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Pokémon Battle Festival Asia 2021 challenges idol groups, regional influencers

December 15, 2021 7:33 p.m.

The Pokémon Company, together with ESL Gaming Asia, announced a special tournament showcase featuring idols from JKT48, BNK48, MNL48 and CGM48 and special invitationals for influencers of various regions to battle it out!

Pokémon UNITE AKB48 Group Invitational

The Pokémon UNITE AKB48 Group Invitational will feature idols from the popular AKB48 group, mainly JKT48 from Jakarta, BNK48 from Bangkok, MNL48 from Manila, and CGM48 from Chiang Mai. Fourteen teams have been formed in total. Groups with more than 2 teams will compete in an internal qualifier.

The top 2 teams from each 48 Groups will be the representatives in the Group Stage on January 8 and 9, 2022. The Playoffs will be held on January 16, 2022. Fans can look forward to cheering for their favorite idols as the Group Stage and Playoffs will be broadcasted live.

Regional influencers battle it out in special invitationals

Popular influencers from across the region will battle it out on various popular Pokémon games happening from December 2021 till February 2022. Here are some important dates: Pokémon Trading Card Game Invitational on January 22, 2022, and Pokémon UNITE Invitational on February 5, 2022.

Don’t miss all the action from the following influencers: 蔥蔥 ChungChung, Deer 鹿兒, Kisabbb, KZee, 馬馬 Rose Ma from Hong Kong; AK Gaming, Alpats Gaming, Gilang FA GAME, Lynnda from Indonesia;  Bexed, Cometopapa, MasterRamen, MissRose Gaming, Obot Gaming, Vokey Gaming from Malaysia; Arthars, Nadia, Sean, SynC, SkyWee from Singapore; 小潔_Mina from Taiwan; Attempt Z, HotHead – เกมเมอร์หัวร้อน, JAI RAW ใจร้าว, Jz O.racle, Online Station from Thailand; and Alodia Gosiengfiao, Dexie Diaz, Elie Gaming, Lhea Bernardino, Moymoy Palaboy from the Philippines. More influencers to be announced!

Pokémon Battle Festival Asia Highlight Show & Giveaway

The Highlight Shows uploaded on YouTube will bring fans the latest Pokémon Battle Festival Asia news. Join the cast of international hosts such as Markki Stroem, Danelie, Tashbunny, SHINN, LoDay and Pierre Liu.

For fans who watch the Highlight Show, there are many giveaways in store. In the first giveaway, fans who make a TikTok video of themselves watching the Pokémon Battle Festival Asia Highlight Show and mention who their favorite Pokémon from the Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Animation Series, can stand a chance to win a Nintendo Switch™ and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Fans can watch Episode 1 at https://youtu.be/X_NIzXbtYU0

Stay tuned to the Highlight Show so they won’t miss future giveaways! For different regions, giveaways may vary.

For more information on Pokémon Battle Festival Asia, please visit: https://pokemonbattlefest.com/

Pokémon UNITE announces new content for players

On December 9, Remoat Stadium changed into a wintery look, holiday holowear and much more will also be available soon.

New Pokémon’s participation

Tsareena and Dragonite joined the UNITE Battle on December 9 and on December 20, respectively! Also, players who log in between December 9 (after the update) and January 1, 2022, 9 a.m. will receive a free UNITE License for Tsareena.

New look of Remoat Stadium

Starting December 9, the Remoat Stadium had a fresh new look and different wild Pokémons will change as well. Articuno made an appearance at the Legend Pit. Get ready for a hot UNITE Battle amidst the ice and snow!

Special UNITE Battle in Shivre City

From December 15 to January 16, 2022, trainers will be able to play “Snow Battle” at Shivre City. In this special UNITE Battle, Delibird will appear as a wild Pokémon carrying a present. At the start of the battle, trainers will not be able to choose a battle item. However, when a Delibird comes along and drops a present, trainers will be able to temporarily use one out of nine powerful special battle items at random. So, trainers, use those wisely to win your battles!

All Pokémon Trials Period

From January 1, 2022 at 8 a.m. until January 4, 2022 at 8 a.m., all Pokémon Trial Licenses will be valid for use, and all Pokémon, including the new Tsareena and Dragonite, will be playable in Standard and Quick Matches.

Holiday-style holowear

The holiday-style holowear for Pikachu, Dragonite, Blastoise, Mamoswine, Garchomp, and Gardevoir together with Crustle’s cake-style holowear that looks like a Christmas cake will be available.

Light Up Challenge

From December 15 to January 16, 2022, trainers who complete daily missions and challenge missions not only get items, but also “Ray” too! Trainers will be able to collect holiday items depending on the amount of “Ray” gathered.

Special Gifts

From December 24 to January 1, 2022, players will receive a daily gift. Moreover, if players log in during a certain period, they can choose several items out of the special gifts.

Photo Challenge

From December 24 to January 6, 2022, players will receive a “Snowflake” everytime they participate in a UNITE Battle. Collecting “Snowflakes” will reveal the hidden silhouettes in the photo and give players holiday items. Players should collect as many “Snowflakes” they can to complete their photo!

NEWS

Atayde bats for moratorium on student loan payments during emergencies, calamities

March 17, 2023 9:00 p.m.

STUDENTS won’t have to worry paying their loans during times of calamities and emergencies, as Quezon City first district Congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde has introduced a moratorium on the payment of student loans administered by higher educational institutions (HEIs).

The House Bill 7279, which Atayde filed last Feb. 21, headed into its first reading six days later in the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, chaired by Baguio City Rep. Mark O. Go.

He said the bill — once it turns to a law — will halt the payment of all the fees, charges, and costs relating to student loans and technical-vocational training institutions (TVIs) or by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) during emergencies.

It will cover all students residing in areas declared to be under a state of calamity or emergency — those who are enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), private HEIs, and public and private TVIs.

“We have to find a way to help our students and their families, when natural or even these man-made calamities hit them hard. We just have to make everything easy for them including a moratorium on the payment of student loans,” Atayde said. “It is a burden on a student and their family especially in difficult times like aftermath of typhoon, fire and earthquakes, among other disasters.”

“In the order of spending, student loans will be their least priority since spending will go mostly to basic necessities for survival,” Atayde added.

The moratorium shall be effective for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency and for 30 days after its lifting. No penalties shall be collected on the deferred payments.

“To provide adequate relief and protection to our students in times of calamities and emergencies, this measure shall allow the deferral of student loan collections for a reasonable period during and after the onset of disasters.”

The Quezon City lawmaker cited also the availability of the moratorium, which shall not adversely affect the status of the students concerned with regard to their eligibility for re-enrollment on the succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation.

“The proposed legislation doesn’t prevent public and private HEIs from implementing more favorable forms of payment relief or assistance to students affected by disasters, prohibiting students from voluntarily waiving the moratorium on student loan payments, or availing subsidies and assistance from the government,” Atayde concluded.

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NEWS

ShopeePay now available as a payment method for App Store, other Apple services in PH

March 16, 2023 1:59 p.m.

Beginning today, ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, is now available as a payment method for Apple services in the Philippines. Customers can use their ShopeePay account to pay for App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV app, and iTunes Store purchases, iCloud storage and more.

The addition of ShopeePay as an Apple ID payment method offers a new way to pay for Apple services without needing a credit card and still allows for easy, secure one-tap purchasing from Apple products including iPhone, iPad and Mac. 

Customers can manage their Apple ID payment information in Settings on iPhone and  iPad, or on their Mac or PC.

Agatha Soh, Director at ShopeePay commented, “ShopeePay is committed to meeting the needs of users who are increasingly expecting seamless payments across all platforms. We are excited to offer  ShopeePay as a convenient payment option for our customers, and expand  access to digital payments, benefitting more users.”

For more information on how to add ShopeePay as a payment method, please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201266 or https://shopee.ph/m/ShopeePay-Apple-ID-PH.

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NEWS

Be bolder, braver, more confident at SM Supermalls’ Women’s Month celebration!

March 8, 2023, 8:30 p.m.

Ladies, take center stage as SM celebrates Women Power throughout the month of March. Lots of activities both online and on-ground are in store to empower women and girls all over the country. 

Join the Future of Women Global Summit

SM Supermalls will be joining UN Women in kicking off the IWD 2023 celebration through a women’s summit on March 8, at the SM Aura Premier Samsung Hall. Focusing on the future of women in ICT, the two-part event will gather young women, country leaders, policy makers, and advocates together to share perspectives and affirm their commitment to supporting digital equality for women and girls. 

Photo courtesy of SM City Lucena

Photo courtesy of SM City San Jose del Monte

Support your local Womenpreneurs

Great finds for ladies are on sale at the SM Womenpreneur Market! This pop-up of small and medium businesses owned by women for women will give you everything you need from food and beauty to wellness and fashion! 

Wednesdays are for women!

Shopping on Wednesdays has become even more tempting because the Women’s Wednesday Sale is back! Achieve the glow-up you deserve with special discounts, deals, and promos on fashion, beauty, and fitness exclusively for women every Wednesday of March. So don’t hold back on your shopping; you deserve all these and more!

A beautiful treat of wellness all for you

Forda glow-up and pampering sesh tayo this month because lots of self-care deals are available at the Women’s Wellness Sale. Avail of great deals from wellness salons on facials, hair and body treatments, nail care, and massage from March 1 to March 31.

And more deals online!

Special deals are up for women via the SM Malls Online app. Get the best brand offerings every Wednesday from shoes and beauty and wellness to home and hobbies. Use the code WOMEN and get an extra 10% off, capped at 250. What’s great is that there’s no minimum purchase required! 

Also, a collection of brand vouchers will be sent to all women SM Malls Online shoppers valid all month. Wait for your Beauty Pass and give yourself the retail therapy you deserve with tons of discounts, GWP deals, samplers, in-store pick up bonuses, and mystery boxes!

Plus, the SM Malls Online app will be hosting self-care sessions online. Follow SM Supermalls on social media to get a dose of starter packages, Get-Ready-With-Me routines, and beauty products that your favorite beauty experts swear by.

Photo courtesy of SM City East Ortigas

Photo courtesy of SM City Manila

Celebrate Women Power on IG!

Capture the beauty and power of women at the beautiful spots and installations all over SM. Be free to express your own uniqueness and creativity in the specially-designed selfie spaces in partnership with Selfie Studio. Don’t forget to tag us on IG!

We don’t know about you but exciting days await every SM woman. So be bolder, braver, and more confident! With these activities, you can confidently step forward in fashion, beauty, wellness, and express yourselves to make a positive impact.

Stay updated on all things women this IWD 2023 by visiting www.smsupermalls.com and following @smsupermalls on social media. 

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