Filipino Food Month kicks off in Pampanga

March 27, 2024 | 4:16 pm

Next week marks the beginning of April, and that means the start of Filipino Food Month (FFM). It is set to officially open in Pampanga, regarded as the country’s “Culinary Capital.”

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Departments of Agriculture (DA) and Tourism (DoT), and the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM) are all joining forces for a set of programs and events for FFM 2024, or Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino. This year’s theme is “Kalutong Filipino, Lakas ng Kabataang Makabago (Filipino cuisine, strength of the new youth).”

By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 469 signed in 2018, April of every year is declared as Filipino Food Month or Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino. The NCCA and DA are mandated to lead the yearly celebration, whereas the PCHM and DoT coordinate and work closely with the mentioned agencies in the implementation of programs and events. The FFM 2024 observance aims to ensure the appreciation, preservation, and transmission of Filipino culinary traditions as an established art form to future generations while celebrating and uniting regional diversity as a collective Filipino identity, and supporting the industries, farmers, and agriculture communities.

The lead agencies will officially open the FFM on April 5 at the Clark Parade Grounds in Mabalacat, Pampanga. The program — done in partnership with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), the Provincial Government of Pampanga, the City Government of Mabalacat, DoT Region 3, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 3 – will see many local artists performing at the opening including BINI, Tanghalang Bagong Sibol, the Male Ensemble Philippines, Tanglaw Filipiniana, Sinukwan Kapampangan, among others.

A couple of days before the official opening, on April 3, the Philippine Eatsperience, a year-long food fair, will officially open at Intramuros and Rizal Park in Manila.

From April 15 to 17, a food conference KainCon will be hosted at the Far Eastern University, Manila (FEU). Open to all students, academics, and industry professionals, KainCon will feature talks on Philippine gastronomy, food agritourism, culinary heritage, Philippine regional cuisine, and food security and sustainability in line with the theme “All Things Filipino Food: Community, Culture, and Economy.” Speakers include Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, the pioneer researcher and historian of Philippine’s colonial food history, along with Erwan Heussaff, a James Beard Awardee and celebrity chef.

Local community engagement will be highlighted in the Hapag ng Pamana Philippine Food Festival which will promote regional culinary heritage, local producers, and stakeholders. The NCCA, in partnership with the provincial governments of Albay, Antique, and Tawi-Tawi, will launch the Hapag ng Pamana Philippine Food Festival in those regions. The activities will include food expositions, trade fairs, cooking demonstrations, food symposiums, conferences, workshops, cultural shows, food competitions, and other activities that highlight the festivity of Filipino food.

The festivals are set to roll out from April 13 to 15 in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; April 22 to 23 in Legazpi, Albay; and April 28 to 30 in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.

Iloilo, hailed a UNESCO City of Gastronomy at the latest UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) 2023, will also have its own celebration. This year’s festivities will explore food and culture exhibitions in universities throughout the city from April 22 to 30. Reading sessions with children about food, table manners, and waste disposal will be held in the city’s public libraries.

Meanwhile, The Iloilo International Food and Culture Conference will offer a culinary journey for locals and visitors.

A three-day celebration in Roxas City, Capiz from April 18 to 20, will feature food expositions and trade fairs. Interactive activities such as cooking demonstrations, food symposiums, conferences, workshops, cultural shows, and food competitions will be held during the celebration.

Regional cuisines from around the country will be honored by meals from Filipina chefs Waya Araos-Wijangco, Rhea Castro Sycip, and Jacqueline Laudico at a six-hands dinner called “Higara: A Night of Filipino Food Culture” at the Sheraton Manila Hotel.

Another activity highlighting regional cuisine is the Ang Sarap: Philippine Food Festival 2024. The festival is a three-day promotional and retail food selling exhibit, helping small farmers, producers, and processors market their products and facilitate trade with buyers. The exhibition will run from April 26 to 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

Filipino Food Month ends with a culminating activity in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique on April 30.

Tasty Lenten recipes

March 27, 2024 | 4:15 pm

Just because Catholics have to abstain from meat on Holy Week doesn’t mean it has to be endless cans of tuna. The chef-instructors at Center for Culinary Arts – Manila (CCA) gave us recipes to fast fabulously this Holy Week.

Binagoongang Salmon at Langka

CCA Manila Program Manager Kerwin Funtanilla said, “Binagoongan is always a treat in our household. In the observance of Lent, we use fish and vegetables in lieu of pork. This dish is always a staple during our celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter.”

Salmon fillet, cubed, 500 gm
Vegetable oil, 200 gm
Jackfruit (langka), unripe, sliced and boiled until tender, 150 gm
Coconut cream, 120 ml
Garlic, minced, 35 gm
White onion, diced, 50 gm
Shrimp paste, 75 gm
Tomatoes, sliced, 60 gm
Ginger, minced, 10 gm
Green chili pepper, deseeded, 6 pieces
Ground black pepper to taste
Eggplant, fried (optional)
Salmon skin, fried until crisp (optional)

Heat vegetable oil in a pan. Fry the salmon in hot oil. Remove and set aside.
In the same pan, sauté ginger, onions, garlic, and shrimp paste until fragrant.
Add tomatoes and green chilis. Cook until slightly soft and wilted.
Add coconut cream and cook for 5-10 minutes to develop flavors.
Add boiled langka and fried salmon. Serve hot with fried eggplant, crispy salmon skin, and steamed rice.

Tofu and Banana Asado

Meanwhile, chef-instructor Miguel Lorino gave us this recipe for Tofu and Banana Asado.

Vegetable oil, 60 ml
Garlic, minced, 60 gm
Water, 480 ml
Soy sauce, 180 ml
Star anise, 10 gm
Tausi bean,s 50 gm
Banana blossom, hydrated, 10 gm
Brown sugar, 150 gm
Silken tofu, cut into 1 inch thickness, 600 gm
Saba bananas, sliced and fried, 200 gm
Black pepper, ground as needed
Salt as needed

In a large pot, heat oil and saute garlic.
Pour in water and soy sauce then add the star anise, tausi beans, banana blossoms, and brown sugar. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper.
Gently add silken tofu and fried bananas.
Simmer for another 5 minutes.
Serve.

— JLG

Easter Dining In/Out (03/27/24)

March 27, 2024 | 4:15 pm

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THE RELATIVELY free days of the Holy Week break culminate on Easter Sunday, and we’ve got a list of fun, family-friendly activities to do that week.

City of Dreams’ Easter Eggstravaganza

Over at the City of Dream’s DreamPlay (the world’s first DreamWorks inspired family entertainment center), kids can run free at the annual Ultimate Easter Eggstravaganza on March 31, Easter Sunday, with registration starting at 10 a.m. The Ultimate Easter Pass (P2,999) brings children to experience unlimited fun in the world of DreamWorks animations. The package is comprised of an all-day participating pass to the venue’s 12 attractions, and the day’s activities which start at 1 p.m with an Easter Egg Hunt, followed by magic shows at 2 and 2:45 p.m at the mezzanine area. An Easter parade with DreamWorks characters at The Shops at the Boulevard keeps the kids’ energy up as participating outlets provide treats and sweets. An exclusive meet-and-greet with Gingy awaits participants at the DreamTales Library from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Passholders will also be given an Easter bag, Dragon’s special ice cream, and an Easter Egg cookie to decorate when cooking with Gingy. The Easter event at DreamPlay is open to only 160 participants and ideally for ages five years old and above. Kids below five years old availing of this package must be accompanied by an adult holding a separate Easter pass to participate in the DreamPlay Easter Egg Hunt. Easter Eggstravaganza passholders can access DreamPlay from 11 a.m to 8 p.m on March 31. The family center is also open to the public during Holy Week from March 27. Advanced ticket purchase for the Ultimate Easter Eggstravaganza is ongoing until March 29 at the DreamShop counter, Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets can also be prepaid at any BDO branch or via BDO online, with the deposit slip to be e-mailed before or by March 27 to Dreamplay@cod-manila.com. DreamPlay’s confirmation e-mail is to be presented upon registration on Easter Sunday, along with a government ID (Terms and conditions apply).

For something a little more adult, Nobu is having an Easter brunch spread. There will be a whole fresh tuna, US Prime Rib with a choice of mushroom wasabi, pepper, or creamy wasabi sauce, and Pork Ribs sweet soy anticucho. The Nobu Easter brunch is available from 11:30 a.m to 3 p.m and price starts at P4,388 net per adult for the Regular package, inclusive of non-alcoholic beverages and mocktails. Other packages include alcoholic and premium beverages. The meal is at half price for children between six and 12 years old, while those five years and below dine for free when accompanied by an adult availing of the Nobu brunch.

Over at Café Society, they’re offering Easter chocolates in a variety of shapes: chocolate beehive eggs, bear and bunny chocolate eggs, chocolate ducks with a cookies and cream bar, colorful white and milk chocolate bunnies, and assorted small ruby, white, milk and dark chocolate bunnies. Completing the Easter confectionery are cakes: Chocolate Bird’s Nest and Easter White Chocolate Rabbit. Other goodies include an Easter apple cinnamon loaf, dark cherry loaf, rabbit sugar cookies, egg sugar cookies, and meringue carrots and eggs. Pastry selections consist of Easter pecan swirl bread, raisin bread, hot cross buns, and ube rabbit rolls. The Easter treats at Café Society are available from 10 a.m to 9 p.m on Wednesday to Monday and from 8 a.m. next Tuesday until March 31.

Easter Feast at Conrad Manila

At the heart of Conrad Manila’s Easter celebration is Brasserie on 3’s Easter Feast and Fun, on March 30 and 31. Enjoy a lunch or dinner buffet with dishes like Omaha beef leg, deep-fried emperor fish with homemade sweet chili sauce, baked oysters, and many desserts. The lunch service runs from noon to 2:30 p.m., while dinner is served from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy this offer for P3,888 net per person and take advantage of a special ticket rate of P800 net per person for exclusive access to Conrad Manila’s Under the Sea Easter Sunday event at the Forbes Ballroom on March 31, from 2 to 4 p.m. With its underwater theme and décor set-up, guests can dive into an ocean of fun-filled activities that include face painting, egg hunting, kiddie games, magic and bubble shows, and a dessert buffet. Tickets for this event are priced at P2,000 net per person and available for in-house guests and Brasserie on 3 diners only. Additionally, guests can experience an Enchanting Easter at C Lounge from March 30 to 31, with Easter-inspired sips and bites from an afternoon tea buffet priced at P2,588++ per person. Paired with free-flowing coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, guests can celebrate the occasion while enjoying a view of Manila Bay. For those looking to take home some Easter-themed treats, Bru Coffee Bar, at the Welcome Lobby, offers Easter Delights until March 31. Guests can choose from a variety of grab-and-go treats, including pistachio mango cake, chocolate rocky road cake, strawberry red velvet cake, Easter egg baskets, candy-filled Easter eggs, coconut cross buns, and more. Conrad Manila offers an Easter Stay package available until March 31. The package includes overnight accommodation, buffet breakfast, lunch or dinner buffet at Brasserie on 3, and tickets to the hotel’s Easter Sunday event. To learn more, call Conrad Manila at 8833-9999 or e-mail conradmanila@conradhotels.com.

Newport World Resorts’ Blockbuster Easter

Take a gander at the Newport Mall’s Blockbuster Easter at the Newport Cinemas where various family-friendly activities will be held including live performances, mascot appearances, and more surprises. Note the Newport Mall’s adjusted operating schedule in observance of Holy Week: March 27 and 28, it will be open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m., it will be closed March 29, and will be open on March 30 to April 1 from 11 a.m to 11 p.m.

Over at the Sheraton Manila Hotel in the Newport complex, celebrate Easter as Gunther the Rabbit holds an egg hunt adventure and a city getaway. Book a deluxe room for two adults, inclusive of breakfast buffet at S Kitchen, between March 25 and April 1, and receive complimentary passes to the Easter Funfair at the COLLAB on March 31 from 3 to 5 p.m., featuring a magic show, party games, and surprises. Invite additional guests to join for an additional P5,000++ on top of the room rate, which includes a lunch buffet for two adults and two children under 12 years old. Explore more add-on options by visiting https://www.marriott.com/offers/let-s-gather-this-easter-off-108236.

Meanwhile, an Easter Safari Carnival awaits at the Hilton Manila on March 31. There will be an Easter Lunch Buffet at Kusina Sea Kitchens featuring an array of treats such as chocolate eggs, carrot cakes, a chocolate fountain, hot cross buns, and more. The hotel is also staging a safari carnival experience at the ballroom, complete with magic shows, animal performances, inflatable playgrounds, activity booths, an Easter egg hunt, and other surprises. The Easter Buffet is priced at P2,800++ per adult and P1,400 per child (11 and under), while tickets for the Easter Safari Carnival are P1,500++ for adults and P1,000++ for children. Families opting for both buffet and carnival tickets will enjoy a 25% discount off the total price.

At Hotel Okura Manila, the week of Easter warrants a flavorful journey. From March 26 to 29, Yawaragi’s Lunch Set features Blue Marlin, Soft Shell Crab, and more. The menu is only available during lunch for P1,500++ per person. On March 31, there will be a Yawaragi Kisetsu Buffet featuring a spread of Nigiri and Gunkan Sushi, Herb and Lemon Salt-Baked Whole Sustainable Salmon, Roast Leg of Lamb, and more for P4,100++ per person.

Take part in the Eggspress Adventure at The Great Room, Holiday Inn Express Manila-Newport City. A wide selection of snacks and refreshments will line the hall along with activity booths with prizes for the whole family. There will also be an egg hunt, magic show, and mascot appearances on March 31. For P3,999++, book an overnight stay with breakfast for two, inclusive of access for one adult and one child to the Eggspress Adventure. Access passes are also available for P1,499 net for one adult and one child and P799 net for an extra one adult or one child. For more information on Easter offers from Newport World Resorts, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook and Instagram.

Easter Break Escape at Richmonde Hotels

At the Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, room rates start at P3,800 net for a comfy, no-frills stay and P4,700 net for accommodation inclusive of a breakfast buffet for two persons. Booking two or more nights will see room rates (inclusive of breakfast buffet for two) drop to P4,400 net. All takers of this promotion also get 15% discount on food and beverage orders at Richmonde Café and from Room Service, complimentary use of the Health Club’s gym and heated indoor pool with extended operating hours until 11 p.m on March 28, 29, and 30. A welcome token will also be given to those checking in from March 28 to 31. The Easter Break Escape promo rates are valid for stays from March 25 to 31.

As a treat on March 31, the breakfast spread at Richmonde Café will be upgraded to a brunch buffet with more dishes, added action stations, and more for P1,180 net per person. Children ages six to 12 years dine for 50% off and those five years old and below eat for free. The Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet will be served from 6 to 11:30 a.m., and guests availing of the breakfast room packages on March 30 get to join the brunch. For inquiries and room reservations, call 8638-7777 or 0917-859-7914, e-mail stay@richmondeortigas.com, or log on to www.richmondehotelortigas.com.ph. For table reservations at Richmonde Café, call or send a message to mobile/Viber number 0917-534-4352.

From March 25 to 31, at the Richmonde Hotel in Eastwood, room-only rates go for P4,000 net, while a room with breakfast buffet for two and a welcome token starts at P5,300 net. For P600 more, the room comes with a merienda buffet and breakfast buffet for two plus a welcome amenity. This is available only from March 28 to 30. A package inclusive of breakfast buffet for two, a welcome amenity, and two tickets to the hotel’s Easter Sunday kiddie party starts at P7,300 net and is valid for bookings from March 30 to 31 or March 31 to April 1. All rates include complimentary use of the pool and gym and parking for one vehicle.

It will be an action-packed Sunday at Eastwood Richmonde’s Easter Eggvengers superhero-themed party on March 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Ballroom and Amberley-Belmont Rooms. There will be a kiddie lunch buffet and food carts, an Easter egg hunt, kiddie entertainment and a costume contest, plus a photo booth, loot bags, games and prizes. Tickets are P1,350 net per child or adult. Children two years old and below enter free if accompanied by a paying adult.

The Eastwood Café+Bar will remain open during the holidays, serving a variety of Pinoy items at live stations from 2 to 5 p.m., on March 28, 29, and 30. There will be sweet and savory mid-afternoon treats with a glass of citrus iced tea at the Lenten Merienda Buffet for P400 net. On Easter Sunday, the restaurant will add a kids’ corner offering pastas and pizzas cooked a la minute, corn dogs, and ice cream. The Sunday Lunch Buffet is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is priced at P1,499 net per person. Buffet rate for children six to 12 years old is at P750 net while children ages five years old and below eat for free. For inquiries, call 6570-7777, 0917-531-6867 and stay@eastwoodrichmonde.com, or log on to www.eastwoodrichmondehotel.com.ph.

Finally, over at Richmonde Iloilo, rates start at P4,300 net for the room only, and P4,800 net for the room with breakfast buffet for two persons from March 25 to 31. Extended stays get an extra 10% off on the second night and a 15% discount for each additional night thereafter. The hotel’s organized tour packages — sunset cruises, river tours with island hopping, heritage and culinary excursions — will be 15% off. For inquiries, call 6333-328 7888 or 0917-580-9642, e-mail stay@richmondeiloilo.com, or log on to www.richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph.

Visit Candyland at Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites

Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila invites guests to Candyland on March 31, Easter Sunday. Kids’ activities include chocolate egg crafting, an Easter egg hunt, balloon twisting, and a Candyland-themed dessert buffet. There will be an Easter brunch buffet at The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar, showcasing such items as egg shakshuka, Lebanese lamb shawarma, slow-roasted beef chuck, salmon coulibiac, pork vindaloo, rabbit paella with chicken, and much more. Dessert includes chocolate gateaux with chocolate-covered strawberries and bunny decorations. The brunch buffet is P1,888 net per adult from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids dine for free when accompanied by two paying adults. Room rates start at P8,510 net for a Studio Executive inclusive of buffet breakfast. For inquiries, call 5318-7888 or e-mail HB2D6-RE1@accor.com.

Easter at Araneta City

The New Gateway Mall 2 and Ali Mall at Quezon City’s Araneta City are dressed up for the season until Easter Sunday. Take a picture or film a dance challenge with the mall’s Easter-themed decor. On Easter Sunday, the two malls will have an Easter Egg Hunt and a kiddie costume contest. Loot bags filled with treats await participants. At Gateway Mall 1 and Farmers Plaza, bouncy castles await youngsters on Easter Sunday. Other activities throughout the malls include face painting sessions and crown-making.

M&S’ Easter-themed sweets

Celebrate Easter 2024 with treats from Marks & Spencer. There are chocolate characters such as Coco the Kitten and Dougal the Puppy (hollow chocolate heroes) or opt for a classic chocolate egg such as the Caramel Crunch Egg and Chicky Choccy Egg. The Hoppy Easter Egg Hunt Tin is already filled with individually wrapped Easter egg chocolates. The Percy Pig Snuffle Hunt and the Colin the Caterpillar Wiggle Hunt (with snacks) can keep all the prizes from all the Easter games. There are treats for sharing like the Eggstra Gooey Caramel Eggs (four gooey milk and blond chocolate eggs filled with a vanilla and caramel center). Marks & Spencer Philippines’ Easter food collection is available in Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 5, Central Square, Mall of Asia, Alabang Town Center, Rockwell, Shangri-La Plaza Mall and SM Aura. Shop in-store through the M&S Philippines Viber Community at bit.ly/MSPH-VC. Shop selected lines online on www.marksandspencer.com.ph

Mang Inasal branches remain open for the holidays

Mang Inasal is ready to serve its customers nationwide this Lent. For a list of operating hours, visit https://www.manginasal.ph/locations. Customers can contact the branches as the website does not just share the full addresses but also their mobile numbers. Takeout and delivery is also available, especially for those going on trips. Family Fiesta, Buddy Fiesta, Palabok Party Size, and Extra Creamy Halo-Halo are among the items available. During Holy Week, customers can enjoy the free delivery offer with a minimum purchase of ₱600 for orders placed via the Mang Inasal Delivery App or https://manginasaldelivery.com.ph. The promo is valid until March 31 only.

Easter treats at Sugarplum Pastries

Lovely Jiao offers Easter treats through facebook.com/sugarplumpastriesph. For Some-bunny’s Bundle, the collection is headlined by the signature Sugarplum chocolate smashers: Easter eggs, together with a wooden mallet. The D.I.Y. Egg-Citing Kit comes with four sugar cookies in the shapes of a bunny, heart, and eggs, as well as piping bags in red, blue, and pink. It is complete with four chocolate egg smashers. The latest addition to this dessert series is Hatch Me By D’ Dozen, a selection of intricately adorned sweets, from macarons and sugar cookies and egg smashers. Finally, the Lovely Cake is a vanilla chiffon with a burst of tangy lemon, fluffy meringue and marshmallow icing. For more information, visit sugarplumpastries.com.

Easter Sunday dining at Solaire

Solaire Resort Entertainment City starts off its Easter Sunday celebration on March 31 with a Sunday mass at 11 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom.

At Finestra, celebrate with unlimited flutes of champagne and a diverse selection of Italian dishes. Savor its seafood tower featuring an array of poached or garlic prawns, oysters, crab, lobster, curacha, clams, and mussels. Try its Easter offers like the double crusted Torta Pasqualina, a ribbon-like pappardelle pasta with amberjack fish and artichokes, and roast lamb leg. There will be an unlimited selection of smoked meats, grilled seafood, and brunch classics at Water-side. Dine on its signature paella and the whole roast lamb and lechon available at the carving station. Kids can also unleash their creativity at the interactive milkshake bar, where they can customize their own milkshakes. Then there is Yakumi’s brunch special, featuring eight live buffet stations. Guests can also feast with their families at Red Lantern’s eat-all-you-can buffet of authentic Chinese cuisine. At Fresh, savor Filipino dishes like grilled pork belly skewers and lechon kawali, or indulge in Chinese roast delicacies, and end the meal at the dessert station, featuring a whimsical rabbit-shaped coconut cake. Activities during the day include a live portrait drawn by a caricaturist, cotton candy and balloon art, and a walking photo booth. A wide array of tea sandwiches and pastries and sweets can be had for an Easter-inspired afternoon tea at Oasis Garden Café. For inquiries, call 8888-8888 or e-mail reservations@solaireresort.com.

Asian economies have ‘robust’ crisis shields, BOJ official says

March 27, 2024 | 3:38 pm

Asian countries are much better positioned to weather economic storms than they were in the past, thanks to strong foreign reserves and sound financial-market development, a top Japanese central banker said.

“The current Asian economy is so robust,” Bank of Japan Assistant Governor Tokiko Shimizu told a panel session on Tuesday at the Boao Forum in southern China. “Even though the US and European countries have faced high inflation, high interest rates, Asian countries almost all are in good shape.”

Many Asian central banks have boosted their foreign reserves over recent decades in a bid to ensure there’s no repeat of the crisis that began in 1997, when a run on several currencies spread more broadly across other financial markets and triggered deep recessions.

Emerging economies in the region more than tripled their combined reserves between 2000 and 2008, even after adjusting for inflation, the Asian Development Bank estimated.

There’s been a steep increase in advanced-economy interest rates over the past two years. In the past, that kind of move would often push Asian countries into deep crisis, but there’s much greater resilience now, Shimizu said.

One reason for the change is that “thirty years ago there were almost no local currency-denominated bond markets,” she said. “Nowadays, many Asian countries have developed those,” helping to reduce maturity or currency mismatches that are “always the source of crisis.”

What’s more, the swelling of the region’s foreign-exchange reserves since the Asian financial crisis “means we defend ourselves based on those very strong FX positions,” Shimizu said. — Bloomberg

Forging the future of AI: Women can take the lead

March 27, 2024 | 1:24 pm

More than giving us answers and ideas in seconds after typing in our prompts, generative artificial intelligence (genAI) is increasingly appreciated as a tool that can positively impact businesses.

According to the latest study by the IBM Institute for Business Value entitled, “Forging the future of AI: Women can take the lead (https://zurl.co/Qook),” genAI, alongside disrupting workflows, gives women “a once-in-a-career opportunity to gain equal footing.”

In this special edition of BusinessWorld B-Side, in partnership with IBM Philippines, Commercial Territory Sales Leader Christine Llanto-Ravelo explores the unique opportunities genAI opens to women in workplaces and boardrooms.

Listen to the episode now on https://zurl.co/LXq7.

Chinese TikTok sellers complain of under-fire platform tightening US rule enforcement

March 27, 2024 | 11:02 am

STOCK PHOTO | Image by amrothman from Pixabay

SHENZHEN, China – Chinese e-commerce vendors that want to sell products on TikTok Shop in the US as an alternative to Amazon are upset by moves they say the short video app has made to tighten enforcement of its rules for overseas sellers opening shops on the platform.

Chinese-owned TikTok, which faces the threat of having to divest its US operations or be banned, has in recent weeks taken a harder stance toward enforcing its internal rules, according to five Chinese vendors on the site and an industry association that represents 3,000 Chinese stores selling products online.

TikTok is requiring that US entities registered by sellers be 51% US owned and chaired by an US passport holder, said the vendors and Winnie Wang, executive chairman of the Shenzhen Cross Border E-Commerce Association, China’s largest sellers group based in the manufacturing hub.

Many Chinese sellers had used US entities to be recognized as US merchants on the platform but the rules mean they will need to be re-registered as overseas sellers, which they say receive less prominence and support, putting them at a disadvantage compared to US TikTok sellers.

TikTok, used by about 170 million Americans, has been seeking to strike the right balance between pursuing rapid growth and managing regulatory risks.

It has been ramping up its rhetoric that a US move to ban the platform would take billions of dollars out of the pockets of creators and small businesses, while simultaneously seeking to catch up to bigger rivals such as Shein and PDD Holdings-owned Temu by signing up more merchants.

A TikTok spokesperson said the company has clear policies and requirements for all sellers on its shop, including for international sellers, and these have not changed since TikTok Shop was introduced in the US in September 2023.

“TikTok maintains robust policies to protect customers and promote a trustworthy shopping environment, and we continually strengthen how we enforce our rules,” the spokesperson said, without commenting specifically on whether international sellers get less prominence.

The Chinese vendors said they feel targeted by TikTok’s rules and some are thinking about reducing the resources they put into pushing sales on the platform or finding US partners.

“We’re rethinking how much of our time and resources we put into this,” said Shenzhen-based e-commerce seller Jackie Bai.

He and another seller said that in comparison, Amazon does not differentiate between US and other sellers on its platform, with all having access to its “seller central” and competing equally.

Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Bai and two other China-based sellers said they heard from TikTok Shop representatives that the tightening of the rules was in response to the political sensitivities TikTok faces in the U.S. in an election year. TikTok declined to comment.

US officials have criticized the app’s security and privacy, suggesting user data might be shared with Beijing, but TikTok has said the firm has never shared, or received a request to share, US user data with the Chinese government.

AMAZON ALTERNATIVE

Chinese vendors selling products from beauty to clothing to housewares have rapidly grown their presence on ByteDance-owned TikTok’s shopping platform in the months since its US launch.

“Almost every single consumer tech company I know based in China, and every Chinese consumer tech client we serve, is selling on TikTok, and those who are not selling are considering how and when to begin selling on TikTok,” said Chris Pereira, CEO of business consulting group Impact.

TikTok’s US shop posted a gross merchandise value of $1.67 billion from its opening in September 2023 to the year’s end, according to an estimate from data provider YipitData.

TikTok said it does not disclose sales and did not reply to queries about the accuracy of YipitData’s estimates.

Sellers said they had sought an alternative channel to the dominant e-commerce giant Amazon and were also drawn by subsidies on delivery costs.

Some 50% of sellers on the Amazon marketplace are Chinese, with most concentrated in Shenzhen, said Wang.

These vendors, typically small businesses, submit applications to create “digital storefronts” and pay fees to the platforms for servicing their accounts and for advertising and delivering their products.

Mr. Bai opened a US TikTok shop largely selling undergarments in October and the platform was already generating 20% of his revenues by the end of February, he said.

He did not want to name his business or products citing fear of retaliation from the platform, but said his TikTok store had thrived after he hired US actors to promote his products.

Mr. Bai said that a TikTok sales representative told him this month he would have to close his US-based entity and re-register as an overseas seller because he is a Chinese citizen.

Mr. Bai is now reconsidering his strategy and is looking for local partners as he believes this would disadvantage him against rival sellers.

“TikTok’s shop is so new, the internal rules are changing every week, and these are particularly strict,” he said.

WTO says Australian duties on Chinese steel products were flawed

March 27, 2024 | 10:59 am

A logo is pictured outside the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 28, 2021. — REUTERS/DENIS BALIBOUSE

BERLIN/SYDNEY – A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has found that duties imposed by Australia in a steel products dispute with China were flawed – a ruling that Canberra said it accepted.

China launched the complaint in June 2021 – during a period of intense bilateral political and trade tensions – over anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on railway wheels, wind towers and stainless steel sinks.

In all three categories, the WTO said Australia’s investigating authority, the Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC), had acted inconsistently with some articles of its rules.

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said in a statement that the panel had found some technical issues with how the duties were calculated.

“Australia will engage with China and take steps to implement the panel’s findings,” Farrell said.

“The report does not diminish the integrity of Australia’s trade remedies system. Our system is evidence-based and non-discriminatory and will continue to respond effectively to unfair trade practices.”

China called WTO’s ruling objective, fair and unambiguous, and urged Australia to rectify what it called “violations” by removing the disputed tariffs.

Canberra had imposed duties totaling 10.9% on Chinese wind towers, 17.4% on railway wheels and up to 60.2% on stainless steel sinks.

Australia and China, its largest trading partner, are rebuilding ties after a period of strained relations which hit a low in 2020 after Canberra called for an independent investigation into the origin of COVID-19.

Other trade spats including one over high Chinese tariffs on Australian barley have been resolved.

China will complete a review into tariffs on Australian wine by the end of March and it is also reviewing curbs on lobster imports, Farrell said this month. – Reuters

Social media influencers are India’s new election campaigners

March 27, 2024 | 10:57 am

social networks — Social media logos are seen in this illustration taken on May 25, 2021. — REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION

BENGALURU, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Indian social media influencer Chandni Bhagat has been creating devotional videos on Instagram for three years – now she’s mixing politics with her daily dose of religion.

Bhagat is one of thousands of social media influencers mobilized by political parties in the runup to elections with the aim of wooing a young and ever-online India.

Last year, 18-year-old Bhagat – who has more than 200,000 Instagram followers – was among 100+ content creators in the central Indian city of Indore invited to meet workers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Since then, her Instagram grid – dominated by the Hindu Lord Shiva – was punctuated with at least five posts promoting the BJP, one backing its regional women’s health scheme, another showing a smiling selfie with a former minister from the party.

“I attempt to talk about things that will benefit my audience,” said Bhagat.

India has more than 800 million internet users and the world’s largest take-up of Instagram and YouTube, so courting top influencers to wave party political flags makes sense.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP has since last year reached out to several hundred social media influencers, all of whom have clout on either Instagram or YouTube.

Some boast millions of followers, others mere thousands.

They are offered ministerial interviews – bypassing the more critical mainstream media – along with photo ops and themed posts spreading Mr. Modi’s message.

The campaign culminates in general elections this April and May, with travel, food, religious and tech content creators among the myriad of influencers tapped for their reach.

“Last year we had influencer meets across segments where we told them about the party’s policies, the implementation, the achievements by the government in nine years and requested them to recreate and reshare their own experiences,” Devang Dave, part of the BJP’s election team, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“It gives a lot more credibility if it comes as a third- party voice.”

ALL PARTIES PARTAKE

Nor is the BJP alone in this strategy.

Vaibhav Walia, who runs social media communications for the main opposition Indian National Congress party, told Context his party actively courts influencers to leverage their popularity.

“We try to reach out to like-minded people and many of them have been posting for us,” said Walia.

“(Even) if (the content) is not directly Congress (related), they are voicing opinions which are aligned to our political ideology and stand.”

Late last year, the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab tried to enlist influencers to promote their initiatives.

At the same time, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi in the southern Indian state of Telangana hired some 250 influencers to promote their cause in state elections.

Yet the strategy raises concerns, too, given India’s growing problem of online misinformation and all the risk that fake news poses to the world’s biggest democracy

Transparency is also a worry, say researchers.

“We don’t know if there’s a monetary exchange or the expectation of a quid pro quo of some kind — which blurs the lines and bring in the fuzziness,” said Prateek Waghre, an executive director at the Internet Freedom Foundation.

THE EVOLUTION OF INFLUENCE

The idea of Indian influencer-based campaigning dates back three or four years to farm protests in New Delhi, when online posts amplified the demos, according to political consultants.

“Influencers and local YouTube news channels had a huge role to play in helping propagate the message,” said Ankit Lal, founder of a political consultancy called Politique Advisors.

“That is something that caught the BJP’s eye. They needed to reach out to a newer and younger audience and utilize the already-established influencers.”

India has more than 20 million voters aged 18-29, and millions more go online to watch influencers promote and interview politicians of all parties.

These posts “serve to humanize the politicians” even though they “may well be direct propaganda”, said Joyojeet Pal, a professor at the University of Michigan.

HYPER-LOCAL

Samyak Jain posts travel content to some 110,000 followers on Instagram and has been to four BJP influencer meetings.

“It’s a general interaction where we are told what all to do,” said Jain, 22. “They tell us what work the party has been doing, the work they plan to do – their journey.”

Jain is among several hundred regional influencers tapped by the BJP for their hyper-local reach.

If, say, a new road were to be built near an influencer’s home, the party asks them to talk about how the change has made their life better, BJP’s Dave said.

“It’s not about the party giving them something to post,” he said. “It’s about going to the public and talking about …why the Modi government should come back if they want the development trend to continue.”

Social media consultants believe local is key, since influencers can build one-on-one trust with their audience.

“Elections in India are won at a grassroot level and these influencers are known very well (in those regions),” said Kumar Saurav, founder of Savin Communication, a PR agency.

Posting on behalf of a politician can make money, too, according to one content creator who said they were asked by several opposition parties to create anti-BJP content ahead of regional elections in Madhya Pradesh last year.

“Many politicians are active on social media but they don’t have followers,” said the creator, who was tasked with making posts critical of ruling party policies.

“They asked to not mention it’s a paid or sponsored post.”

The creator, who did not wish to be named, said they had made five such posts, earning about $180 for each.

With campaigning now set to ramp up, the parties say they are ready to launch into online action.

“Once the candidates are declared, we will reach out (to influencers) at the micro level across all constituencies so that they also understand how this particular candidate will be good for their constituency,” said the BJP’s Dave.

“It’s about showing how Modi ji has been leading all these changes across all states and the entire country.” – Reuters

Protecting Palestinians a moral imperative, Pentagon chief tells Israeli counterpart

March 27, 2024 | 10:55 am

WASHINGTON – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday it was a moral and strategic imperative to protect Palestinian civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas and that the humanitarian catastrophe in besieged Gaza was getting worse.

Austin was speaking during a meeting with Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon as relations between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sank to a wartime low.

“In Gaza today, the number of civilian casualties is far too high and the amount of humanitarian aid is far too low,” Austin said, sitting across from Mr. Gallant, a key architect of the military campaign against Hamas in response to the militants’ Oct. 7 cross-border rampage that Israel says killed 1,200 people.

“Gaza is suffering a humanitarian catastrophe and the situation is getting even worse,” Mr. Austin said, using some of his most forceful language so far.

The Pentagon later said Mr. Austin’s discussion with Mr. Gallant was frank and direct.

The Israeli defense minister also met for a second day with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who told Gallant that Israel needs to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Mr. Gallant later held talks with CIA Director William Burns, recently returned from talks in Qatar seeking an elusive deal for Hamas’ release of more than 130 hostages still held in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Gallant, apparently seeking to cool US-Israeli tensions, said he stressed the importance of US ties to his country’s security and of maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region, including its air capabilities.

“We share 100% of the values and 99% of the interests with the United States,” Mr. Gallant said.

Mr. Biden has come under pressure from human right groups and some fellow Democrats to condition further military aid on Netanyahu holding off on a threatened offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering. The US president has resisted doing so.

FEARS OF FAMINE

Israel has launched strikes and shelling in Gaza that have killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, according to the health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave.

“We need immediate increases in assistance to avert famine,” Mr. Austin said.

A senior US defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said more aid was now flowing through land crossings and that about 200 trucks were crossing into Gaza daily.

Mr. Gallant’s meeting with Mr. Austin took place after Netanyahu on Monday canceled a separate visit to Washington by two senior aides due to hear US ideas about operational alternatives in Rafah.

Netanyahu’s fraught relations with Mr. Biden became even more strained over Washington’s decision not to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution seeking an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The United States has been working to get Netanyahu to consider other options instead of a ground invasion of Rafah, the last relatively safe haven for Palestinian civilians.

Austin said he was ready to discuss alternate approaches to targeting Hamas militants there.

The senior defense official said Austin discussed potential steps like Israel’s precision targeting of Hamas fighters in the southern city on Gaza’s border with Egypt.

The threat of such an offensive has increased differences between close allies the United States and Israel, and raised questions about whether the US might restrict military aid if Netanyahu defies Mr. Biden and presses ahead anyway.

Mr. Gallant emphasized that while he had discussed humanitarian aid, he had also made clear Israel’s plan to go ahead with efforts to destroy Hamas, saying it was necessary to deter “common enemies,” an apparent reference to Iran. Hamas, he said, still has five battalions operating in Rafah.

Mr. Austin said the security bond between Israel and the United States was “unshakeable”. “The United States is Israel’s closest friend and that won’t change,” he added. – Reuters

Brazil, France launch $1.1 bln program to protect Amazon rainforest

March 27, 2024 | 10:50 am

BELEM, Brazil – Brazil and France on Tuesday launched an investment program to protect the Brazilian and Guyanese Amazon rainforest involving 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in private and public funds over the next four years.

The announcement was made during French President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day visit to the South American country, where he landed on Tuesday in Belem, near the mouth of the Amazon, and was met by Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“Gathered in Belem, in the heart of the Amazon, we, Brazil and France, Amazonian countries, have decided to join forces to promote an international roadmap for protection of tropical forests,” they said in a joint statement.

Their pledge to work together to stop deforestation in the Amazon by 2030 to contribute to slowing global warming comes two years before Brazil hosts the COP30 climate negotiations talks in Belen in 2025.

“The presidents expressed their commitment to the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of the world’s tropical forests and agreed to work on an ambitious agenda, including … developing innovative financial instruments, market mechanisms and payments for environmental services,” the statement said.

Macron and Lula took a river boat to visit a sustainable development project for producing chocolate on an island near Belem, and met with Indigenous leaders.

At the event, Macron honored Indigenous leader and environmental campaigner Raoni Metuktire, of the Kayapo people, with the National Order of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest order of merit, for his fight to protect the rainforest and Indigenous rights.

Chief Raoni, who became a global reference for campaigning in the 1980s with musician Sting at his side, handed Macron documents denouncing the environmental impact that a planned railway backed by soy farmers will have on Indigenous people, whom he said have not been freely consulted.

Mr. Raoni asked Lula not to approve building the 1,000-km (620-mile) railroad known as Ferrograo that would lower agribusiness costs for shipping grains from Mato Grosso farm state to Amazon river ports and out to international markets.

Despite past run-ins over the environment, relations between France and Brazil have recovered from a low point in 2019 when Macron led a wave of international pressure on then-President Jair Bolsonaro over fires raging in the Amazon. Mr. Bolsonaro accused Mr. Macron and other G7 countries of treating Brazil like “a colony”.

“After a four-year eclipse and a virtual freeze in political relations between our two countries during Mr. Bolsonaro’s presidency, we are in the process of relaunching the bilateral relationship and the strategic partnership with Brazil,” a French presidential adviser said on Friday. – Reuters

More handshakes, fewer rallies as Biden 2024 campaign takes shape

March 27, 2024 | 10:48 am

Joseph R. Biden — U.S. President Joe Biden holds a campaign rally ahead of the state’s Democratic presidential primary, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Feb. 4, 2024. — REUTERS

WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden is criss-crossing the country as his reelection campaign kicks into high gear, skipping big, loud rallies favored by his rival Donald Trump in favor of shaking hands at union halls, churches and restaurants.

It is an unusual approach that plays to Biden’s strengths amid an increasingly fragmented US media landscape, allies and many analysts say. Mr. Biden interacts with smaller groups, limiting highly-scrutinized teleprompter assisted events that sometimes lead to gaffes, while keeping at bay protesters angry about his handling of the Israel-Gaza war.

Mr. Biden’s meetings with ordinary Americans are being turned into polished campaign videos and first-person TikTok posts viewed by millions, that often draw sharp contrasts with Trump’s interactions with the public.

Mr. Biden, no stranger to big audiences, won praise for his fiery State of the Union speech on March 7 and is gearing up for another large event on Thursday, a rally with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama that is expected to draw 6,000.

He has visited nine states since the March 7 speech, including battlegrounds Nevada and Arizona last week and Michigan and Wisconsin the week before. Most of the time, he has spoken to crowds of 100 people or fewer.

The campaign is betting its patchwork approach, of pricey targeted ads, small events that generate local media coverage, radio spots and surrogate appearances – all amplified by social media will help galvanize Democrats and independents needed to re-elect Biden.

“Mr. Biden has never been Cicero and never will be,” said Larry Sabato, who heads the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, referring to the Roman statesman known for his oratory skills. He “depends more on what he has done and is doing to reach his supporters,” he said.

Campaign officials see the dawn of a post-COVID era of campaigning, but David Barker, a professor at American University in Washington, isn’t so sure. “If Obama were the candidate, you’d see a lot of big rallies.”

Mr. Barker said relying on digital media to pull in the crowds could exclude some older voters who don’t use social media and rely more on TV broadcasts. But he said the pool of persuadable voters was small – not more than 5-7% of voters – fewer than half of them could be influenced by media coverage anyway.

EVERY BATTLEGROUND STATE

With a slim 1 percentage point lead in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll of registered voters, Mr. Biden needs to highlight stark differences with Mr. Trump, strategists and donors say, and build enthusiasm among the fractious coalition of Black voters, suburban women and Latinos that got him elected in 2020.

Mr. Biden didn’t hold big rallies in 2020 either because of COVID-19, while Trump hosted events with thousands of attendees.

Republicans mocked him for campaigning from his “basement,” but Biden won the popular vote by seven million and every battleground state, most by a very thin margin.

Campaign staff say they learned then that Mr. Biden could hop on a Zoom call with 5,000 supporters and still have a big impact.

Small events with carefully vetted participants also allow the campaign to avoid protests that have haunted Mr. Biden for months over his support of Israel’s assault on Gaza that has killed more than 32,000 and now threatens famine. Israel is reacting to the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas that killed 1,200.

In November a rabbi interrupted Biden at a fundraiser in Minnesota, urging him to call for a “ceasefire right now.” In January, a Biden event in Virginia was repeatedly interrupted by shouts of “Ceasefire now” and “Genocide Joe.”

In Dallas this month, protesters blew whistles and chanted “free Palestine” starting at 5:00 a.m., rousing hotel guests where Biden was staying. In North Caroline on Tuesday, they interrupted his remarks.

Campaign officials insist the protests are not dictating strategy, but the White House has stopped providing exact locations until just before Biden’s events, making it difficult for demonstrators to assemble big crowds.

ADVICE ON A STUTTER

Online, Mr. Biden’s campaign is focused on posts that highlight him displaying empathy, doling out advice and sharing fast food meals with families.

A video of his meeting with nine-year-old Harry Abramson, a boy with a stutter who had asked Mr. Biden how he overcame his own, has been viewed 1.2 million times on TikTok and generated over 280,000 likes on Instagram.

“He has that human connection with people and that’s different from Trump’s mega rallies and giant, roaring, menacing chants,” said Wisconsin Democratic Party chief Ben Wikler.

Trump’s incendiary rhetoric helps him dominate the news cycle, experts say, like a March 16 stop outside Dayton, Ohio, where he warned of a “bloodbath” if he loses in November.

The supporters who attend his rallies reflect the Republican Party’s transformation in recent years: many are working-class voters who say they are in lockstep with Trump on issues ranging from immigration to trade and foreign policy.

Trump focused heavily on early nominating states until he secured his party’s nomination, hosting rallies attended by hundreds or thousands of supporters. In early April, he is due to hold a rally in Wisconsin, a key battleground state.

Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was greeted by “crowds of enthusiastic Americans everywhere he goes.” – Reuters

Driving Filipinos to more income opportunities

March 27, 2024 | 10:45 am

Lazada Affiliates Program empowers more partners, including winner of exclusive car giveaway

In appreciation of its top-performing affiliate partners, Lazada Philippines surprised them last year with a special treat via an exclusive raffle promo to celebrate the 12.12 All-Out Sale.

The LazAffiliates Program is Lazada’s way of opening doors for Filipinos looking for additional means of earning a living. Through LazAffiliates, anyone can sign up to become an affiliate and generate income by promoting Lazada products through social media platforms and personal networks.

“The LazAffiliates are at the heart of our community. This program is a great opportunity for all of you to earn creative income and we’re growing our program to support you every step of the way. With LazAffiliates: More content, more kita (earnings), more life,” Mishie de la Cruz, Head of Affiliates at Lazada Philippines, said at a thanksgiving event last November.

“Being a LazAffiliates member is a blessing,” shared Charina Mae Tengco, the grand prize winner of last year’s LazAffiliates raffle. In 2022, she and her family faced financial difficulties, prompting her to consider returning to work in 2023. To provide for her family needs, she explored various jobs, including being a virtual assistant (VA), but eventually discovered LazAffiliates, which she now considers a stepping stone to her success.

While being an affiliate requires skills, time, and effort, it has become a valuable means of earning just by sharing “tipid” tips, vouchers, and affordable deals with others.

“Nung nagkaroon ako ng income, doon lumuwag ‘yung buhay namin. Ngayon po, nag-a-acquire kami ng isang bahay, ta’s nakakapag-travel. Kaya sobrang blessing ng LazAffiliates sa akin (My life has become much easier ever since I started earning my own income with LazAffiliates. Now, we can afford to acquire a new house, and we can travel more freely. That’s why being an affiliate is truly a blessing.),” she said.

Another perk of being an active LazAffiliates member is the chance to enter exclusive raffles, which Ms. Tengco had never expected to benefit from.

Yet, finding out that she was the winner of a brand-new car was a one-of-a-kind experience for her.

“Nagkakagulo na sa GC (group chat) namin, basta ako busy ako. Tapos, nag-u-update na lang sa GC namin. Pagbalik ko, tapos na yung raffle, nag-send na lahat ng member ID. Pumunta ako sa Lazada, ta’s, ‘Member ID ko to,’ sabi ko. Scrineenshot ko muna ta’s sinend ko sa GC. Ta’s sinabi ko, ‘Ako ba to?’. Sabi nila, ‘Oo. Congratulations Cha, ikaw yan.’ Doon na ako tumili. Doon na nag-sink in sa akin. (My close-knit LazAffiliates friend group kept me in the loop about the raffle that day through our GC, since I was so busy. Later that day, the raffle was already finished; yet, to my surprise, while browsing Lazada, I came across the winner’s ID, realizing it was mine. I immediately shared the screenshot on our GC, then my friends confirmed it was mine and congratulated me. I joyfully shouted as it finally sank in that I was the winner of the grand raffle.)”

Although owning a car was not an immediate priority for her, it was a long-term goal to achieve in five to 10 years. Thanks to their brand-new car, their family’s daily commute is easier, and they get to embark on exciting adventures.

To further express its gratitude towards brands, sellers, and customers, Lazada continues to offer the best online shopping experience by bringing amazing deals on top brands and premium products through promotions like the Bonggang Birthday Pasabog.

Don’t miss out on the chance to shop at Lazada’s Bonggang Birthday Sale until March 27, and get the P1,000 vouchers, enjoy 70% discounts, and free shipping on all purchases.

Visit lazada.com.ph to learn more about joining the LazAffiliates Program.

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