Call for Nominations: 8th National Children's Book Awards

The National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) are proud to announce the return of the National Children's Book Awards (NCBA). 

This prestigious award is held every two years where the NCBA celebrates the finest achievements in Philippine children's and young adult literature. The award recognizes works of fiction, nonfiction, picture books, graphic novels, and comic books expressly labeled for children. 

If you have a book that you wish to nominate, then you can simply please fill out the form here: https://bit.ly/8THNCBA.

Here are some reminders before you submit that nomination: 

1. Only books published in the Philippines by an NBDB-registered publisher within 2022 and 2023 are eligible for nomination
2. It must be written in English or Filipino. 
3. The deadline for submission is on February 28, 2024, at 2:00 PM.

The full submission guidelines can be accessed at https://books.gov.ph/8thncba.

For more details: please contact Addie Pobre or Catherine Orda at awards@books.gov.ph. 

Magbabagsakan Dito: #TheToughestPhone HONOR X9b 5G officially arrives on January 12

HONOR Philippines just made the highly anticipated grand launch of HONOR X9b 5G more exciting! Fans are more than ecstatic as Parokya ni Edgar Vocalist Chito Miranda was confirmed to grace the unveiling of the toughest phone on January 12, 2024. You can catch it live on Facebook at exactly 7PM!

“We are very happy to announce that Chito Miranda, Parokya Ni Edgar’s vocalist will perform during the launch of our HONOR X9b 5G together with Miss Charm Philippines and HONOR Star Pauline Amelincx as the host. This is just one of our suprises, there’s more to watch out for so stay tuned,” said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng.

The HONOR X9b 5G is a marvel of modern design and technology. Its golden curvature strikes the perfect balance between aesthetic appeal and user comfort, making it an absolute pleasure to hold. Despite its premium features, the HONOR X9b is surprisingly light and thin, weighing just 185g with a width of 7.98mm. In addition, the triple camera system is meticulously crafted with the precision of light luxury watch craftsmanship. The body is encased in vegan leather, providing a delicate and skin-friendly touch. The HONOR X9b 5G is more than just a smartphone, it is a statement of style and sophistication.

Don't dare to miss out the unveiling of #TheToughestPhone in the market and the performance of Chito Miranda on January 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM via Facebook Live: https://bit.ly/FB_X9b_Pressrelease.

The Filipinos’ favorite: Home Credit financed 1.7M mobile phones in 2023

As 2023 came to a close, Home Credit, the country’s leading consumer finance company, reveals an interesting trend in the Philippine market: an increase in the number of purchases of various commodities, particularly mobile phones with 1.7M units financed. This surge in products sold was facilitated through Home Credit’s year-long promos, including the most recent 0% interest on installment financing.

This year, Home Credit saw a significant upswing in purchases across different categories, showing a shift in what consumers prefer. With a focus on empowering Filipinos to realize their personal and family goals, Home Credit's offerings have reflected an evolution in lifestyle choices and aspirations.

Among the highlighted categories, mobile and tablet purchases garnered the greatest number of units sold, indicating a continued reliance on these devices for work, education, and entertainment. The volume sold in this category, marked by an impressive 1.7M units, showcases the enduring significance of these gadgets in everyday life. For this year, the brand to highlight is Apple, which is now the top mobile brand for Home Credit, with a 100% sales increase from last year.

Filipino consumers have also shown a marked interest in upgrading their living spaces. The appeal of modernizing households resonated strongly, evident in the 420,000 units of home appliances financed by Home Credit. The specifications of these appliances, tailored to enhance convenience and efficiency, have appealed to consumers seeking to upgrade their home appliances in time for the new year.

Meanwhile, the demand for TV and electronics, computers, furniture, and other home improvement materials saw notable traction, signifying a desire for enhanced connectivity and comfort in homes. The specifications of these products, focused on delivering superior performance and comfort, have been key factors driving their popularity.

When it comes to goods supporting sustainability, the demand has also been noteworthy, especially for e-bikes. This year, Home Credit has seen a 122% sales growth in e-bikes, a proof point in the growing trend of green living and alternative transportation products.

The introduction of The Great 0% Festival by Home Credit has been pivotal in driving these purchases. This limited-time promo offers holiday deals and 0% interest rates on installment plans, spanning from six to 18 months. Available at Home Credit partner stores and Shoppingmall.ph, these offers make lifestyle and tech products more accessible, promising an unforgettable holiday season for Filipino families.

Don’t miss The Great 0% Festival! Make your dreams and aspirations this holiday season come true with Home Credit’s special offer, available until January 2024!

To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are also encouraged to download the My Home Credit App on Google Play to learn more about the latest promos and see what’s new in Shopping Mall Philippines. Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Shopping for Gold Jewelry Made Safe and Easy with the ML Wallet App

Happy New Year! 

It's the first week of January and it is the perfect time for resolutions and realizations. With everything that has happened last month, here I am rethinking about life choices and my priorities. This led me to my "Word of the Year" which is PRACTICALITY.

If you have been following my blog, you'll know that I love to shop. In many cases, I even consider myself a hoarder (especially when it comes to books) but for 2024, I would like to be more practical. I know that I can't simply stop shopping. It’s just so sad not to receive any new parcels and I think my fellow shopaholics can relate to that, so, instead, I want to spend on more useful things or perhaps on stuff whose value appreciates over time. After all, we still deserve to receive and treat ourselves for all the hard work that we do. 

An example is to buy more gold jewellery. Yes, the authentic ones that you can use and pawn during emergencies. Something that can be considered as an investment since it appreciates in value. 

So, when Val asked me what Christmas present I would like, I opted for a new pair of earrings. 

We really did not have time to go to the mall during the holiday season so, I just tried to search online and this is how I discovered the ML wallet app. 

ML Wallet is M Lhuillier’s official mobile application that allows users to send and receive money, buy load, pay bills and buying items using a smartphone. 

Shopping for Gold Jewelry has never been this safe and easy. I know that there are a lot of online scams right now so, having a trusted and reliable jeweller truly makes a difference. Once you have downloaded the app and created an account, just click the SHOP icon and you'll be redirected to the M Lhuillier Jewellers where you can buy authentic gold jewelry. 

Did I mention that you can buy an 18k yellow gold pendant for as low as Php 1,250? 

In fact, their jewelry selection is extensive. They have 21k, 18k and 14k gold jewelry available. Its filter function works really well making it easy to narrow down your search according to budget, preferred color (yes, they even have two-tone and tri-tone) and style. 

Some items are also on sale. Just like the zirconia earrings that I was eyeing, it comes with an additional 10% off making it Php 2,745 only from the original price of Php 3,051. Very affordable, right? 

Anyway, if you are planning to invest in gold this 2024, then don't forget to download the ML Wallet App.

Aside from shopping, you can also send money from one ML Wallet account to another for FREE with Wallet to Wallet feature. You can also cash in your own ML wallet for free by visiting the nearest M Lhuillier branch or through ML Wallet's partner banks. 

The ML Wallet App is available for free in Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Huawei App Gallery.