of tourism destinations that present a golden opportunity for we have only scratched the surface thus far,” she added.

Rosy prospects for Philippine tourism

According to Secretary Frasco, the world has “the world has noticed that there is so much to love about the Philippines.”

This, as the Philippines has recorded 2,641,993 visitors from January 1 to June 26, 2023, and is close to breaching the 2.65 million arrivals it recorded for 2022.

Further, the tourism sector is regarded as a stalwart as far as contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) is concerned. According to the 2022 Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) for 2022, the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) share of the sector to the Philippine economy, as measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), was estimated at 6.2 percent and amounted to PHP 1.38 trillion in 2022.

The Philippines is also seeing a boost in tourism-related enterprise employment, with 5.35 million estimated tourism employment last year.

As she rallied their support for the DOT’s vision of showcasing the best of the Philippines to the world under the Marcos administration, the Secretary said: “As we usher in this golden era for tourism, for our fellow Filipinos, for our beautiful country, let us find it in our hearts to have that burning pride of place for the Philippines, to Love the Philippines, to usher us into the continued recovery and vigorous comeback of the Philippines to the world.”

In the recent past, text scammers would claim to be an OFW relative using their new roaming number and ask for prepaid load, or pretend to mis-send load credits and ask you to return them. While we still get our share of text scams from time to time, a lot of us already associate these messages with fraud and simply ignore them.

But as the use of e-wallets and online payment channels have become increasingly popular and indispensable, scams have evolved to be much more sophisticated. A common scam is done through phishing, wherein a fraudster gathers personal information like MPINs and OTPs, and uses this to gain access to accounts and steal the funds of the user.

Targeting users of leading e-wallet platforms, phishing scams happen not just through text messages, but also through call and social media platforms. While trusted financial institutions such as GCash double up on their security measures through security features such as DoubleSafe Face ID against cybercrimes, it is also helpful to be aware of new scams, how they work, and warning signs to catch them early. Here are common phishing scams e-wallet users should look out for:

●‘Magtop-up para sa online gambling’ phishing scam

It’s very tempting to earn extra income while having fun, but that could be the opposite if you find yourself a victim of scammers that pose as online gambling sites. This phishing scam involves fraudsters leading players to a non-PAGCOR licensed gaming provider, where they will be asked to ‘top-up’ using a fake GCash portal, often using the same layout, color and logos, to retrieve credentials and access the victim’s account.

How do you spot this?

When you create an account with suspicious gambling sites, you will be given the option to use your GCash account so you could top up your account. You will be redirected to a fake website that looks like a GCash portal, and will be prompted to enter your mobile number, OTP and MPIN. Once you’ve provided your information, hackers will now be able to access your account.

How could you stop this?

When asked to link your GCash account, always check the URL or name of the link to make sure you are on the GCash portal. Legitimate GCash portals begin in https:// and only end in ‘gcash.com’ while suspicious portals may have a series of numbers in the beginning, extra characters, and have misspelled words (ex. Gccash vs GCash).

When requesting an OTP, always read the SMS to make sure you are not unknowingly linking a foreign device to your account. Never share your MPIN and OTP to anyone, including suspicious online gaming sites.

●‘Nakahold ang account mo’ phishing scam

While there are scams that exploit different forms of entertainment, there are also those that cause panic and simulate emergency situations. The ‘Nakahold ang account mo’ phishing scam involves fraudsters pretending to be from legitimate financial institutions and making up negative consequences to encourage users into immediately providing their sensitive information.

How do you spot this?

The fraudster will contact you, either through a phone call or social media platforms, and will claim to be a GCash employee, telling you that your account is on hold or frozen. They will then tell you that you can only have your account activated by sharing your MPIN and OTP. Once they have this information, they can gain access to your account and steal your funds.

How could you stop this?

GCash will never ask you to activate your account through a phone call or through messaging applications. All transactions are only done through the official GCash app, including resolving concerns related to your account.

If a notice feels rushed, it’s most likely a phishing scam! Check your account through the GCash app first to confirm if it is indeed on hold and don’t share your MPIN and OTP to anyone – even those who claim to be from GCash. Remember that GCash will never ask these details from you..

●‘Nanalo ka ng prize!’ Phishing Scam

Remember those earlier text scams telling potential victims that they've won a raffle and asking them to send a processing fee to be able to claim a prize? Just like this, a third phishing scam also notifies potential victims that they’ve won prizes to a GCash raffle they did not join. However, instead of asking them for a fee, this involves using a seemingly legitimate link to gain your credentials and access your account.

How do you spot this?

The fraudster, pretending to be from GCash, will send you an SMS or email saying you’ve won a reward, cashback or prize. You will be directed to click a link to claim the prize, leading to a fake website that looks like a GCash portal. Once you enter your mobile number, MPIN and OTP, your account can now be accessed by the cyber criminals.

How could you stop this?

Remember that GCash will never send links via SMS, email and messaging apps and all legitimate rewards and promos will only be communicated through the official GCash app, so never click on links and never share your MPIN and OTP to anyone. Always make it a habit to check any SMS or email you receive. Any communication from an unexpected or unfamiliar sender with an offer that’s too good to be true is usually a phishing scam.

Cybercriminals will continuously find ways to become more creative with their tactics and remain unsuspicious and realistic. Even if you might think you are not worthy of being the target of online predators, being a technology user will always put you as a potential target of any attack, especially if you’re one of the millions of user base of a leading e-wallet app like GCash.

Fortunately, you have one of the best defenses against any phishing scam: you. Now that you are aware of how common phishing scams work, doing your part to protect your e-wallet account only takes a simple action: Do not ever share your MPIN and OTP.

If you encounter phishing scams and fraudulent activities targeting your GCash account, you may report by visiting the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com/hc/en-us or messaging Gigi on the website and typing, “I want to report a scam.”

Preparing for your next trip? Many travel guides will recommend bringing the basic essentials: clothes, identification, and money. But wouldn’t it be great if you can plan for your trip while also being conscious of the environment? Whether it’s an overseas trip, an overnighter or a road trip, there are greener alternatives to the usual items you occasionally pack for a vacation.

To help you with your upcoming adventure, here are some unlikely, eco-friendly travel essentials that could just save your dream vacation from going south, all while caring for the planet!

1.Bring a portable water filter instead of buying bottled water

Portable water filters are a staple for many backpackers and nature wanderers, but these could also be useful for tourists and casual travelers alike. If you’re going to a place where you may not trust the cleanliness of its water, having a portable water filter at hand could help ease that worry. Many portable filters and even purifiers are now available in the market that can be carried anywhere and are strong enough to rid your water of any bacteria and viruses.

2.Go for shampoo and conditioner bars

Shampoo and conditioner bars have been a new trend in recent times replacing their liquid counterparts. These bars are usually crafted with eco-friendly, sustainable, and natural ingredients that are both good for the hair and for the environment. Another useful advantage of these bars is you can always save it for the next use. Say goodbye to shampoo and conditioner sachets in the trash!

3.Worry less with waterproof bags

Waterproof bags are one of the most useful and versatile items you can bring to any trip. Waterproof bags are 100% reusable making it an economical investment for any trip. These bags are usually made with hydrophobic material which could keep your gadgets and personal items safe when you decide to engage in any spontaneous water activity or when you need to brave the rain. Apart from keeping your gadgets safe, waterproof bags could also store wet items and could prevent your other essentials from getting wet.

4.Opt for environment friendly cotton buds

Whether it’s for personal hygiene, make-up touch-ups, or applying ointments or creams, you and your family can always rely on cotton buds to do the trick. Not only are they small enough to fit any travel kits, but cotton buds have multiple uses as well — cotton buds are the perfect travel-sized self-care tool to bring on your next vacay!

When it comes to picking the perfect cotton buds, pick one with good quality, and that is gentle to both the skin and to the environment. On your next getaway, don’t forget to bring Babyflo Gentle Buds Eco-Friendly! These cotton buds are made from natural ingredients with 100% pure cotton tips and unbleached paper stems that come from responsibly managed forests. Babyflo Gentle Buds Eco-Friendly are available in 400 tips and the travel friendly 200 tips variation.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have these eco-friendly, biodegradable buds on hand when you travel? Babyflo Gentle Buds Eco-Friendly are available in Mercury Drug, Puregold, Robinsons, Metro Gaisano, and other retail stores nationwide and online. For more information, visit https://philusa.com.ph/ or check out Babyflo’s social media pages www.facebook.com/BabyfloPH and https://www.instagram.com/babyflo_ph/.

Personal Collection Direct Selling, Inc. just had yet another historic win not only for the environment, but also for the Philippine direct selling industry.

The Filipino-owned company that pioneered the shift from recyclable packaging to biodegradable packaging for consumer goods became the first direct selling company to win the gold award for Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards new category, Leaders for Sustainability and Corporate Purpose Division.

Personal Collection is also the only direct selling company recognized among esteemed corporate giants at the prestigious APAC Tambuli Awards held at Grand Hyatt Manila last June 6, 2023.

Established in 2005, the Tambuli Awards recognizes businesses and brands that live out their purpose and contribute to the common good in society, including Personal Collection’s #GreenLifeGreatLife movement.

The #GreenLifeGreatLife movement highlights Personal Collection's unparalleled efforts in being the first Filipino-owned company that transitioned from recyclable packaging to biodegradable packaging for its consumer goods. It also emphasized the organization’s goal to care for the environment through CSR initiatives and awareness campaigns among stakeholders, including its numerous active dealers from more than 450 branches spread all over the Philippines.

Commitment to the future

First launched as a single business idea, Personal Collection has since grown to provide hundreds of thousands of Filipino dealers across the country with the opportunity to live a Great Life through earning opportunities and superior, value-for-money products, and services. Two years ago, the company embarked on a bigger journey to build a more sustainable future for Filipinos with the #GreenLifeGreatLife Movement that aims to reduce plastic waste in the environment.

The #GreenLifeGreatLife Movement has had other big wins since it was launched in June 2021. As a responsible sustainability leader, Personal Collection has transitioned more than 80% of its products to biodegradable packaging as of May 2023.

Through continuous collaboration with agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the proactive participation of its dealers, Personal Collection was able to plant 55,400 trees and over 190,000 mangrove seedlings to help protect the country’s air quality, reduce carbon dioxide, and preserve ecosystems. Simultaneously, the company has collected 30,000 kilos of plastic and other types of wastes from coastlines and estuaries.

The company likewise reached more than 110 million people through awareness campaigns, taking the next step to educate more and more communities about the need to protect the environment.

To take part in Personal Collection’s initiatives to care for the planet and the next generations, sign up here: https://register.pcdsi.ph/?campaign_id=1105.

Record-Breaking Store Openings.

The Jollibee Group opened 23 stores of Burger King in 2022, the highest number of store openings in a single year for Burger King in the Philippines.

The Jollibee Group is focused on strengthening the performance of its foreign franchised brands in the Philippines as part of its growth plans. “We aim to become the leading market developer of foreign restaurants brands in the country. By leveraging our brand portfolio to provide diverse offerings for various market segments at different price points, and strategically expanding our store network, Burger King, Yoshinoya, and Panda Express are expected to continuously contribute to the sustainable growth of our domestic business,” said Joseph Tanbuntiong, Jollibee Group Country Head for Philippine Business.

Store Openings

As part of the company’s expansion efforts in 2022, Burger King opened 23 stores, which is their highest number of store openings in a year. It also opened its 125th milestone store in 2022 and five Bike ‘n Dine stores located in Shaw Wack-Wack San Juan; Visayas Ave. Quezon City; Vermosa in Imus, Cavite; Alabang-West in Muntinlupa; and Carmona Cavite.

In 2022, the Jollibee Group also relaunched Japan’s world-famous Beef Bowl Chain, Yoshinoya. This is its first ever Japanese food chain, making it a strong addition to the foreign franchised brands currently operated by the company. Yoshinoya serves a beefed-up menu in a newly redesigned contemporary and casual Japanese space headlined by their world-famous gyudon or beef bowl.


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Successful Relaunch. The Jollibee Group successfully relaunched Yoshinoya in the Philippines with a refreshed store design and menu offering. Last year, Yoshinoya opened four stores and renovated three existing stores. The Jollibee Group formed a 50-50 joint venture with YIPI—the Philippine subsidiary of Asia Yoshinoya International Sdn. Bhd. and Yoshinoya Holdings Co. Ltd. in June 2021. The said partnership established Yoshinoya Jollibee Foods, Inc., which operates the Yoshinoya stores in the country and plans to expand Yoshinoya’s store network to 50 stores in the long term.

Meanwhile, Panda Express opened ten stores last year, five of which were the first in its host cities—Robinsons Place Ermita in Manila, SM Southmall in Las Piñas, Betterliving in Parañaque, Shell SLT in Muntinlupa, and Greenhills in San Juan. In February 2023, Panda Express opened its first drive-thru restaurant in Asia with the launch of its Sumulong Highway branch. This new location in Marikina City also marks Panda Restaurant Group’s 100th international restaurant. Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. (PRG) and the Jollibee Group formed JBPX Foods, Inc., a joint venture in 2019 to bring the world’s largest American Chinese dining concept in the Philippines. 📷 Milestone Opening. The first drive-thru store of Panda Express in Asia was opened by the Jollibee Group in Marikina City. This also marks the brand’s 100thinternational branch.

Exciting Product Offerings

The Jollibee Group’s thrust with its foreign franchised brands is to bring the authentic experience to Filipinos. Apart from this, the Jollibee Group also provides menu offerings that are either unique to Philippine market or among the best performing for these franchised brands in the region and the world.

On top of its iconic entree, the Original Orange Chicken®, Panda Express introduced Kung Pao Fish last year for the season of Lent. Its Beef Broccoli and Honey Walnut Shrimp are also among the best-selling dishes in the region. Meanwhile, Yoshinoya—with its signature beef bowl—also offered dishes that Filipino foodies can enjoy such as Tempura, Karaage, and desserts like Mochi Matcha Ice Cream and Coffee Jelly.

Burger King Philippines was also acknowledged as having one of the best-in-class launches in Asia for its new product Chicken King. Other exciting new products that guests enjoyed for a limited time last year were Cheese Bites, Plant-Based X-tra Long Chicken, Spicy Chicken King, Spicy Chicken Nuggets, and Truffle Whopper.

For this year, the Jollibee Group is set to open more stores for Burger King, Yoshinoya, and Panda Express. These new store openings form part of the company’s goal to become one of the top five restaurant companies in the world.

“Our thrust is to bring the original experience of these popular brands to the Filipino people. I am confident that with the success of our foreign franchised brands, and with the continued support of their fans, Jollibee Group will succeed in achieving its long-term growth plans,” Tanbuntiong added.

During the official opening of a new Cinematic experience, Actress Julia Barretto joins the grand launching of SM Cinema Cebu. Joining her in the photo are SM Cinema's Vice President of Corporate Marketing, Ruby Ann Reyes, Vice President for Mall Operations in Visayas, Michelle Leslie Llaños, and Regional Operations Manager, Ana Kristin Therese M. Seno.

Upgraded and comfortable seats, a wider screen and clearer view, advanced and precised sound system, mouth-watering snacks, and a fresh new vibe awaits you and movie friends at the all-new SM Cinema which opened its doors to Cebuano moviegoers at SM City Cebu last June 21. Guests were delighted with fun activities and lots of exciting prizes. The re-opening made it more entertaining with cosplayers and star-studded celebrities.

Cozy up at the Director’s Club lounge where you can stay and unwind as SM Cinema’s friendly staff prepare your very own exclusive watch party.

4 REGULAR CINEMAS WITH FIRST-CLASS SEATS, SOUNDS AND SCREEN

Elite cinematic experience awaits you at SM Cinema Director’s Club at SM City Cebu. This spacious cinema offers movie screens equipped with world-class technology for the best quality of film projection and sounds.

Equipped with spacious Opus fixed seats with cushioned headrest, soft foam backrest, and a bigger legroom, the four newly opened cinemas can now cater up to 512 viewers, with each having a capacity of 125 guests with 3 designated seats for persons in wheelchairs. Its Dolby 7.1 surround sound system makes a powerful audio encounter that can put you into the real action. Its state-of-the-art Laser Projector display a spectacle of colors giving a precise and superb cinematic experience.

SM City Cebu recently opened two Director’s Club to cater the increasing demand for Cebuanos to experience A-list exclusive watch parties for their family and friends.

Exclusive watch parties for at SM Cinema Director’s Club

Director’s Club recliner seats are soft and spacious with side tables for refreshments from Snack Time’s specialized menu served by SM Cinema’s friendly butler service which is just one call way with just a click of a button on each side of the seats.

Last month, SM Cinema at SM City Cebu opened two Directors Club to the public which offers an A-List experience for moviegoers starting with an aesthetic exclusive lobby with friendly staff welcoming guests. Extraordinary comfort awaits moviegoers, seating them on a total of 96 premium soft recliner seats with spacious side tables for food & drinks, and specialized menu with a butler service through a service buzzer on each seat. Here, movie screens are equipped with Laser Projector, a cutting-edge technology that offers the highest quality of image, and Dolby Atmos for a more advanced sound system.

SM Cinema recently opened four 2d Cinemas at SM City Cebu which can cater 126 viewers each with 3 friendly spaces for persons on wheelchair.

Immerse yourself at every scene with SM Cinema IMAX

These seats are even more comfortable with its soft head and back rest made from quality cushion for a more relaxing movie experience.

SM Cinema at SM City Cebu also offers the fun and exciting IMAX movie experience that can seat up to 394 moviegoers. Get closer to the action with a wider view of crystal-clear images from the scenes of your favorite movies and the thrill from the crisp sound with perfectly tuned audio of IMAX Precision Sound. Feeling like you are part of the scene is always better as IMAX takes you to the world of adventures, fully immersing the audience at every scene.

The new 2D SM Cinema in SM City Cebu offers a more vivid film watching with its cutting-edge laser projection system, making every movie scene feel nearer and clear.

Being the country’s leader in movie entertainment, SM Cinema offers the best experience with its Regular Cinema, IMAX Cinema and Director’s Club for your family to better enjoy movie adventures with its state-of-the-art movie screens, precision sounds and comfortable seats. Watching movies has never been better with SM Cinema at SM City Cebu.

Special offers and promotions

Wait in style at the SM Cinema lobby where you can relax and eat snacks from Snack Time before watching your favorite movie.

Great deals are waiting for you at SM Cinema, a super treat for a superhero movie experience! Enjoy your free popcorn, nuggets and bottled water for every purchase of The Flash Ticket. Keep an eye out for special discounts and deals that can make your cinema experience even more memorable and fun. To know more about SM Cinemas’ promos, deals, and exciting activities, visit www.smcinema.com or visit SMCinema on social media. Book your tickets now to experience the new thrill at the all-new SM Cinema at SM City Cebu.