Gracee's Lifestyle Journal

Chef Tony's Popcorn, renowned for its gourmet popcorn offerings, celebrates its journey from a humble Manila-based popcorn cart to a beloved brand. Founded by Tony Elepano in November 2005, Chef Tony's Popcorn began as a passion project driven by his love for snacks and culinary expertise.   Inspired by the endless flavor possibilities of wholegrain popcorn, Chef Tony's Popcorn has developed over 70 unique flavors, including local favorites like BBQ Ribs Adobo and Kare-Kare. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation has led to its presence in multiple retail outlets and its recent entry into e-commerce through  TikTok Shop .   "Popcorn appealed to me because it's a whole grain snack, offering high fiber content," Chef Tony explained. "As a chef, I thought I could always come up with different flavors for it. The total number of flavors I've developed is now over seventy. Seventy flavors over my journey of more than 12 years with Chef Tony&#

Marking Ignite by Igloo’s (“Ignite”) third year since its launch, regional insurtech Igloo has announced Ignite’s launch in the Philippines to help insurance sales intermediaries in the country digitalize and employ effective digital tools to enhance their sales processes, streamline client management, and provide superior customer service. “We understand that insurance is still very relationship-based in the Philippines and most insurance sales here are being facilitated in person by insurance intermediaries and brokers. The lack of technology integration or a consistent platformized approach has posed multiple challenges - most of the process is being conducted via a single insurance intermediary, single product, single insurer, leading to limited ability to earning more and referring more product,” said Raunak Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of Igloo. “By launching Ignite in the Philippines, Igloo is on a mission to help boost the efficiency and productivity of nearly 271,000 active  life

In celebration of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development Week, TikTok Shop participated in the National MSME Summit 2024, organized by Go Negosyo in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).   Themed " Innovate to Elevate: Empowering MSMEs for Sustainable Growth ," the summit underscored the pivotal role of digitalization in enhancing competitiveness and fostering sustainable growth among Filipino MSMEs. The event gathered industry leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs to explore innovative strategies to empower MSMEs in the Philippines.   (from left) Joey Concepcion, Founder of Go Negosyo; Undersecretary Ma. Cristina Roque of the DTI-MSME Development Group; and Jonah Ople, Category Lead for Fashion, TikTok Shop   "We are thrilled to partner with TikTok Shop to accelerate the growth of Filipino MSMEs in the digital sphere," said Joey Concepcion, Founder of Go Negosyo. "Through TikTok Shop's Shoppertainment

Federal Express Corporation, one of the world’s largest express transportation companies,  announced the six winners of the 2024 FedEx/Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (FedEx/JA ITC) Philippines Finals. The winners will advance to the FedEx/JA ITC Asia, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) regional competition to be held in August 2024. F For the past four years, FedEx has been working with Junior Achievement (JA) Philippines to foster the growth and development of Filipino youth. Through the  International Trade Challenge  program, FedEx and JA provide students with team activities and tailor-made workshops focused on global trade, paving the way for their future success as leaders of commerce. Over 800 students from different schools across the country, Team Maibago, composed of Rysa Sumalinog and Kate Bacasmas from University of San Jose Recoletos, won the grand prize at the FedEx/JA ITC Local Finals with their innovative AquaCon water tracker. This droplet-shaped device a

EastWest is excited to commemorate its 30th anniversary with an exciting array of exclusive promotions. These special offers are designed to elevate the dining and leisure experiences of our cardholders, both within the metro and for those looking to explore destinations outside Metro Manila. Exclusive Dining Discounts for Metro Manila Residents EastWest cardholders can enjoy significant savings at some of Metro Manila’s most popular dining establishments. These promotions offer remarkable value and will surely enhance your dining experiences: California Pizza Kitchen:  From July 1 to September 30, enjoy 50% off for a minimum single-receipt spend of Php 3,000, with a maximum discount of Php 2,500. Indulge in your favorite pizzas with this fantastic offer. North Park:  Enjoy a 50% discount for a minimum single-receipt spend of Php 2,500, with a maximum discount of Php 3,000 from August 1 to 31, 2024. Savor classic and authentic Chinese dishes at unbeatable prices. Admiral Club Manila Ba

What began as a labor of love in a home kitchen has blossomed into a thriving success story for Cley’s Food Products , thanks to the transformative power of TikTok Shop. Founded by Mia Velasco-Reyes, Cley’s journey began as a small home-based business with a single product: a crab paste recipe, crafted during the early months of her child Cley’s life. This humble beginning has since evolved into a testament to innovation and resilience in the digital age.   “I discovered TikTok Shop in October 2022, and it was a revelation. What started with a simple idea and a heartfelt product has grown exponentially. We’ve gone from fulfilling one or two orders a day to handling thousands,” said Mia. “TikTok Shop helped us a lot because our sales were low before. Now, our sales have increased by almost 60-70%, and we can ship to any part of the Philippines.”   The partnership with TikTok Shop has been instrumental in Cley’s rapid growth, propelling the brand into the mainstream. Furthermore, the sur

Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) strengthens focus on ensuring safety and security. Employee engagement is key to implementing policies and standards across PCPPI’s nationwide locations. Shown above is an employee overseeing product inspections. Safety is a shared responsibility. Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) is further firming up its commitment to workplace safety and security by actively enjoining its employees in upholding organizational policies and industry standards.  “ A safe work environment empowers employees across industries. PCPPI continues to uphold policies and standards that prevent workplace accidents and protect our people and properties,” said PCPPI’s Director for Environment, Health, Safety and Security Fernando Ramos.  Guided by its Environment, Occupational Safety, and Health (EOSH) Policy, PCPPI developed programs to reinforce its occupational safety procedures based on international standards, including practicing Hazard Identificatio

Commitment to Food Safety. As part of its commemoration of World Food Safety Day celebration in June, the Jollibee Group extended its promotion of food safety standards to its customers through food safety stickers that its brands like Jollibee in the Philippines, Vietnam, and UAE, Tim Ho Wan and Yonghe King in China, placed on delivery orders. The sticker included a scannable QR code that links to the Company’s commitment to food safety. As part of its commitment to serving food that people trust and harnessing a culture of food safety across its global operations and supply chain, the Jollibee Group has reinforced its global food safety standards and practices coinciding with the celebration of World Food Safety Day (WFSD) last June 7, 2024.  This year’s WFSD, aptly themed, “ Food safety: prepare for the unexpected ,” underscores the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents where there is a potential or confirmed health risk associated with food consumption. According t

Leaders across the Metro Pacific Health group come together during the 2024 MPH CEO Summit for the first CEO Awards Night, celebrating Excellence, Efficiency, and Effectiveness. Metro Pacific Health (MPH), the largest group of private hospitals and healthcare facilities in the Philippines, successfully concluded its 2024 CEO Summit last June 3-4. The Summit, which took place across different locations including Sheraton Manila Hotel, The Palms and Asian Hospital and Medical Center, brought together leaders from across the MPH Group to discuss advancements, share best practices, and set the course for future growth and innovation in healthcare. With the theme "One MPH: Onwards to E3 – Excellence, Efficiency, Effectiveness," the event featured insightful presentations on the hospitals’ latest innovations, collaborative discussions, and a CEO Awards Night recognizing outstanding contributions within the MPH network. Reflecting on the Journey Dr. Harish Pillai, Group CEO of Metro

EastWest Bank was recently recognized and awarded the Mobile Banking and Payment Initiative of the Year for its innovative EastWest System Tech Assistant (ESTA), which was honored as the Mobile Banking and Payment Initiative of the Year at the Asian Banking and Finance Awards 2024. The award ceremony took place last July 4, 2024 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center Singapore, recognizing ESTA for its groundbreaking contributions to the digital banking landscape in the Philippines. The Asian Banking and Finance Awards remains as Asia Pacific region's most prestigious awards programme for banks and annually recognizes the industry's outstanding players. The Asian Banking & Finance Awards offers a platform for banks, like EastWest, to showcase their innovative solutions, products, services, and deals that have proven to be game-changers in the industry. Award-Winning Innovation Since its launch in 2020, ESTA has been redefining the digital banking experience for Ea