Gracee's Lifestyle Journal

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) officially opens the call for entries for the  61st Anvil Awards , the country’s most prestigious award-giving body in public relations. This year’s theme, “ The 61st Second: Pushing Past Possibilities ,” challenges communicators to surpass conventional norms and go beyond what is expected. The theme underscores the evolving nature of communication in an age where relevance, speed, and impact are more intertwined than ever before. As organizations continue to navigate the complex intersection of technology, public sentiment, and purpose-driven storytelling, the Anvil Awards continues to recognize exceptional PR programs, tools, and professionals that shape narratives and lead meaningful change. To guide entrants in crafting award-worthy submissions, PRSP will host the annual  “How to Win an Anvil”  session on  August 26 . The face-to-face seminar will walk participants through this year’s updated mechanics, impro...

The  Global Youth Summit (GYS) 2025  brought together more than  33,600 youth changemakers  from schools, organizations, and communities nationwide—both on-ground and online—at the  SM Mall of Asia Arena  on  August 3, 2025 . The event, organized by  Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Philippines  and  SM Cares , the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, served as a dynamic platform for young student leaders, innovators, and advocates to collaborate, share ideas, and take action toward advancing the  United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .   The Manila summit featured inspiring keynote speeches and empowering sessions focused on  youth empowerment, sustainability, innovation, and leadership . Among the distinguished speakers were  Jessica Sy ,  Winwyn Marquez ,  Teacher Georcelle ,  Edward Barber , and  Jessica Soho , who shared their insights and experiences on leadership,...

Professor M. Stanley Whittingham, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (2019). Attendees can look forward to seven insightful panel discussions exploring key topics such as battery policy, the circular economy, grid-scale storage, battery swapping, financing, and more, with perspectives from both public and private sector experts.  Spotlighting the ASEAN collaboration, the conference will also feature speakers from Indonesia’s National Center for Sustainable Transportation Technology and National Battery Research Institute, NanoMalaysia, the Electric Vehicle Association of Philippines, Singapore Battery Consortium, and Thailand Energy Storage Technology Association. Join this event to help shape the future of sustainability, safety, and innovation in advanced battery solutions across ASEAN. For more information on the programme agenda, please visit ABTC’s official website. The 3rd ASEAN Battery Technology Conference is made possible with the support of key partners and sponsors. Siemens as ...

The EastWest Dream Run 2025 brought people together around a shared purpose. It showed that when we support one another, even a short race can leave a long-lasting impact. In celebration of its 30th anniversary and Filinvest Group’s 70th year, the Bank hosted this year’s Dream Run across three key cities: Davao, Cebu, and Manila, drawing over 13,000 runners from different walks of life in a collective push for positive impact. Each run had its own rhythm. Each city brought its own energy. But the heart behind them was the same: to move not just for health, but for hope. Portions of the proceeds were donated to local organizations that continue to serve and uplift Filipino youth: Young Focus Philippines in Manila,  Asian Hospital Charities,  SOS Children’s Village in Cebu, and Padre Pio’s Home for Children in Davao.   In Davao: Showing Up for Padre Pio’s Home for Children The series kicked off on April 6 where nearly 4,000 runners joined the first leg of the EastWest Dream...

DoubleVerify (“DV”) (NYSE: DV), a leading software platform to verify media quality, optimize ad performance, and prove campaign outcomes, today announced the expansion of its post-bid brand suitability measurement across thirty unique content-level categories on Meta’s Facebook and Instagram Feeds and Reels. These categories, developed as part of DV’s client-focused innovation strategy, offer advertisers deeper transparency and insight into where their ads appear. Earlier this year, DV introduced automated content-level controls on Meta’s Facebook and Instagram Feeds and Reels. This launch builds on DV’s existing capabilities on Meta, which now include comprehensive, end-to-end content-level controls and reporting in 34 languages. “Our partnership with Meta is focused on delivering real, measurable value to advertisers,” said Mark Zagorski, CEO of DoubleVerify . “By unifying suitability controls and measurement across all of DV’s content categories, we’re giving brands the tools to ...

From L-R: GGSphere, HOK Talent; Sh1n Boo, Shoutcaster; Eason de Guzman, HONOR Philippines Digital Marketing Manager and Content Lead; Benj Dalmacio, Senior Business Development Manager of Tencent Philippines; April Joy, HOK Talent; Kcbae, HOK Talent; Sumpak, HOK Talent HONOR Philippines officially joins the frontlines of mobile gaming with the launch of  King’s Honor Season 1 , in partnership with digital media powerhouse wetrnd and phenomenally growing MOBA game  Honor of Kings , positioning the HONOR 400 Pro 5G as the official smartphone partner of the highly anticipated tournament. Kicking off with a thrilling friendly match with technology media on August 2, the collaboration was celebrated with appearances from top esports personalities, including Sumpak, April Joy, Kcbae and other gaming influencers, alongside the HONOR 400 Pro 5G – a device engineered for peak gaming performance and AI-enhanced experiences. Organized by wetrnd, King’s Honor Tournament aims to ignite the...

As the country prepares for the height of the rainy season, SM Cares is taking urgent steps to help protect vulnerable communities by ramping up its coastal cleanup efforts across the Philippines.   From January to June 2025 alone, SM Cares mobilized  8,571 volunteers  across multiple SM malls and coastal communities nationwide, successfully collecting  70,887 kilograms of trash  from shorelines and waterways. The initiative is part of the company’s continuing commitment to disaster resilience and environmental protection, especially crucial during months when clogged waterways and marine pollution worsen the impact of heavy rainfall and urban flooding. " This isn't just about picking up trash—it’s about saving homes, safeguarding health, and helping communities become more resilient to the floods and diseases that come with the rainy season ,” said Engr. Liza B. Silerio, SM Cares Program Director for the Environment. “ The work we do today has a direct impact o...

What’s been keeping you indoors lately?   These days, staying in isn’t just about the rain—it’s about slowing down and making space for comfort. When the skies are gray and traffic is heavy, it’s tempting to put off tasks like paying bills or doing your bank errands. Because honestly, who wouldn’t rather stay cozy under a blanket, catch up on the latest movie or series on your favorite streaming platform, or enjoy a quiet afternoon nap?   That’s where little conveniences make a big difference. You can manage your finances right from your phone without having to leave your home. Whether you’re paying bills, sending money, or managing your account, here are five ways PSBank Mobile helps you stay on top of things—rain or shine.   1. Pay Bills Without the Hassle No long lines. No switching between apps. With PSBank Mobile, you can pay your bills right from your phone –  from utilities, credit cards, loans, real estate, and even school fees. To make things even easier, yo...

Agnes Gervacio, Chief Executive Officer of social enterprise Connected Women, has always lived what many would consider a healthy lifestyle – adhering to a vegetarian diet and eating healthily, exercising regularly, and going for regular health screening. Despite this, a routine screening done at Fullerton Health uncovered what had gone undetected for years – a major blockage in one of the blood vessels in her heart that could lead to a heart attack if left untreated.   The test that likely saved her life was a CT calcium score test, which measures calcified plaque in coronary arteries to assess heart disease risk. The test is offered as part of executive health screening (EHS) by Fullerton Health in partnership with RadLink Philippines.   The Silent Threat Uncovered None of the screenings that Agnes had attended in previous years had detected any cardiac abnormalities. It wasn’t until Carmie De Leon, Country General Manager, RadLink Philippines and EHS Lead, Fullerton Health ...

Sari-sari stores are opening and expanding their inventories to offer "tingi," or small quantities, of school supplies, in response to the start of the new school year. This is the latest insight from Filipino tech startup Packworks.io , which analyzed over a million monthly sales transactions from its network of over 300,000 sari-sari stores nationwide via its mobile app and business intelligence tool, Sari IQ.  Packworks' data reveals that the number of stores near schools, those within the 400-meter radius or approximately 500 steps away, grew by 31% from approximately 71,000 in 2023 to 95,000 last year. As of June 2025, the company has 102,058 partner stores operating near schools, according to its latest data. From 2023 to 2024, Packworks saw that most sari-sari stores near schools are located in rural regions, specifically in Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) (+77%), CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) (+70%), Region X (Northern Mindanao) (+55%), Region VIII (East...