Advocacy

Shopee teams up with the Department of Health to push Booster Vaccination

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 – In line with its continuous commitment to
help every Filipino increase their protection against COVID-19, Shopee has partnered with the
Department of Health (DOH) for the Bakunahang Bayan: PinasLakas Special Vaccination Days
campaign from September 26-30, to facilitate the rapid mobilization of COVID-19 vaccination
among all eligible populations.

As part of the campaign, a dedicated page will be accessible in-app to educate users on the
benefits and importance of vaccination from September 26 to 30, 2022. Local government units
(LGUs) across the country are likewise encouraged to include vaccination sites such as
schools, malls, plazas, and places of worship where Filipinos can conveniently walk-in to get
their COVID-19 booster shot on special vaccination days.
Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared, “It is a great privilege for us to partner with
the DOH once again. Through this partnership, we aim to leverage our platform to provide
Filipinos with access to accurate and important information about booster shots and COVID-19
vaccination. Through proper education and collaboration, we can work together to fight the
spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines.”
This campaign is one of the multiple initiatives that Shopee has launched to support Filipinos in
their pre to post vaccination journey. In 2021, Shopee launched the Resbakuna Vaccine

Education Campaign, also in partnership with the DOH; the Fully Vaxxed package which
incentivized users to complete their vaccination doses; and Vaccination Center Support, which
provided food, health essentials, and air coolers to chosen vaccination centers in Makati,
Taguig, and Quezon City.
Assistant Secretary Beverly Lorraine Ho, OIC-Undersecretary of the Department of Health
shared “Every Filipino plays a vital role in achieving the wall of immunity and protecting every
single member of our community, especially the most vulnerable. We are grateful to be
partnering with Shopee once more to maximize their platform in effectively reaching, engaging,
and educating even more Filipinos on the importance of getting their COVID-19 vaccines and
booster doses.”
With the aim of boosting 50 percent of the general population and fully vaccinating 90 percent
of the target senior citizens, the Bakunahang Bayan: PinasLakas Special Vaccination Days
campaign is expected to educate Filipinos of the benefits the COVID-19 vaccines provide.
Through these initiatives, the DOH hopes to encourage even more of our kababayans to receive
their booster shots, most especially our senior citizens and the vulnerable population.
From September 26-30, users can learn more about Bakunahang Bayan: PinasLakas Special
Vaccination Days through the dedicated in-app page on the Shopee app.

Spend Time for Yourself and God

If you’re involved in a local congregation, chances are you have a desire to connect with others. In order to grow as a believer, it’s important to maintain a presence in a community. It’s also important to figure out ways to serve others. As a woman, it’s a great idea to start by connecting the women of your church to one another. In many churches, women tend to feel misunderstood, excluded and alone. You can change this epidemic by intentionally ministering in the following ways.

1. Kind Acts
Sometimes, a kind act will do so much to help another woman as she’s going through life’s challenges. If you know that a woman is dealing with some stress in her marriage, offer some words of encouragement in a beautifully hand-written note. You don’t have to bring up the fact that you know about the marital issues because that can get sticky. However, if you’re offering encouraging words, that lets her know that you’re rooting for her. A kind act doesn’t have to be extravagant. Sometimes, it’s the thought behind the act that counts the most.

2. Bible Studies
Since you all are church-going members, you can take time out to lead an effective Bible study. Women are struggling with so many private issues that they’re uncomfortable sharing. A bible study is a perfect context to spiritually minister to a woman and build her up. It’s a chance to let her know that you are praying for her and will always lead her back to the Word of God. Do your research to find women’s bible study lessons that cover a myriad of real-life issues that are relatable to the ladies in your congregation.

3. Event Hosting
Reserve one night a month to host an event that brings the women together. You might decide to host the event at a local restaurant. Many restaurants have large rooms that they offer free of charge. It’s just important for everyone to order food. This event can easily serve as a ladies’ night out and an opportunity for everyone to relax. Many women are bogged down with so many responsibilities. It’s nice to come to a space with like-minded women and relax.

Starbucks: Cultivating Change – One Relationship at a time

The last time we went to a Starbucks Coffee Shop, a cork board caught my attention.

Starbucks had different partner NGOs since 2007. Here are the lists of the NGOs and brief descriptions about them that I saw posted inside the Starbucks Coffee Shop:

  • CASA San Miguel – Starbucks partner since 2007
    • CASA San Miguel has been a home to generations of artists, musicians, writers and dancers; nurturing artistic excellence and Filipino heritage for the past 23 years. Through its youth mentorship program in a  tiny fishing village in Zambales, CASA continues to mould and prepare holistic individuals for a wide range of careers both within and outside the spheres of arts and culture.
  • Hope in a Bottle – Starbucks partner since 2012
    • HOPE’s flagship program builds much-needed public school classrooms across the Philippines using the profits from “HOPE in a Bottle”, a purified bottled water. HOPE has built 18 classrooms since 2012.
  • Teach for the Philippines – Starbucks partner since 2014
    • Teach for the Philippines (TFP) is a not for profit organization committed to growing a more developed Philippines through education. TFP focuses on the development of professional educators and future servant-leaders through a two-year Fellowship Program that recruits, trains and places Teacher Fellows in public schools.
  • Philippines Educational Theatre Association – Starbucks partner since 2015
    • The Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA) is a non-profit organization committed to using theater that is distinctly Filipino as a tool for social change. Founded in 1967, PETA has written, translated, adapted, published, and performed more than 400 plays and conducted thousands of workshops locally and internationally. Through its pursuit of artistically excellent theater aesthetics and pedagogy, PETA continues to empower people and help shape the cultural landscape of the country.

STARBUCKS have supported all these advocacies through the sales they generated from their products and unrestricted grants that they provided for these different non-profit organizations.

I didn’t know about all these things that Starbucks Coffee are doing for the country but I am glad that I came to know about it. CHEERS to MORE CUPS of Starbucks Coffee that we will be drinking!

Starbucks 2017 Planner

I had 3 Starbucks planner to date, the Starbucks 2013, 2015 and 2016. All these 3 Starbucks Planner were given to me by my close family and friends because we don’t have a Starbucks Coffee Shop nearby. The closest that we have are the ones located in Cagayan de Oro City and in Davao City which will take me 4 to 5 hours to get there. It is quite frustrating especially when people would post their Starbucks Planner and how they get to own one. I joined a lot of online contests and giveaways just to win a Starbucks Planner but sad to say, I didn’t won any of it. I am really hoping that this time, I will get one through drinking Starbucks Coffee and get those stickers in order for me to have the Starbucks Planner that I want. This year they have 2 designs to choose from and I love them both, though I would only need one.

My best friend starting collecting stickers for me, and before she left the Philippines she gave it to me with 6 stickers already. When I visited my husband in Cebu, we went to Starbucks and ordered two coffee in order to add more stickers to my promo card. I am really a coffee-addict but distance kept me from collecting 18 stickers that I need to have a planner of my own. But I will not stop from dreaming of owning one.

If you are like me who wants to own one, this is how to get one :

HOW TO GET THE LIMITED EDITION STARBUCKS COFFEE PLANNER 2017

  • A customer can avail of a Starbucks® Christmas Traditions Promo card from November 2, 2016 to January 8, 2017 with no purchase required.
  • One sticker is awarded for each Starbucks® handcrafted beverage purchase.  Holder must accumulate a total of eighteen (18) stickers, to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner.
  • Customer must present the Starbucks® Christmas Traditions card to the barista upon purchase to get the corresponding number of stickers.
  • In case any of the Holiday featured beverages are not available (ex. Toffee Nut Latte), customers can substitute it with any of the remaining holiday featured beverages (ex. Santa Hat Dark Mocha or Peppermint Mocha).  Should all three (3) not be available, only then can customers substitute with any espresso-based or Frappuccino® blended beverage of their choice.
  • A customer must complete the required number of stickers to qualify for the redemption of one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner. A combination of up to two (2) promo cards will be allowed, provided that the 9 featured plus 9 core beverages have been purchased. Excess stickers for combined cards will be forfeited.
  • Once all stickers are completed, customer must submit the Starbucks® Christmas Traditions Card/s to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner from any Starbucks Coffee store in the Philippines.
  • Tampering with and/or transferring of stickers to obtain the required number of stickers will render all promo cards null and void.
  • Every purchase of a handcrafted beverage (including Starbucks Signature Pairings bundled beverage) using a Starbucks Card will be awarded one (1) sticker and one (1) Beverage Star. Terms and conditions that apply to the Starbucks Card are available on www.starbucks.ph/card.
  • Single receipt bulk purchase of food and other retail items (merchandise, whole bean and Starbucks VIA®) worth at least ₱7,000 will entitle the customer to one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner. Combination of receipts is not allowed.
  • Bulk purchase of gift certificates and Starbucks Card load/reload of at least ₱7,000 will not entitle the customer to a planner.
  • The following transactions and discounts are qualified for this promotion:
  • Senior Citizen discount
  • PWD discount
  • VAT Exempt
  • Personal Cup/Tumbler ₱5 discount
  • The following coupons and discounts are disqualified for this promotion.
  • Service Recovery Coupon
  • Free Tall Beverage Coupon
  • Customer Voice Redemption
  • Starbucks Card Registration Treat
  • Starbucks Card Beverage Treat Redemption
  • Promotion starts on November 2, 2016. Stickers may be obtained from November 2, 2016 to January 8, 2017.
  • Redemption of the Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 Planner starts November 2, 2016 up to March 9, 2017, at Starbucks stores in the Philippines only.

My Jar of Gratitude for 2014

I saw a lot of people (bloggers actually) who are posting their Jar of Gratitude photos in their Facebook timeline that is why I am encouraged to find that perfect jar for me too and make a list of all the things I am grateful for one at a time everyday. So that by the end of the year I would know how many times I was helped by God and how many times I realized that I should be grateful for all the things He has bestowed upon me.

Having a Jar of Gratitude would also mean that if there are days that I am down and not in a good mood because something I didn’t plan happened, reading all the notes that I have written in my Jar of Gratitude will be a great help to calm me and maybe make me realize that I am still lucky in so many ways.
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Pose for a Cause in CdeO

Last year, I joined a lot of Pose for a Cause events organized by my friends. My friends from Cagayan de Oro has organized a Fashion Shoot for a Cause for the benefit of the Typhoon Yolanda victims and being the model wanna-be that I am, I joined the cause. The registration was 500php inclusive of Hair and Make Up, styling, an 8R print photo, unlimited shots, hi-resolution and raw photos in a CD.

I had the best time of my life during the photoshoot, I have met some of the best photographers in Cagayan de Oro City and make up artists. Let me share some of the photos that they took.
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Pose for a Cause!!!

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Been thinking of having your photos taken by professional photographers but just can’t afford it? Or perhaps you can’t find the time to have it done? Now is your chance!!! Join our pose for a cause to help Bohol!!! Christmas time is fast-approaching and it is the season of giving!!! Be a generous Sponsor!!! For only 300 php (solo shots), 400 php (couple shots) and 500 php (family/barkada shots) !!!

Be a GENEROUS SPONSOR and HELP BOHOL while POSING for the CAMERA.

Organizer : Joanne Gonzales
Photographers : Jesse Raxis Pepito and Darrel Uy
Make Up Artist : Maycee Siojo Garces
Stylist : Kor Jeanne Benison Garces – See more at: http://stylishvoyager.com/#sthash.BX2ACmUK.dpuf

Contact us now!!! Kindly send me a private message or comment below or send us a text message at 09176226431 and look for Joanne.

Mommy Bright Side: A Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign

I am a Proud BREASTFEEDING MOM to two kids and I am not ashamed of it. When I gave birth to my first-born, I was not scared to breastfed him and even though it hurt so much, I still push through with the breastfeeding because I know he will greatly benefit from it. And because I am a breastfeeding advocate I am inviting you all for a Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign that will happen on August 3, 2013 at Centrio Mall from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This event came about through Mommy Bright Side’s idea in cooperation with the German Doctor’s Mother Club and and Breastfeeding Pinays.

The activity or project is entitled, Coming Together, Feeding Together – “A Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign” that aims to promote the importance of providing a stronger support system to breastfeeding mothers and their babies. This activity will simultaneously take place in 5 key cities in the Philippines: Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

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Mommy Bright Side is one of the proponents in cooperation with German Doctor’s Mother Club, A club of mothers coming from grassroots in Cagayan de Oro City trained to give peer support to mothers in need; Breastfeeding Pinays, A Facebook online support group that provides support and information to Filipino families who are interested in breastfeeding in which the community is supported by trained peer counsellors and is open to all Pinay breastfeeding mothers.

For donations and inquiries contact Mommy Bright Side below:
Contact numbers: 09154868868/ 09327990112
E-mail address: mommybrightside@yahoo.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mommybrightside

Babies To Toddlers Giveaway Promo

As a mother to two kids, I have finally came to realize what are the things that I should be buying for me and my kids needs. Sometimes there are things that I find suitable for me but I cannot easily buy in any department stores simply because they do not sell it. I am glad though that I have finally found the online store that cater my needs and my kids needs as well.

Of course, I am a meticulous mother so I checked out the site’s About Us page and found this incredible description of their site:

  • Founded in 2009, Babiestotoddlers.com is an online retail of hard to find items for juvenile products for infants through toddlers. We carry a carefully selected assortment of the finest quality baby gear, nursery and feeding accessories, baby aids plus variety of wooden mobiles, toys and more! At Babies to Toddlers, we strive to offer only the best quality products tailored toward your lifestyle and based on your child’s development. Each product is pre-selected for innovation, excellence, social consciousness, development appropriateness and styles.

It is so tiresome to go around different malls and boutiques just to look for the things that I need that is why I like this online store so much because I can just sit down in front of my computer and browse their store then buy something that I need without spending on the gas and without exerting too much effort to find the thing that I need at the moment.

One thing that caught my attention when I was browsing Babies To Toddlers is the Baby Bond Nursing Sash. Being a breastfeeding mom, it was so hard for me when I gave birth to my first-born because I need to bring him whenever I go and yes, it was awkward when I breastfed him in public areas. After 5 years, I came to know about this great product innovation and I learned to LOVE IT. If you are a new mom and the thing that keeps you from breastfeeding your child in public is the prying eyes of other people on your breast, then you should worry no more. You don’t have to buy that expensive nursing tops in the department store because the magical Nursing Sash is here to cover your breast but not your child’s face.

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Another product that I find helpful is the Aqueduck Children Faucet Extender now that I have a first-grader. My son is 6 years old already and it is quite hard for me to pick him up and wash his hands in the sink, so having the Aqueduck Children Faucet Extender will be of great help for me and my son. He can now manage to wash his own hands without me carrying him because the water can now reach his dirty hands.

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And now, we are into the YUMMIEST part of this blog post, the giveaway mechanics! Yes, Babies To Toddlers will sponsor a giveaway here in my blog. There are two winners for this giveaway, Winner #1 will win an Aqueduck Children Faucet Extender while Winner #2 will win a pack of Potty Covers. Just log in to the Rafflecopter below and Follow the Mandatory requirement in order for you to join the raffle and of course there are Optional requirements too to gave you more chance of winning.

I will have to choose the winner using the Rafflecopter and Babies To Toddlers will verify the winners first before I announce it here in my blog so be sure to follow all the mandatory requirements.

a Rafflecopter giveaway