Level Up ang Weeknight Ulam with the Hamilton Beach Air Grill

 

Transform your daily dining routine and elevate your home-cooked meals with America's No. 1 small kitchen appliance brand.

Tired of serving the same old fried or stewed dishes every single night and longing for inihaw foods? Weeknight dinners in a busy household can often feel repetitive but transforming your daily dining routine doesn't have to mean spending hours over a hot stove or taking a long time to heat up a conventional grill. If you want to Level Up your Weeknight Ulam, bringing home the best smart multi-functional BBQ Air Grill and fryer is the game-changer you need.

Discover the Hamilton Beach Air Grill AF06201—a smart griller and air fryer powerhouse designed specifically for the modern Pinoy kitchen. Backed by America's No. 1 small kitchen appliance brand, this sleek countertop companion lets you enjoy authentic, restaurant-quality grilled and fried favorites right at home, minus the smoke and messy cleanup.

By combining high-velocity air circulation with a heavy-duty, high-heat non-stick ceramic grill plate and basket, the AirGrill infuses authentic grill marks and smoky char into everyday proteins—without the smoke, the charcoal prep, or the messy cleanup. Suddenly, that humble Petsa de Peligro pork chop undergoes a glow-up into a juicy, premium charred pork steak. Frozen chicken transforms into a perfectly crisp,  BBQ Inasal in a fraction of the usual cooking time.

Key Features of Smart Grilling

• Air Turbo 360° Technology: Cooks food thoroughly without the need for oil, delivering a deliciously crispy texture while keeping meals healthy.

• Ultra-High Temperature Control: Reaches a maximum searing temperature of 230°C to quickly seal in natural juices by crisping the edges.

• Extra-Thick & Extra-Wide Grill Plates: Designed to retain heat and control temperatures effectively, the baking tray is spacious enough to cook up to 6 steaks at a single go or 900g of French fries.

• Reduced Oil Smoke System: Engineered to keep oil smoke out of your kitchen, ensuring a pleasant, smoke-free cooking experience.

• Hassle-Free Maintenance: Features a durable ceramic coating that is wear-resistant and easy to clean, paired with a removable oil-resistant plate.

• 15 Versatile Preset Menus: Take the guesswork out of cooking with dedicated presets for French fries, pizza, sweet potato, cheese toast, egg tart, steak, drumstick, chicken wings, duck, eggplant, fish, shrimp, sausage, kebab, and dried fruit.

Whether you are searing juicy steaks, grilling smoky eggplant, or whipping up a batch of crispy fries for the family, the Hamilton Beach AirGrill turns ordinary ingredients into extraordinary feasts. Say goodbye to kitchen burnout and hello to a smarter, tastier way to cook!

Discover Hamilton Beach Air Grill at L Smart Lounge Greenhills or Ayala Solenad. It is also available at Larx Trading, 91 Don Jose Street, Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City. 

Visit our facebook page for more information facebook.com/hamiltonbeachphils

3 Tips to Help Freelancers Price Their Work More Confidently

 

MANILA, Philippines - Learning how to set rates is one of the hardest parts of freelancing. It can be difficult to know whether you’re charging too much, too little, or just enough. If you’re a young freelancer trying to figure it out, here’s an expert guide to pricing your work from three seasoned professionals.

1. Start with a minimum sustainable rate

For many new freelancers, the first step in pricing starts with an important personal consideration: How much do you actually need to earn to make freelancing sustainable? For finance expert Arnel Legaspi, this means building a baseline rate that reflects the minimum needed to sustain both your personal and work expenses.

A freelancer's organized workspace, showing the planning behind setting a sustainable baseline rate.

“I studied freelance platforms to understand what clients were typically willing to pay and what other editors were charging. This became my minimum rate and gave me a realistic starting point,” he recounts.

Meanwhile, for social media manager Kyla Dizon, that baseline becomes clearer when you also factor in the costs of running your freelance business. “From internet bills and electricity to software subscriptions, tools should be taken into account because these things help you do your work,” she explains. Once these expenses are identified, freelancers can identify a true minimum rate that ensures every project contributes to financial sustainability.

2. Charge for the value you are able to provide – not just the hours spent 

Pricing should reflect the value you bring to a client’s business. According to content creator Rini Mendoza, many freelancers fall into the trap of accepting underpaid work just to build experience, but this often leads to undervaluing their own growth. ”The biggest lesson I’ve learned about pricing as a freelancer over the years is that not every work project is to be accepted or considered, especially when the clients are lowballing. That’s why, as they always say, know your worth as a freelancer!” she shares. 

Rini at work, putting into practice the importance of pricing her services based on the value she brings.

When pricing your work as a freelancer, it helps to present yourself as a partner in your client’s growth. Regardless of whether you are a social media manager, virtual assistant, financial planner, graphic designer, or writer, you are being hired because your work creates outcomes, not just output. 

For Kyla, this shift in mindset is what also builds your confidence when pricing your work, so she encourages freelancers to ask: By doing your job, what do you offer your client? How much time are you saving your client? When you understand the value you bring to the table, it becomes easier to price your services with confidence. 

3. Account for platform costs, taxes, and other deductions 

Freelancers have to deal with transfer fees, platform charges, taxes, software subscriptions, and payment delays. For freelancers working with international clients and earning in currencies like USD, exchange rates and conversion timing can also make earnings unpredictable.

Arnel balances client projects while keeping track of his freelance earnings through the GCash Virtual US Account.

Because of this, Arnel, Kyla, and Rini think beyond just setting rates. They also consider how effectively they can manage what they earn. They use the GCash Virtual US Account, a new feature in the GCash app that lets freelancers receive USD payments from clients directly and convert earnings to PHP when it makes the most sense for them. Once withdrawn, funds can be used directly for bills, savings, and other everyday expenses. 

For freelancers, pricing confidently goes beyond setting a rate and involves understanding how that rate is affected by fees, timing, and conversions. Follow these three tips for pricing your work and be sure to use the right tools to support you, like the GCash Virtual US Account.

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About GCash

GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash’s mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion in the Philippines.

GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.

G-Xchange Inc. (GXI) is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). To know more, Visit the GCash Help Center or call us at 2882 (Globe/TM) / (02) 7213-9999 (Globe Landline), or Internet Call through the Help Center.

Your Mid-Year Money Reset: Five Ways to Make the Rest of 2026 Count

 

There's something about the middle of the year that makes people reassess everything: the routines they've kept, the goals they've quietly abandoned, and the habits they want to change. Money shouldn't be any different.

Halfway through 2026 isn't just another milestone on the calendar, it's an opportunity to check whether your financial habits are still helping you get where you want to go. Because the smartest financial plans aren't the ones you never change, they're the ones that evolve as life does.

Whether your priorities have shifted or you're simply looking to finish the year stronger, here are six practical ways to give your finances a mid-year reset with Maya, the country's #1 Digital Bank and leading all-in-one fintech platform.

1. Ask yourself if you're still saving for the right goal

One of the biggest misconceptions about financial planning is that your goals should stay the same all year; but life changes. The trip you wanted to take may have become an emergency fund, a gadget can wait while home repairs suddenly take priority, or maybe you've accomplished one goal and it's time to start another.

That's not falling behind. That's adapting.

With Maya Personal Goals, users can create up to five personalized savings goals while earning up to 8% interest p.a., making it easier to save separately for everything from travel and emergencies to bigger life milestones.

2. Give your savings a promotion

If your savings account is simply holding your money, it might be worth asking: Could it be doing more?

A mid-year reset isn't just about saving more. It's about making the money you've already saved continue working in the background.

With Maya Savings, users can earn up to 15% interest p.a., credited daily, while keeping their funds accessible whenever they need them.

For money that won't be needed anytime soon, Maya Time Deposit Plus offers another way to grow savings over a fixed period with rates of up to 6% p.a. and the flexibility to top up funds anytime.

Because even small adjustments today can make a meaningful difference by year-end.

3. Make every peso do more than one job

One habit worth carrying into the second half of the year? Getting more value from the spending you're already doing. Whether it's rewards, cashback, or perks, everyday expenses don't have to end once you've paid the bill.

With the Maya Black Credit Card, cardholders earn up to 10x Maya Miles at Maya Black Preferred merchants, while its Visa-powered acceptance makes it easy to use whether you're dining locally or traveling abroad. Those Maya Miles can be redeemed for vouchers for shopping, dining, and more, helping stretch the value of purchases you've already made.

Meanwhile, the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card offers 5% cashback at Landers, 2% cashback on dining, and 1% cashback on most purchases. Cardholders also enjoy a ₱7.00-per-liter fuel discount at Landers-Caltex stations.

4. Don't mistake flexibility for falling behind

Not every financial surprise comes from overspending, sometimes expenses simply arrive all at once: a family celebration, repairs, school-related expenses, or even holiday bookings. Even well-planned budgets can feel stretched when timing doesn't cooperate.

For bigger purchases that you'd rather spread out over time, Maya's Mini Payments feature lets eligible purchases be converted into 3, 6, 9, or 12-month installment plans at a fixed add-on interest rate at 1% per month, with zero processing fees on Mini Payments created until September 30, 2026.

For more unexpected financial needs, Maya Easy Credit offers access to up to ₱50,000, repayable within 30 days. Meanwhile, Maya Personal Loan provides up to ₱400,000 with flexible monthly repayment terms—all within the Maya app and without the usual paperwork or collateral.

5. Don’t let predictable expenses catch you by surprise

Some of the biggest expenses each year aren't actually unexpected, they're simply easy to underestimate.

Holiday shopping, year-end travel, family celebrations, and school-related costs tend to arrive around the same time, putting extra pressure on monthly budgets.

Planning for them doesn't necessarily mean setting aside huge amounts overnight. Giving yourself a few extra months to prepare can make those expenses feel much more manageable when they eventually come around.

For longer-term goals, Maya Time Deposit Plus lets users grow their savings with rates of up to 6% p.a., while offering the flexibility to top up funds anytime, making it easier to prepare today for what's already on the horizon.

Halfway through the year isn't a finish line or a report card. It's simply a chance to pause and ask whether your money is still supporting the life you're trying to build.

Maybe your priorities have changed. Maybe your spending habits have improved. Or maybe the goals you set in January no longer reflect where you are today. That's not a setback, it's part of life.

Just as we regularly reassess our work, our routines, and our personal goals, our finances deserve the same kind of attention. A mid-year reset is an opportunity to make sure your savings, spending, and financial habits still align with what matters most today.

After all, there's still half a year left to make meaningful progress.

To know more, visit maya.ph or mayabank.ph, and follow @makeyourmoneymaya on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to stay updated. Approval and offer are subject to credit evaluation. Maya Philippines, Inc. and Maya Bank, Inc. are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. www.bsp.gov.ph. For 24/7 assistance, visit the Help Center in the Maya app or call us from 8 AM to 7 PM daily at +632 8845-7788.

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About Maya 

Maya is the #1 Fintech Ecosystem in the Philippines, with Maya, the #1 Digital Bank, and Maya Business, the #1 Omni-Channel Payment Processor. Maya Bank is a digital bank regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), with deposits insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) up to ₱1 million per depositor. To learn more about Maya, check out maya.ph and mayabank.ph. Follow Maya at @makeyourmoneymaya on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok and @mayaofficialph on Twitter.   

For more information:

Nick Wilwayco

Head of Public Affairs and Communications

Maya

nick.wilwayco@maya.ph  

 

EastWest Brings Garmin Pay to Cardholders: Move, Tap, and Go

Customers can link EastWest Visa and Mastercard cards to Garmin wearables for faster, easier contactless payments

[MANILA, Philippines – June 2026] East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) is making payments move with the customer through the launch of Garmin Pay for eligible EastWest cardholders.

With Garmin Pay, EastWest customers can make contactless payments using compatible Garmin smartwatches—devices commonly used for fitness and everyday activity tracking. From workouts to errands, customers can simply tap their watch at any contactless-enabled terminal—no cash, no physical card, and no mobile phone needed.

The launch allows EastWest customers to enroll eligible Visa debit and credit cards, as well as Mastercard credit cards, into Garmin Pay. Customers may also link multiple EastWest cards and choose which one to use, giving them more flexibility and control over everyday spending, whether locally or abroad.

“At EastWest, we are focused on making everyday moments simpler and more seamless for our customers,” said Norman Martin C. Reyes, EastWest SVP and Head of Bank Marketing and Cash Management. “Whether you’re biking, running, grabbing a quick coffee, or heading out for an errand, you can leave your wallet and phone behind—just tap your watch and you’re done. It’s one less thing to carry, and one less thing to worry about.”

Garmin Pay adds another layer of ease to EastWest’s expanding digital payments ecosystem, which includes EastWest Pay, the Bank’s proprietary mobile payment app, and Google Pay for mobile contactless transactions. With these solutions, EastWest customers can choose how they want to pay depending on their lifestyle, device, and everyday needs.

For customers who are always on the move, Garmin Pay brings together speed, security, and convenience in one wearable payment experience. Card details are protected, transactions are contactless, and payments may be made wherever contactless payments are accepted.

“How Filipinos pay continues to evolve, with customers expecting solutions that are fast, flexible, and easy,” said EastWest CEO Jerry Ngo. “By enabling both Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards on our digital payment solutions, we are giving our customers greater control and convenience, while continuing to make banking easier and more relevant to their everyday lives.”

Known for its GPS-enabled smartwatches and fitness-focused wearables, Garmin has become a trusted companion for customers who lead active, health-conscious lifestyles. Garmin Pay is now available to EastWest customers with eligible Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards and compatible Garmin wearables.

To know more, visit https://www.eastwestbanker.com/pages/garmin-pay.

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About East West Banking Corporation:

East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) is a Filipino-owned universal bank. EastWest is a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), one of the country’s leading conglomerates with a diverse range of interests including real estate, banking, hospitality & tourism, infrastructure power generation, and sugar. It is not affiliated with any foreign financial institution which may bear the same name. For more information, visit www.eastwestbanker.com.

School Bells and Warning Signals: Teaching Your Kids to Listen to Their Gut Early

 School Bells and Warning Signals: Teaching Your Kids to Listen to Their Gut Early

Back-to-school season often brings changes in routine, environment, and diet—making it a time when children’s digestive comfort can be more easily disrupted.

Parents are usually quick to track grades, behavior, and even immunity—but gut signals? Those often get lost somewhere between “I’m fine” and “I just don’t feel good.” The truth is that kids often feel discomfort in their gut long before they can explain it properly. What they can’t name, they act out, ignore, or brush off.

With the transition from a more relaxed summer schedule to structured school routines, changes in sleep, eating habits, and daily stress levels can show up in ways that are not always immediately obvious. According to an article by Everyday Parenting, kids are still figuring out how to interpret what their bodies are telling them—and the gut is often the first to speak, but the hardest to decode. What starts as mild tummy discomfort, a skipped meal, extra fatigue, or sudden irritability can easily be brushed off as “just a phase” or “bad mood,” when in reality, these may be subtle signals worth paying attention to. 

That’s why gut awareness isn’t just a health topic—it’s an early life skill. Learning to recognize what their body is trying to say, even in its simplest form, helps kids respond better to their feelings instead of just pushing through them.

Teaching Kids to “Listen to Their Gut” (Literally)

1. Make “masakit tiyan” something to talk about, not ignore

A report from Michigan Medicine notes that kids often downplay stomach pain, especially during school hours, and are quick to say they’re “fine.” But recurring tummy pain, bloating, or discomfort should not be treated as something to simply endure. Encouraging kids to speak up early helps parents spot possible digestive issues sooner and reinforces that stomach discomfort should not be ignored, especially at school, where children may be reluctant to mention symptoms due to embarrassment or fear of standing out.

2. Teach them to notice patterns, not just one-off symptoms

As an article from Harvard Health points out, tummy concerns in children don’t always appear as obvious pain. They may show up as loss of appetite, frequent bathroom trips, fatigue, or irritability after eating. Helping kids notice when these signs happen—after certain meals, busy days, or poor sleep—builds awareness of patterns that may signal digestive imbalance, particularly when routines shift due to school, activities, or schedule changes.

3. Build simple gut-friendly habits into their daily routine

Many common tummy issues can be supported by consistent daily habits. Regular meals, proper hydration, enough sleep, and good hygiene all help promote smoother digestion, especially during busy school routines. Probiotics can also help support gut balance with proper diet and exercise by maintaining a healthy digestive environment during periods of increased exposure in shared spaces like classrooms, school buses, playgrounds, and cafeterias.

4. Reassure them that “feeling off” is still worth sharing

A study published in the National Library of Medicine notes that not all digestive discomfort is easy for children to describe. Sometimes it’s just a vague “weird” feeling in the stomach, mild nausea, or general unease. Building a habit where kids feel safe to speak up—even when they can’t fully explain what they feel—helps parents respond early. Persistent or worsening symptoms, however, should always be checked by a doctor.

Healthy Habits Start with Listening Early

Between school bells, packed schedules, and daily distractions, it’s easy for kids to overlook what their bodies are trying to communicate. Periods of change, like the start of a school term, often highlight these gaps in awareness. But when they are guided to recognize early gut signals, speak up about discomfort, and practice simple digestive health habits, they develop stronger body awareness that supports them beyond childhood.

“At Erceflora, we believe supporting children’s wellbeing includes being attentive to both what they express and subtle changes in their daily behavior,” said Rica Mateo, Erceflora ASEA Zone Brand Lead. “Digestive discomfort in children may show up as changes in appetite, energy, mood, or routine, especially during busy school days. Encouraging open conversations about tummy concerns and reinforcing simple healthy habits such as proper hygiene, balanced meals, and consistent routines can help support children’s digestive wellness and help them feel more comfortable, confident, and ready for daily activities.”

Alongside these habits, probiotic supplements such as Erceflora Probiotics may also be included in overall digestive care. Erceflora Probiotics with billions of 4-strain INTELLI-SPORES™ is for all ages above 6 months old. It aims to aid in the enhancement of natural resistance to intestinal infections, the enhancement of intestinal ecology, the improvement of digestion, and the improvement of lactose malabsorption with proper diet and exercise.

Because when children learn to pay attention to what their bodies are telling them—and are given the right daily habits and care—they don’t just avoid tummy troubles. They build lasting awareness, confidence, and healthy routines that help them stay active and feel their best through every school season ahead.

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MAHALAGANG PAALALA: ANG ERCEFLORA GUT DEFENSE AT ERCEFLORA GUT RESTORE AY HINDI GAMOT AT HINDI DAPAT GAMITING PANGGAMOT SA ANUMANG URI NG SAKIT. 

MAT-PH-2600811  / Ver 1.0 / DA 06-2026 / DM 06-2026

Opella Healthcare Philippines Inc.

ASC REF No. S0024P061526E

For media inquiries, contact Rebel Marketing on behalf of Erceflora:  

Regina Arquiza, Account Manager 

reginaarquiza@rebelmarketing.com.ph

DAVID LICAUCO, JANEENA CHAN, FABIO IDE, ELLEN FROJD, AND TEEJAY MARQUEZ SHARE THEIR WELLNESS SECRETS AT BLUEWATER DAY SPA’S ‘SUMMER UNWIND’

In an industry where long shooting days, endless commitments, and demanding schedules have become the norm, making time for wellness has become more important than ever.

This was the message shared by BlueWater Day Spa endorsers David Licauco, Fabio Ide, Ellen Frojd, Teejay Marquez, and newest endorser Janeena Chan during the brand’s recently held “Summer Unwind” event at BlueWater Day Spa Eton Greenhills.

Hosted by Jerome Sangalang, the gathering brought together members of the entertainment media, lifestyle personalities, and friends of the brand for an afternoon focused on self-care, wellness, and meaningful conversations about maintaining balance amid busy lifestyles.

BlueWater Day Spa President and CEO Mary Simisim and Operations Manager Nancy Go join the brand's celebrity endorsers during the Summer Unwind event at BlueWater Day Spa Eton Greenhills.

One of the event’s highlights was the official introduction of Janeena Chan as the newest member of the BlueWater Day Spa family.

The singer, host, and content creator shared her excitement about joining a brand whose values align with her own advocacy for wellness and positive living.

Janeena Chan is officially welcomed as the newest member of the BlueWater Day Spa family.

Meanwhile, actor and entrepreneur David Licauco reflected on his long-standing relationship with BlueWater Day Spa, a partnership that has grown alongside his career through the years.

Known for remaining grounded despite his continued success, David shared that taking care of one’s well-being is just as important as achieving professional milestones.

Longtime BlueWater Day Spa endorser David Licauco shares insights on wellness, self-care, and staying grounded amid success.

BlueWater Day Spa endorsers David Licauco and Janeena Chan during the Summer Unwind media event.

Fabio Ide and Ellen Frojd also spoke about the role wellness plays within their family life.

The celebrity couple revealed how wellness experiences have become opportunities for quality family bonding, emphasizing the importance of teaching children the value of balance, self-care, and healthy habits at an early age.

Fabio Ide and Ellen Frojd discuss family wellness, self-care, and creating meaningful bonding moments through shared experiences.

For Teejay Marquez, whose work often takes him to different countries, maintaining physical and mental wellness has become essential in keeping up with a fast-paced lifestyle.

The actor and content creator shared how making time to recharge allows him to continue bringing positive energy both online and offline.

Teejay Marquez shares how he stays balanced and recharged despite his fast-paced lifestyle and international projects.

Beyond the conversations, the afternoon was filled with laughter as the endorsers participated in interactive games alongside members of the media.

The friendly challenges gave attendees a glimpse of the celebrities’ personalities outside of their usual on-screen roles, creating memorable moments throughout the event.

Endorsers and members of the media participate in interactive wellness-themed games during BlueWater Day Spa's Summer Unwind celebration.

The gathering also highlighted some of BlueWater Day Spa’s most sought-after services, including the signature Chiang Mai Massage, the restorative Thai Yoga Massage, and the advanced 5D Laser Treatment.

According to BlueWater Day Spa President and CEO Mary Simisim, the event was designed to remind people that wellness should not be viewed as an occasional indulgence but as an essential part of everyday life.

As summer continues, the brand hopes to inspire more Filipinos to prioritize themselves, slow down when needed, and make time to recharge.

After all, as the campaign’s message reminds everyone, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to simply pause, recharge, and unwind.

For over two decades, BlueWater Day Spa has remained one of the country’s leading wellness destinations, offering a wide range of treatments designed to help guests achieve relaxation, rejuvenation, and overall well-being.

The celebrity endorsers cap off the afternoon with a special mug-signing activity for BlueWater Day Spa.

ABOUT BLUEWATER DAY SPA

BlueWater Day Spa is one of the Philippines’ leading wellness destinations, offering a comprehensive range of massage, body, wellness, and skincare treatments designed to promote relaxation, rejuvenation, and overall well-being.

Known for its signature wellness experiences, BlueWater Day Spa continues to provide guests with a sanctuary where they can pause, recharge, and unwind from the demands of everyday life.

BlueWater Day Spa has branches in Banawe, Quezon City; Eton Square Ortigas in Greenhills, San Juan; and Estancia Mall in Pasig City.

To learn more, follow @bluewaterdayspaofficial on Instagram and TikTok, and bwdspa on Facebook.