Author: Thoney Pascual

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Enchanted Kingdom Welcomes Christmas with its Enchanting Season of Family Campaign

Enchanted Kingdom, the first and only world-class theme park in the Philippines, invites Filipinos to experience even more magic during the holidays with the launch of its Enchanting Season of Family campaign this December.

As part of EK’s 30th anniversary, this year’s campaign highlights the family as the heart of every Filipino’s Christmas tradition. Apart from its over 30 rides and attractions, the month-long festivities offer exciting holiday experiences, including new seasonal shows, festive displays, and breathtaking spectacles that will allow countless Filipino families to create even more forever enchanting memories together.

The magical pre-Christmas event on November 29 set the festive mood through the carol performances by invited guests and the choir. This magical celebration was also graced by the presence of Santa Rosa City Vice Mayor Arnold B. Arcillas, who encouraged everyone to embrace hope and joy this holiday season.

Park guests had a magical time singing their favorite Yuletide carols, trying out exciting activities, and winning enchanting prizes at the Caroloke Christmas Caravan, a special holiday truck brought by Coca-Cola at the Spaceport Grounds.

EK Storyverse characters joined in the festivities as they greeted guests in front of Eldar’s Theater prior to the annual lighting of EK’s 22-foot Grand Parol. Aside from this, 100 other colorful parols lit up the AGILA The EKsperience: SARIBUHAY.

EK also introduced Eldar’s Evergreen Topiary, a never-before-seen greenery installation featuring the iconic figure of EK’s jolly and wise wizard. Set to become a year-round attraction, this one-of-a-kind display is a part of EK’s ongoing efforts to create magical and sustainable experiences at the park, especially during seasonal celebrations.

Eldar the Wizard topped off the night with the Forever Enchanted Fireworks Show, synchronized to the tune of EK’s 30th anniversary theme song written and sung by the theme park’s homegrown P-pop girl group, SMS.

More Holiday Magic This December

Filipinos can create even more enchanting memories with their loved ones this Christmas as the park opens daily starting December 13, 2025, until January 4, 2026.

Guests can continuously enjoy over 30 rides and attractions at EK, including the iconic Space Shuttle and AGILA The EKsperience: SARIBUHAY, which was relaunched as part of EK’s 30th anniversary last October.

Aside from the vibrant decor and displays, EK will continue to bring enchantment through new zone shows and other special Christmas performances throughout the park this December.

Nighttime at Brooklyn Place will come to life with colorful lights dancing to the tune of popular Christmas songs at Eldar’s Symphony of Lights and Sounds.

Ultimately, the Echoes of Enchantment Parade is set to make its return with a holiday twist, leveling up the in-park night experience through a series of vibrant floats accompanied by the EK Storyverse characters as it makes its way across the park’s themed zones.

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Plan B: The Gift That Keeps On Giving

“If you are the family’s breadwinner, your most valuable asset is your ability to earn. And the only instrument that can protect that asset is life insurance,” says Renato Vergel De Dios, President and CEO of BDO Life.

For 50 years, he has built his career around one mission: helping Filipino families achieve financial security through life insurance, or Plan B. One would think that in that span, life insurance would already be part of every Filipino’s financial portfolio. Yet many breadwinners remain without coverage, leaving their families vulnerable to financial ruin.

Let’s talk about it

In a market study conducted by BDO Life, having a tight budget, prioritizing more pressing needs, and the belief that insurance is expensive are the main reasons many breadwinners are reluctant to get a Plan B.

In his many decades of experience, Vergel De Dios has also observed that many families avoid talking about illness, death, or financial hardship—often waiting until it’s too late. More than the lack of enough income, that hesitation, he says, is the real barrier to financial security.

It is related to a widely held notion that insurance is only for the wealthy. “That’s a myth,” he says. “Insurance has never been primarily for the rich. It’s for those who need to go to work every day to provide for their families: the employees, the professionals, and the hands-on small business owners.”

 

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Score Up to 1 Million Rewards Points with your Christmas Bonus!

This holiday season, your Christmas bonus could be the start of something truly rewarding. By participating in BDO’s Holiday Million Rewards Raffle promo, saving wisely could potentially turn you into a Rewards Points millionaire!

Open a new account with BDO from October 9 to December 31, 2025, and you could take home up to 1 million Rewards Points. Over 100 lucky winners will share a total of 3 million BDO Rewards Points across the November, December, and January raffle draws.

Road to 1 Million Rewards Points

Deposit at least P50,000 in fresh funds to any newly opened qualified account during the promo period: ATM Savings, Passbook Savings, Kabayan Savings, Prime Savers, Junior Savers, Smart Checking, and Peso Checking to earn one e-raffle entry. Just one more step: complete the raffle registration form at the branch, and you’re officially in the running for this holiday promo.

To earn an additional raffle entry, download and sign up for the BDO Pay app. Make sure to activate BDO Rewards in-app to start earning Rewards Points with your savings.

Save and shop like Belle this Christmas. Her smart adulting tip? Save with BDO and get a chance to win 1 million BDO Rewards Points for your holiday shopping.

Discover the rewards of banking with BDO. If you’re among the winners, your Rewards Points can be spent in three ways:

  1. Pay using your points. Use Rewards Points to pay for your shopping and groceries at SM and partner stores.
  2. Redeem as eGCs. Use them for movies, dining, and more through the BDO Pay app’s eGC catalog.
  3. Transfer or convert to cash credits. Use them to pay for your BDO Credit Card balance or to shop using SM Advantage Card Points.

For more details on how you can be the next Rewards Points millionaire, visit the BDO branch nearest you or check out www.bdo.com.ph.

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SB19 and GCash Bring the Magic Back to Christmas with New Holiday Anthem – Watch the MV Here!

The magical feeling of Christmas may seem overwhelming amidst the bustling malls, shopping lists, and Noche Buena preparations. GCash is helping keep the holidays full of cheer as it teams up with SB19 for a new holiday jingle and music video that reminds us what the season is really about: connection, generosity, and a touch of GCash magic to Make It Merry.

The new Make It Merry jingle sets the tone for the arrival of the Merry GCash season. The jingle captures the familiar warmth we often seek during the busiest time of the year, demonstrating that the spirit of Christmas never truly fades; it simply needs a little spark to shine again.

IIn the music video, the SB19 boys are shown using GCash to shop for gifts, loading them into a car, and preparing to share them with their loved ones. Paired with lyrics like “Ang bawat salu-salo, make it merry, kasama ang pamilya mo,” and “Ang bawat regalo, make it merry, galing sa puso mo,” the song captures how GCash makes every celebration lighter, more joyful, and more merry. 

WWith “Make It Merry” as its official holiday soundtrack, SB19 and GCash establish a joyful, generous, and easy atmosphere for the season. GCash makes every moment easier, more meaningful, and less stressful, no matter where your holiday plans take you.

Do you need to send aguinaldo to your family back home? You can use GCash Send Money to send aguinaldo instantly. Last-minute gifts? Shop with ease and use GCash to Pay Online. Are you planning to make a big purchase for your house or buy new tech this year? GCash helps make that possible by offering more manageable payments. If the holidays are taking you traveling, be sure to bring your GCash Card for easy payments abroad. You can even use the Scan to Pay feature to unlock exclusive deals!

With everything available in one app, GCash transforms the hectic nature of the season into joy, making it easier than ever to share the magic of Christmas. As SB19 reminds everyone in “Make It Merry,” the magic of the holidays is found in every heartfelt gift shared and in every moment that brings us closer together. To make your Christmas merry, you just need to do one thing: use GCash.

Watch the official Make It Merry music video here, and follow @gcashofficial for more updates on what’s coming this Merry GCash season.

 

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DOST-TAPI Invites Filipinos to Empower Local Innovations Through Creative Advertising

The Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD) campaign to highlight local innovation

The Technology Application and Promotion Institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) announces the Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD) campaign. This initiative rewards Filipinos who put the spotlight on local innovations.

The grand prize winner of the Gawad Alunig will take home PHP 75,000, while the first runner-up gets PHP 50,000. Three honorable mentions will receive PHP 25,000 per team, while one Gawad Alunig People’s Choice Award winner gets PHP 20,000.

The champion of Gawad Dalumat will win PHP 60,000, while two first runner-up entries will get PHP 25,000 per team. Three Best Innovation Stories will be awarded PHP 20,000 each, while one Gawad Dalumat People’s Choice Award will be given PHP 10,000.

Launched in 2022, the GAxD campaign aims to raise awareness of Filipino-developed technologies and highlight the creative potential of individuals. What makes the fourth edition of the GAxD campaign different from the previous ones is its emphasis on science visual storytelling through creative advertising.

This year, Gawad Alunig invites participants to transform underrated narratives into compelling short-form videos. Video entries must be three and a half minutes or less. This category honors compelling videos that leave an alunig or a resonating sound that inspires communities to support Filipino innovations and technologies.

MMeanwhile, Gawad Dalumat utilizes the power of photo essays to explore the uniqueness of local inventions in depth. Entries must be limited to four – six frames. This category honors profound thinking, or dalumat, that revels in curiosity and appreciation of local ingenuity.

Entries for the GAxD campaign can be sourced from local universities, research institutions, individual inventors, and startups. However, technologies featured must not be included in DOST-TAPI’s list (https://bit.ly/TAPI-AssistedTechs). This contest provides storytellers the opportunity to connect new or emerging innovators with DOST-TAPI and its programs.

AAll participants must like and follow the Facebook pages of @iINVENTPH, @TeKnowLohiya, and @DOST.TAPI. Entries must be submitted through the campaign’s submission links. Only entries submitted through the official submission links will be considered by the Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI).

Send your Gawad Alunig submissions using this link: https://bit.ly/GawadAlunigSubmissionLink. MMeanwhile, participants can submit their entries for Gawad Dalumat through the following link: bit.ly/GawadDalumatSubmissionLink. You must submit all entries by November 24, 2025, at the latest.

For complete GAxD guidelines, participants may visit the link: bit.ly/GAxD2025Guidelines. For more information about the GAxD campaign, please visit the DOST-TAPI website at TAPI.DOST.gov.ph and follow the DOST-TAPI Facebook page.

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Light Up The Linden Suites for the Holidays

The Linden Suites kicked off the holiday season with its annual Christmas Lighting Ceremony in the hotel lobby—an intimate event that illuminated not only the hotel’s renowned Christmas tree but also its wonderfully made Belen, which represents hope, warmth, and the genuine essence of Christmas.

Pearl Maclang, Commercial Director, gracefully hosted the occasion, which began with an opening prayer from Lovely Malafo, Human Resources Manager.

Ma. Celeste “Tet” B. Romualdo, General Manager of The Linden Suites, led the ceremonial lighting, which was attended by Dr. Ramon Bautista, Medical Director of Med Asia Philippines. Together, they expressed their gratitude and emphasized to the visitors the significance of unity, charity, and tradition—elements that the hotel prioritizes during the holidays.

Long-term guests, hotel partners, and The Linden Suites occupants gathered in the Sky Lounge before the lighting festivities began.
Notable attendees included Capt. Raymond Lising of Barangay San Antonio and Vicky Santiago, General Manager of OCAI- Office of Career Advancement International.

The presence of our distinguished media friends and partners, both in person and virtually, enhanced the festive atmosphere. TThey participated in the wonderful moment of lighting Lyndon Bear’s Christmas necklace from the comfort of their own homes, a simple yet meaningful custom that added joy and wonder to the evening. Their kind remarks and shared experiences lifted the festive atmosphere and made the event even more memorable.

The Linden Suites has revealed its special holiday offerings, The Linden Holideals, with hotel rates beginning at ₱4,400 net for a Deluxe hotel, inviting families, vacationers, and corporate guests to experience a pleasant and enjoyable stay this Christmas season.

To make your holiday reservations, please visit our website at https://www.booking.lindensuites.com, call us at +632 5638 7878, or email reservations@lindensuites.com.