EMONG'S JOURNALS

How can the Philippine coffee industry build a more sustainable future while creating new opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, and the next generation of coffee professionals? These questions will take center stage at the 2nd Philippine Coffee Sustainability Congress, happening on October 15–16, 2026, under the theme “Cultivating Tomorrow’s Cup: Working Towards a Sustainable Future for Philippine Coffee.”  Organized by the Philippine Coffee Board, Inc. (PCBI), the two-day Congress builds on its inaugural gathering in 2025 with a program focused on practical approaches to sustainability, industry experiences, education, innovation, and opportunities across the coffee value chain.  The main Congress program will take place on October 15 at the Makati Sports Club in Makati City, featuring presentations and panel discussions on Indigenous coffee communities, alternatives to commercial fertilizers, successful coffee producti...

Furparents, mark your calendars: Ortigas Malls is turning the first Sunday of October into a paw-some celebration for pets and their furparents. From playful pups to adoptable rescues, there are exciting activities for all pet lovers. At GH Mall, head to PetStop at Connecticut Arcade for a day packed with feel-good moments and tail-wagging fun. Help give a furbaby a second chance at happiness through the pet adoption drive in partnership with Strays to Oasis, then treat your four-legged bestie to a pet-friendly buffet from Pet Friendly’s. Furparents can also grab a puppuccino from Pawchester, meet and snap photos with Nimbus the Cloud Dog, and let their stylish furbabies take the spotlight at the Pet Fashion Show for a chance to win cash prizes. Over at Estancia, head to the 3F East Wing for a lively Pet Fair featuring a colorful Mascot Parade, a special appearance by Nimbus the Cloud Do...

Following its efforts in August to make preventive healthcare more accessible, Watsons Philippines continues to bring free health services closer to Filipinos this September. With many of the services continuing into the month, the initiative gives consumers more opportunities to make routine health checks part of their everyday lives, whether they are monitoring existing concerns, checking potential health risks, or simply staying informed about their overall well-being. Customers can avail themselves of the following free health services at participating stores: Cardiometabolic and Free Physician Consultation Watsons Matalino PHC — September 21 Watsons SM Fairview — September 17 Free Iron Blood Test SM Novaliches Mall 1 — September 18–20 SM San Lazaro Mall 1 — September 18–20 Nerve Screening Eastwood 1800 — September 19–20 North EDSA The Block — September 19–20 Ever Gotesco...

From immersive home entertainment to smarter laundry care, Xiaomi brings new technology designed to make everyday routines more convenient. Xiaomi continues to expand its smart home ecosystem with the launch of its latest home appliances, bringing together immersive entertainment and smarter laundry care for the modern home. The new Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 2026 Series, alongside the Mijia Front Load Washer 9KG and Mijia Top Load Washer 13KG, combines advanced technology, practical features, and smart connectivity across different parts of the home. Designed to make everyday experiences more seamless, the new lineup gives households more ways to enjoy content, manage laundry, and control appliances through connected technology. Bring the big-screen experience home with Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 2026 Series At the center of Xiaomi’s latest entertainment lineup is the Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 2026 Series, available in sizes ranging from 55 ...

Laundry day does not always go according to plan. There are family loads that seem to pile up overnight, work clothes that need a quick refresh, and those last-minute outfits that somehow end up at the bottom of the hamper just when they are needed most. TCL—the Philippines’ No. 1 panel TV brand and a global leader in consumer electronics—understands that everyday laundry calls for more than just clean clothes. The brand unveils its latest intelligent washing machine series, specifically engineered to simplify laundry care through advanced smart features and everyday convenience. Meet the new TCL Smart Washer-Dryer Laundry Expert series, combining advanced laundry technology with practical features designed around how modern Filipino households actually live. Engineered to make everyday laundry effortless, the series combines intelligent care systems and streamlined washing cycles to simplify the routine, whether it’s caring for everyday ...

New promo gives college learners 12 months of premium study tools—including Study Notebooks, Interactive Visualizations and Gemini Live and 400 GB of storage—at zero cost. MANILA – To help students succeed in school with cutting-edge AI tools, Google today announced that eligible college and university students across the Philippines can claim one full year of Google AI Plus for free. The offer brings Google’s advanced AI tools straight to students, giving them a reliable, personalized study partner to help tackle heavy course loads and stay organized. The centerpiece of the student plan is Study Notebooks, an AI study tool designed to turn overwhelming coursework into clear, manageable lessons. By uploading class materials like syllabi, slide decks, and reading packets, students can have Gemini create a step-by-step study plan. The tool generates learning guides, builds custom practice tests, tracks learning progress, and automatically...

Lunch breaks get more exciting at the City of Firsts with the launch of the Araneta City Lunch Festival, a city-wide dining treat that brings more than 60 restaurants to offer specially curated lunch set menus starting at just Php399. Starting September 1, the Lunch Festival is available Mondays to Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving office workers, students, residents, shoppers, and commuters more reasons to enjoy a satisfying midday meal at Araneta City. For as low as Php399, diners can enjoy a complete lunch set that includes an appetizer and a main course from top restaurants across Araneta City’s malls. Participating establishments include a diverse mix of well-known food brands, along with Le Bistro at ibis Styles Manila Araneta City and food concepts at World Kitchens, all offering a wide range of flavors and dining experiences in one destination. This offer is exclusive to dine-in guests. See here the list of particip...

Ayala Land has signed land lease agreements with Makro Philippines for the development of new stores in four of its mixed-use estates, expanding its partnership with Thai-listed CP Axtra and bringing the wholesale brand closer to growing communities and small businesses across Luzon.  Signing the agreement were (seated from the left):  May Rodriguez, Project Development Regional Group Head, Ayala Land Estates; Christopher Maglanoc, Regional Estates Head, Ayala Land Estates; Shaun Wong, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Makro International; and Mark Uy, Head of Corporate Strategy and Business Development Group, Ayala Corporation . Present at the signing were (standing from the left): Gabriel Romualdez, Business Development Manager, ACX Holdings Corporation; Gilbert Ramos, Senior Project Development Head, Ayala Land Estates; John Estacio, Senior Project Development Head, Ayala Land Estates; Sung Ho Kang, Managing Director, Makro Philippines; and Carlo Rivera, Chief Fina...

Ask any seasoned globetrotter, and they’ll tell you that the secret to an unforgettable trip isn’t a flawless itinerary. It’s being ready for the unexpected moments in between—the hidden alleyway café that ends up serving your favorite drink, the breathtaking viewpoint you stumble upon after taking a wrong turn, or the bustling local markets filled with hidden finds.  While these spontaneous experiences often become the highlight of every adventure, seasoned travelers know that having the right travel essentials make every journey smoother, no matter where it takes you.  The ultimate trick isn’t just packing light—it’s packing smart. One travel essential that’s quickly becoming a must-have for every trip abroad? The GCash Card! It’s your trusted travel companion that makes every journey seamless from start to finish—with 0% Forex fees, giving you freedom to explore without worrying about extra charges.    0% Foreign ...

Upgrading your laptop, replacing an old washing machine, or finally bringing home that new TV doesn’t have to mean paying everything upfront. From August 1 to October 31, 2026, Maya, the country’s leading digital financial services platform, is offering cardholders the opportunity to convert eligible electronics and home appliance purchases made with the Maya Black Credit Card or Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card into a 3-month Mini Payment plan with an effective 0% interest. To make the offer even sweeter, processing fees are waived for Mini Payments created until September 30, 2026. The flexibility doesn’t stop there. Purchases continue to earn instant Maya Miles with the Maya Black Credit Card or Landers Cashback Points with the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card, allowing cardholders to keep earning rewards while paying over time. Getting started is simple: ...

An easier and more secure way to pay with iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, announced today that Visa debit and credit cardholders in the Philippines can now add their eligible cards to Apple Pay on their iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. Apple Pay is an easy, secure and private way to pay in-store, in-app and online.  This announcement accelerates the digitalization of payments all while expanding payment options for Filipinos traveling abroad and visitors traveling to the Philippines. Across the Asia Pacific region, 97% of travelers1 say that they will bring credit, debit, or prepaid cards on their trips, while only 17% intend to bring foreign currency. Among travelers, 38% said they prefer cards because of robust security and fraud protection features, while 20% cite wide acceptance. Apple Pay seamlessly delivers on these exact needs by making everyday transactions easy, secure...

Ready for a home glow-up? Australian home and lifestyle brand Anko brings the internet’s most viral trends straight into Filipino homes with its fresh, new Home collection. From standout decor accents to household essentials and modular, versatile pieces, this lineup proves you can add color and personality to your dream space all at affordable prices. The collection officially arrives in stores at TriNoma, Glorietta 2, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Gateway Mall 1 starting Friday, July 30, with some products already available in stores. Thoughtfully curated by Anko’s in-house design and buying team in Melbourne, the collection taps straight into a global obsession with crafting homes that feel alive, expressive, and deeply personal. Designed for real homes, real budgets, and real lifestyles, the collection is built to layer into a setup you already have, making it easy to refresh rather than replac...

Watsons, the flagship health and beauty brand of AS Watson, announced the launch of Watsons Evergreen, as part of the Group’s 185th anniversary celebrations. To elevate its significance and create a consistent and credible expression across markets, Watsons partnered with the Pantone Color Institute, the world’s leading authority on color.  Combining Watsons’ rich heritage with Pantone’s expertise, the collaboration helped define and articulate a global brand asset that captures the essence of Watsons and its vision for the future. A colour that brings the brand to life Watsons Evergreen is a vibrant blue-green hue that symbolizes everyday vitality, care and reassurance, reflecting Watsons’ purpose of helping customers LOOK GOOD, DO GOOD, FEEL GREAT every day. As a distinctive visual identity, it creates a shared language that connects Watsons markets worldwide. From Watsons’ logo and store design to merchandising ...

Between streaming subscriptions, mobile data, TV services, and home internet, today's families are juggling more digital subscriptions than ever before. While each service plays an important role in everyday life, managing multiple accounts and monthly bills can quickly become expensive and complicated. Making digital living simpler, PLDT Home introduces its new Fiber Unli All plans, bringing together unlimited fiber, Cignal TV, HBO Max, Smart mobile data, and unlimited calls in one convenient subscription. Whether working from home, attending online classes, streaming movies, gaming, or staying connected while on the go, Filipino families depend on several digital services every day. Bringing them together in one subscription makes digital living simpler while delivering greater value every month. “Today's connected households want more ...