5 safety tips para sa mga solo travelers

ni Jenny Rose Albason @Lifestyle | June 4, 2024

Minsan ba ay naiisip mo nang mag-travel mag-isa? 

Maraming benefits ang pagta-travel, tulad ng makakapag-explore ka sa new places nang hindi kinakailangan maghintay o humabol sa mga kasama mo. Hindi mo rin kailangan mag-adjust sa mga schedule ng iba. Plus, magkakaroon ka rin ng time para sa iyong sarili. 

Normal lang naman na makaramdam ka ng kaba at discomfort sa tuwing maiisip mong bumiyahe mag-isa. 

Kaya naman, narito ang ilang paraan para maging safe habang nagta-travel:

1. I-SHARE ANG TRAVEL PLANS SA PAMILYA AT KAIBIGAN. I-send mo ang iyong travel itinerary, hotel reservation information at mga detalye sa iyong pamilya o mga kaibigan. 

Gayundin, ipaalam mo rin sa staff ng hotel, kung saan ka pupunta at kung kailan ka babalik. Para naman manatiling konektado sa mga kaibigan at pamilya, i-check mo ang iyong smartphone provider upang matukoy kung ano ang mga kakailanganin mo sa iyong travel destination.

1. GUMAWA NG EMERGENCY PLAN. Ideally, hindi ka naman mahaharap sa anumang medical issue, aksidente o robbery habang nagta-travel. Gayunman, mas mabuti nang handa kung may mangyaring hindi maganda. 

Siguraduhing may malapit na ospital, police station at iba pang emergency facilities bago bumiyahe. Kung plano mo namang mag-travel internationally, magandang ideya na mag-aral ng emergency phrases sa mga local language para madali kang makahingi ng tulong kung kinakailangan.

Bumisita ka rin sa iyong doktor o travel clinic bago ka umalis upang makatiyak na mabibigyan ka ng mga tamang gamot. 

Kapag nag-iimpake, magdala ng supply ng anumang prescription drugs na kailangan mo, tulad ng face mask, hand sanitizer at mga bagay upang maprotektahan ang iyong sarili mula sa mga lamok at iba pang mga peste na maaaring magdala ng sakit. 

1. I-SECURE ANG MAHAHALAGANG GAMIT. Dalhin lang ang mahahalagang bagay kapag magta-travel – katulad ng cellphone, credit cards, cash, ID at kopya ng iyong passport. Itago ito sa isang secure na bag na makikita mo anumang oras. 
   

2. MAG-RESEARCH AND CHOOSE WISELY. Alamin ang pinakaligtas na lugar sa iyong pupuntahan at kung mayroong anumang mga lugar na dapat mong iwasan. Alamin rin ang mga pinakaligtas na rutang dadaanan. 

Kapag nakapag-check in ka, panatilihin mong naka-lock ang iyong pinto, at huwag mong bubuksan ang pinto kung wala kang inaasahang hotel staff o visitors.

1. KUMUHA NG TRAVEL INSURANCE. Protektahan ang iyong sarili, at ang investment na ginawa mo sa iyong trip, mula sa mga hindi inaasahang pangyayari. 

Ang trip cancellation at interruption insurance ay maaaring makatulong sa pagbabayad sa iyo para sa mga covered losses tulad ng lagay ng panahon, natural disasters, sakit at iba pang isyu. 

Ang iba pang travel insurance policies ay maaaring makatulong na protektahan ka mula sa hindi inaasahang medical at evacuation expenses, pati na rin ang pagkaantala sa bagahe, pagnanakaw at iba pa. 

Ilan lamang ‘yan sa mga paraan upang maging ligtas ang ating out-of-town adventures.

Ngayon naman, aking ibabahagi ang dos and don’ts na ‘di dapat natin kalimutan.

• Iwasang magpakalasing at iwasang sumama sa mga hindi mo kakilala.

• Maging alerto sa iyong paligid kahit na ikaw ay naglalakad o nagmamaneho.

• Kung may kahina-hinala kang napapansin, pumunta sa isang restaurant o pumunta sa lugar na maraming tao.

• Kapag may nagtanong kung ikaw ba ay mag-isa lang, sabihin mo na makikipagkita ka sa iyong asawa, kamag-anak o kaibigan.

Kaya mga Ka-BULGAR, huwag mong hayaan na manaig ang iyong takot ‘pag magta-travel mag-isa. Oki? 

Yes, ang pag-travel mag-isa ay maaaring makatulong sa iyo upang makaalis ka sa comfort zone. Pero, lagi nating tatandaan na magplano muna bago lumarga para maging masaya ang travel experience. Gets mo?

Say Goodbye to Razor Burns and Painful Hair Removal and Hello to Glowing, Flawless Skin!

by Info @Brand Zone | June 3, 2024

𝐼𝑡_𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑦 𝑎𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑒, 𝑡𝑤𝑜, 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 ー ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟-𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 ④ 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠! ️ ️Hello Glow Hair Removal Cream also comes with a spatula-tool that you can easily use for application

It’s true, being a girl can come with a lot of pressure. We are expected to be hairless, flawless, and glowing—all while keeping up with a busy life. Uncalled for comments like “balbon” can feel harsh too, and add unnecessary stress to our self-care routines.

Here’s the good news: Hello Glow believes in making you feel comfortable in your own skin, without the salon hassle. Hello Glow’s new Hair Removal Cream’s innovative formula lets you say good bye to ingrown hairs, unwanted fuzz, and painful waxing sessions, all from the comfort and privacy of your own home!

It is the ultimate solution for smooth and radiant skin, making you look flawless in just 4 minutes! It is infused with loads of skincare actives to help nourish skin as it gently removes hair!

• Oat Extract – to help prevent skin drying

• Green Tea Extract – to help soothe skin

• Peach Extract – to improve skin moisture level

• Shea Butter – to hydrate and condition skin

It also comes with a spatula that allows for mess-free application and removal of the cream. Skin will appear softer and healthier after! Use it on your hands, arms, underarms, legs and feet! Make sure to patch test beforehand for a fuss-free experience!

Shop Hello Glow’s newest Hair Removal Cream (Php 145) available online in Hello Glow’s flagship Shopee, Tiktok, and Lazada stores and in physical stores like Watsons, SM Department Stores, and other leading department stores nationwide. Follow the hashtag #HelloGlowHairFree for more info.

Filipinos love concerts, but venue infrastructure gaps are a threat to the experience

by Info @Brand Zone | April 21, 2023

Countries with better, bigger, and more competitive concert venues have reaped economic benefits, especially with the massive and significant influence of popular international acts like pop superstar Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Coldplay’s World Tour in consumer behavior and spending. 

Driving tens of thousands of ‘Swifties’ and concert enthusiasts, the success of these concerts was an economic stimulus for countries worldwide, including Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore and Japan.  Filipino fans alike had to spend big and travel miles to watch the exclusive performance of superstar Swift in Singapore’s National Stadium while others went to Japan’s Tokyo Dome and Sydney’s Accor Stadium in Australia. The massive concert gigs boosted the respective country’s economies, benefitting entertainment, hospitality, retail, and transport industries significantly.

Photo: Concert Tour of Taylor Swift / Official Facebook of Taylor Swift

While Singapore’s strategy for a Southeast Asia exclusive Swift performance piqued interest and likewise piqued its neighboring countries, the strategic move sparked conversations and brought to light what the Philippines can improve on in terms of concert venues.

1. Location is key

The Philippines doesn’t lack in big venues. In fact, it boasts of venues that can rival Singapore’s National Stadium and Japan’s Tokyo Dome. Accessibility to the location as well as public transportation and nearby commercial establishments are key.

2. Concert Experience

Photo credit to Stanley Quek. An empty Singapore National Stadium, viewed from the front stage.

Singapore’s pride, the National Stadium, has innovative features such as the world’s largest free-spanning dome, a retractable roof and comfort cooling technology for spectators’ convenience. Its innovation, strategic location, and efficiency bring positive and immersive experiences for enthusiasts and concert fans, making it a magnet for entertainment acts from all over the world. A similar concert venue and experience is something that Filipino concertgoers are hoping the country can replicate. 

3. World-class concert amenities and facilities

Accessing the venue's amenities and facilities should offer a premium music experience for concert enthusiasts or convenience in a sporting event.

Architectural “Eyecon” SM Mall of Asia Arena prides itself on having exceptional world-class amenities unique in the Southeast Asia region. –Photo from SM MOA Arena official website

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 held in SM Mall of Asia Arena – Photo from SM MOA Arena official website

Take for example the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena – a flexible indoor arena developed in 2012 by leading integrated property developer SM Prime – that has been a top-of-mind venue for all sorts of events and offers a unique concert experience. With a full house seating capacity of 20,000, it has been a haven for thrilling sports events, remarkable OPM shows, and unforgettable international superstar performances. 

Meanwhile, the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City is likewise an enormous outdoor venue that can accommodate at least 50,000 people. Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour and Rivermaya The Reunion were among the performers that have graced the stage recently.

4. Achieving Filipinos’ concert dreams

One of the most forward-looking plans of SM Prime is its 360-hectare smart city development which is envisioned to bring in a centerpiece to the country’s entertainment and sporting events – larger in capacity and a more enhanced venue infrastructure that would attract legendary icons in the entertainment scene and compete against Southeast Asia and the world’s best. It will feature an estimated 70,000-capacity stadium and concert arena connected to one of the island’s main destination paradises called Central Park. The sizable arena is envisioned to be the Philippines’ biggest concert venue, with world-class facilities and sustainable features, comparable to other big concert venues worldwide. Once that’s built, Filipinos won’t have to fly overseas because they can watch top-tier performances right from the comfort of their home country.

An artist’s render, visual sketch of the proposed concert venue at Pasay 360 project.

Concert crowd

Without a doubt, Pinoys live and breathe entertainment shows. In fact, Filipinos are the 4th top concert spenders in Asia-Pacific according to digital payments company Visa, proof of how passionate we are about concerts. By investing in the development of modern, smart, and accessible concert venues, Filipino concert enthusiasts can continue to embrace and celebrate live performances with the convenience, comfort, and enjoyment they deserve. Beyond entertainment, well-curated, smart, and innovative concert facilities can further drive economic benefits to the Philippines’ national and local economies, including ancillary local spending in retail, tourism, and hospitality.