Growing in numbers with over 13 million members, the biggest health and beauty loyalty program in the country, Watsons Club officially launched their “Live Well. Get Rewarded.” campaign last September 21, 2023. An event program followed by a shopping party for select Watsons Club members featured the reveal of Watsons Club’s exciting plans under its new campaign spearheaded by Jared de Guzman, Watsons Philippines Customer Director.

 

Rooted in a commitment to serve as a trusted health and beauty retailer, the intent behind the “Live Well. Get Rewarded.” campaign is to inspire Filipinos to make conscious choices involving their overall wellness and ultimately incentivize them for it. "Serving as an example, an act as simple as buying your daily vitamins is rewarded with discounts when you shop at Watsons," said de Guzman.

 

Launched with the campaign are member-exclusive discounts of 5% off on vitamins and supplements (with a minimum purchase of P500), 10% off on Watsons Brand products, and up to 50% off on select participating products, all newly minted offers to support and empower Watsons Club members into becoming strategic, wellness-oriented shoppers.

 

Reigniting the excitement for guests in attendance, part of the program also focused on all the existing perks that Watsons Club members actively enjoy. On the forefront of discounts, members get access to Watsons’ Comply & Save program, which offers 30% off on 30 pcs. and 15% off on 15 pcs. of vitamins, supplements, and even maintenance meds, helping members afford their health needs for every day. Besides savings and shopping points, exclusive experiences such as quarterly e-raffle promos with prizes ranging from brand-new cars to dream vacation packages are also accessible to Watsons Club members.

 

The rewards Watsons Club members enjoy even go beyond and outside Watsons stores. Watsons Club has also partnered with over 50 varying merchants from wellness, food, travel and leisure, and shopping categories. Brand partners such as Hi-Precision Diagnostics, Ogawa, Microtel, Ideal Vision, and more currently offer members exclusive discounts on their products and services.

 

But this is not all. Introducing even more exclusive rewards accessible via the next tier of Watsons Club, Maria Ellen Lopez, Watsons Philippines Senior Marketing Manager, took the stage to discuss Watsons Club Elite, offering more perks that make members’ shopping experience even more rewarding and convenient with access to priority lane, free delivery of orders, invitations to special events, and more shopping points earned.

 

It’s not only the people behind the scenes who got their spotlight at the event. Serving as a testament to the experience of being part of the Watsons Club, select members were also featured on a panel interview segment. “It truly gives us great pride to have these members speak positively on their experience with Watsons Club,” said de Guzman. “After all, our ultimate goal is to inspire the ability to make empowered lifestyle choices not only to those who step in our stores but to every Filipino. That truly is the mission behind Live Well. Get Rewarded.” de Guzman concluded.

 

Watsons Club offers FREE lifetime membership. Enjoy a welcome voucher worth P200 that you can use online and in-store plus 50 bonus points, good as cash when you sign up today. Download the Watsons app today and complete your registration to access member-exclusive deals and perks.

Perhaps what I have learned about this film is that we have to keep our humanity no matter what.

When a lone building is left after a disastrous earthquake has wrecked the city, the people residents of this apartment have gate kept their complex from outsiders. Appointing a seemingly brave and intelligent man.

What does one do to survive amidts a calamity?

I don’t usually watch films like this alone but Park Seo-Joon was a good enough reason to go alone coz the hub has work and friends have plans. It’s also been a while since I’ve watched a sub-titled foreign film. But Concetre Uutopia did not disappoint.

It was well filmed. There were several intense moments when I had to cover myself with my jacket. I’m sincerely not that brave to watch series and films that are dystopian. DI ko kinakakaya. 

Ultimately, I feel films like this mirror what the real society is going through. Jow, we disregard life in order to survive. And leaders are bound to be corrupt. Showing us that we will be corrupted no matter what. That is not the resources that we should gatekeep but our humanity instead. 

As a big fan of Kim Bok Joon, I saw another side of Park Bo-Young’s acting, Park Seo-Joon is convincing here as well. Lee Byung-Hun held up his acting too. As the veritable tita ng bayan, Kim Sun-Young performed great as well.

What can we do to keep our morals and our humanity? How do we survive without oppression? These will be the questions that will leave you at the end of the film. So grab your popcorn and immerse yourself in the dystopian wonder of Concrete Utopia. It’s a must-watch. 

Movie Synopsis:

Synopsis “Our apartments belong to the residents!”

After a massive earthquake, Seoul has swiftly been reduced to rubble. Everything in the city has collapsed, except for one building. Hwang Gung Apartments remains standing, as it was before that day.

When survivors from the outside hear of this, they begin to gather at Hwang Gung Apartments. However, the original residents of the building started to feel threatened. Banding together for the sake of their survival, they elect ‘Young-tak’ as their Resident Delegate. Under his leadership, they strictly banned entry by outsiders and drew up a new set of Resident Regulations.

Thanks to this, in contrast to the hellish nightmare outside, Hwang Gung Apartments stands as a safe and peaceful utopia for its residents.

But amidst the continual threats to their survival, unexpected conflicts begin to arise among them...

Rules of survival for those who have lived: Obey the regulations, or leave.

Photo credits to Columbia Pictures

Brittany Corporation, the luxury residential arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., unveils its plans to roll out new leisure projects in some of the country’s premier tourist destinations amid rising demand from the affluent market.

This unprecedented, exciting expansion follows the success of its 100-hectare Swiss-inspired enclave Crosswinds in Tagaytay, where one can find beautiful themed neighborhoods surrounded by some 35,000 towering pine trees comprising the lush forests in the area.

Luxury leisure destinations

For years, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) have been major contributors to the Philippine economy. Recent data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), for instance, shows that remittances from OFWs grew by 3% or USD 2.97 billion in March 2023—a marked increase from the USD 2.89 billion recorded in March of the previous year. The BSP has also reported that total remittances for the first quarter of 2023 have amounted to USD 8 billion all in all. 

In spite of their invaluable efforts, however, it’s not uncommon for OFW to find themselves stretched thin in terms of theirpersonal finances. In addition to sending a major percentage of their income back to their families in the Philippines, OFWs shoulder many weighty expenses. These might include their living costs in their host country, the cost of travel back to the Philippines when needed, the cost of their work visas and other necessary paperwork, and many more.

Fortunately, in recognition of the hard work and sacrifice that OFWs put forward for the benefit of their home country, banks and government institutions in the Philippines offer a variety of specialized loan products that OFWs in need of financial assistance can avail themselves of. This helpful guide provides an in-depth look at the process of applying for a bank loan as an Overseas Filipino Worker.

Who Can Apply for OFW Loans?

Unfortunately, not all Overseas Filipino Workers are eligible to apply for loans at local banks. Those seeking to do so must ascertain that they meet the following eligibility requirements:

What Do You Typically Need to Apply for an OFW Loan?

As with conventional loan products, bank loans for OFWs obligate the borrower to submit certain documentary requirements that the bank can use to verify their identity, theircurrent source of employment, and the amount of income they earn. The following items are some of the most common requirements that lenders ask OFWs to include with a loan application:

Different banks will have slightly different requirements, so it’s always best to ask your chosen bank for specific instructions. 

What Bank Loans Can OFWs Avail Themselves of?

Most major banks in the Philippines will offer loan products specialized for OFWs. These typically range from personal loans and business loans to car and housing loans. As a general rule, however, it’s generally best to apply for a loan at a local bank that you already have a working relationship with. This is because maintaining an existing account with that bank makes it easier for them to verify your income and your ability to pay your debts promptly, which in turn helps boost your chances of having your loan approved.

Tips for OFWs Applying for Bank Loans

While loan applications for OFWs may be slightly more complex than those for Filipinos based in their home country, the process remains manageable as long as you approach it carefully. The following tips can help you navigate your application successfully, with minimal stress:

Visit the Bank You Intend to Borrow From

As previously mentioned, different banks will have their own unique sets of loan terms and requirements. Once you decide which bank you’d like to apply to, it may help you to contact them and discuss your questions and concerns about the loan with one of their agents. This way, you can count on receiving accurate advice on what loans are right for you and what process you should follow to apply for them.

Take Advantage of Your Bank’s Loan Calculator

In addition to providing personalized advice to borrowers, most banks will also have specialized loan-calculating tools. These tools can help you determine how long your repayment term should be and how many installments you should use to pay back the loan. Your bank may even be able to show you a graphical representation of this information, so you have a clear sense of how much and when you’ll be paying until your debts are settled.

Make Sure Your Requirements Are Complete and Accurate

Before you submit your loan application, double-check your paperwork and make sure that all your documentary requirements are complete and up-to-date. This will expedite your application’s approval and prevent costly delays and other inconveniences.

Though the prospect of taking out a bank loan as an OFW can be daunting, there’s no reason not to apply for financial assistance if you really need it. As long as you do your research carefully and find a way to stay on top of your repayments, a loan can serve as a valuable source of material support for both you and your loved ones back home.