Gracee's Lifestyle Journal

In photo (L-R):  Pag-IBIG Fund Vice President and Head of Compliance & Chief Legal Counsel – Atty. Marcial C. Pimentel Jr., Pag-IBIG Fund Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Member Services Cluster – Alexander Hilario G. Aguilar, Bayad Biller Solutions Manager for Government Accounts - Barbara V. Romero, Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer – Marilene C. Acosta,  Bayad VP & Group Head for Regional Operations and Biller Solutions – Meinard D. Cruz, Bayad Biller Solutions Account Officer Jenjane F. Villanueva, Pag-IBIG  Deputy Chief Executive Officer  for  Support Services Cluster  -  Atty. Robert John S. Cosico, and Pag-IBIG Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer  for  Home Lending Operations Cluster  -  Benjamin R. Felix, Jr. Bayad made a complete sweep after being conferred with two Excellence Awards during the Pag-IBIG Fund Chairman's Report, held on March 28, 2023 at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Having served the highest contribution on Pag-IBIG Fund’s payment tra

Filipino singer-songwriter/producer raven recalls his fondest moments with a lover in his new single "Sunday," out today via Sony Music Entertainment. The balmy tune captures the essence of laid-back afternoons and countryside trips in a romantic way—a charming quality that the young artist from Balcony Entertainment has cultivated in recent years. The bedroom pop soloist dedicates the song to his girlfriend, especially the lyrics, “o kay sarap magpalipas ng oras / lalo na kapag kasama kita (trans: time is well spent / when I’m with you).” He explains, “The track speaks about remembering slow paced but fulfilling days with your loved ones and remembering those days while wishing for them to happen again.” Written and produced by raven himself, “Sunday” is a pop-rap ditty that glides smoothly into stripped-down territory, with the young artist’s penchant for catchy guitar riffs and lo-fi sonic details adding color to the production. Easily one of his catchiest tracks to date,

Rimini Street, Inc . (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support, products and services, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software, and a Salesforce and AWS partner, today announced the formal launch of Rimini ONE™ , its outsourcing service program designed to offer a comprehensive set of unified, integrated services to run, manage, support, customize, configure, connect, protect, monitor, and optimize enterprise applications, databases and technology software. “We developed Rimini ONE in response to clients requesting a fully outsourced solution for their enterprise software with the proven, industry-leading service commitments and guarantees, global capability of more than 800 staff engineers, and comprehensive offering only available from Rimini Street,” said Dave Rowe, chief product officer and EVP, global transformation at Rimini Street. “By unifying our unique support, product and service solutions into one comprehensive

Eager to travel this summer? Count on Globe Rewards as your companion for trips and other life essentials.   Globe customers may now use Globe Rewards points to redeem vouchers for trips,  with new offers such as AutoSweep and Easy Trip RFID, and vouchers for LRT/MRT beep card load, Grab rides and gassing up at Shell.   “Leisure travel is really back and we anticipate that our customers will make the most of summer, especially with the long Holy Week break. That’s why Globe Rewards is making travel essentials accessible through these new voucher offers they will surely find useful as they go out and make new memories this summer,” said Jerome Patalud, Head of Globe Rewards.   Also available on Globe Rewards are summer treats to share that you’ll surely love! Intense heat? Redeem a Jolly Twirl! Looking for a date spot away from the sun? Redeem vouchers for Ayala Cinemas. Planning a getaway? Redeem a discount voucher for your travels with KKDay. Globe Rewards has surely got you covered t

Filipino singer-songwriter MONA channels the inner thoughts of a fan girl on “Tagahanga,” her official second single under Sony Music Entertainment.  The song tells the story of a passionate fan who rallies around her idol, hoping to connect with them in a meaningful way and get noticed. It was also penned by MONA herself, who admitted that her experiences as a fan inspired the storytelling. “To an extent, I’d say that these memories come from a place of love and adoration,” MONA shares. “I took the experience to heart when I decided to start a career in music, because at some point in my life, I know how it feels to be a fan.” On “Tagahanga,” the promising songstress transforms her positive energy into a euphoric pop anthem. She delivers the material produced by K-Pop/P-Pop producer OhWon Lee with a balance of introspection and enthusiasm, singing as if she’s fully committed to the essence of the narrative. “The producer prominently highlights the bass and guitar parts, creating a dri

Image by tirachardz on Freepik You’ve found the perfect place; you’ve fully paid your deposit and you’re excited to start living independently… but how do you start filling your new space? Whether you’ve just graduated from school and about to start working in a new place, or you’ve just tied the knot and savoring marriage before starting a family, you might feel a mix of excitement and some jitters when moving out of your childhood home. With limited budget and the urgency of finally settling in a bare apartment or condo unit, the thought of buying appliances and furniture for your new place can be a bit overwhelming. However, you can survive the first few months of independence by learning to prioritize which appliances and tools to buy.  Here are five appliances and home equipment you should prioritize purchasing as you get started on your new life milestone: Electric fan An electric fan is a non-negotiable in a humid country like the Philippines, even if your place has lots of wind

WGSN , the global authority on trend forecasting, has published its annual “Asia Shopper Forecast 2023” report highlighting the Asian consumer preferences and profiles that will impact consumer decision making in 2023 and beyond. The forecast is meant to help brands, businesses, and marketers to strategize and create meaningful experiences catered to the consumers of tomorrow.  “As we enter 2023, the effects of a global economic crisis will manifest and always-rising consumer expectations will force businesses in the region to find new drivers of growth. Just as mobility in Asia-Pacific (APAC) returns to pre-pandemic levels, Asian shoppers will continue to prioritise travel and look to heading out In-Real-Life (IRL), while retailers will need to offer powerful counterpoints to digital fatigue. At the same time, the uptake of digital technologies that commenced during the pandemic, will continue to enable consumers to move seamlessly between online and offline channels.  We will also be

Filipino singer-songwriter syd hartha addresses her personal battles in life on gabay, her debut EP under Sony Music Entertainment.  In touch with her own fragilities, syd hartha digs deeper into her experiences with trauma, heartbreak, pandemic stress, and healing on an EP that feels more than just a warm balm. According to the young musician, gabay is crucial in reclaiming her identity as it helps her confront emotional truths in a way that is freeing and empowering. The folk-pop act explains, "My new EP is a compilation of different stories from my adventures and misadventures as a young woman. It mainly talks about healing and taking control over your own destiny; letting go of the past, and getting to know yourself again.” Produced by Brian Lotho, gabay features an esteemed list of collaborators and guests, including Pat Sarabia on drums, Raisa Racelis on bass, and Bea Fabros for the lead guitar parts in "kung nag-aatubili.” Incorporating delicate melodies and deceptivel

Teaching surpasses the realms of jobs or professions–it encompasses service, vocation, and life mission.  Proving this day and night are millions of Filipino teachers who stand as second mothers to students. One of them is Rosalie Macaspac, an SM scholar alumna who chose to pursue a career in Special Education (SPED). Life’s work Choosing to teach, especially pursue SPED, is a path less travelled. Out of over 800,000 public school teachers, only about 4,000 are in SPED, and Rosalie is one of the few who took the path. For 21 years now, the SM scholar alumna has dedicated her life to teaching SPED students. She wanted to empower and give special children a voice by advocating the welfare of deaf learners. Rosalie Macaspac (left) interprets the contents of the program for her students. With much dedication and determination to have the right skills for her students, she pursued graduate studies in special education and Filipino sign language at the Philippine National University and De L

Stability is the foundation of a well-lived life. With basic needs fulfilled, people have the opportunity to develop themselves, explore various facets of life, and contribute to the welfare of the community. When aspiring youth, especially those from low-income households, are given the chance to stand on solid ground, they readily take the chance. They utilize it as a seedbed where they can cultivate their dreams and aspirations. One testament to this is SM scholar alumna Jonnah Jane Sacamay, who grew up in a family where stability seemed like an uncharted territory. Years back, Jonnah’s family’s main source of living was flower farming. This made them walk on a thin line as the demand for flowers was seasonal, and they were also often affected by unpredictable weather disturbances.  But while they had journeyed through life with uncertainty, they had always planted in her mind the power of education. “Given that the nature of farming is very seasonal, our income is not stable. Aside