Anya Resort Tagaytay Wins Philippines' Leading Boutique Resort Award for Second Year in a Row

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Anya Resort Tagaytay

Anya Resort Tagaytay has solidified its position as a premier destination for luxury and service, securing the coveted title of Philippines' Leading Boutique Resort for the second consecutive year at the prestigious 31st World Travel Awards.

Held at the glamorous City of Dreams, the World Travel Awards celebrate the finest in travel, tourism, and hospitality across Asia. Anya Resort Tagaytay's repeat recognition as the Philippines' Leading Boutique Resort underscores its unwavering commitment to exceeding guest expectations.

Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards are recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.Their annual regional ceremonies celebrate the pinnacle of achievement within each continent.

Unparalleled Guest Experiences

Mikel Arriet

Mikel Arriet, General Manager of Anya Resort Tagaytay, received the award and praised his team's dedication. "This award is a testament to our team's resilience, passion, and commitment to providing unparalleled guest experiences," he said. "We create moments of tranquility and luxury that leave a lasting impression."

Nestled amidst Tagaytay's lush landscapes, Anya Resort Tagaytay offers a haven of tranquility. This 72-suite haven boasts modern amenities, personalized service, and stunning natural beauty. As a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), it caters to discerning travelers seeking exclusivity, comfort, and unparalleled experiences.

Guests can unwind at Anila, the resort's relaxing poolside restaurant, or indulge at Samira by Chele Gonzalez, a renowned Tagaytay destination led by acclaimed Chef Chele Gonzalez. The Niyama Wellness Center offers holistic treatments to rejuvenate body and mind.


Luxury Meets Sustainability

Anya Resort Tagaytay champions both luxury and environmental responsibility. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in their choice of materials, energy-efficient practices, and support for local communities. This harmonious blend sets them apart as a leader in the hospitality industry.

Discover why Anya Resort Tagaytay is the Philippines' Leading Boutique Resort. Visit their website at www.anyaresorts.com or follow them on social media.
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How Happy Skin Utilized TikTok Shop to Enhance Sales Performance

Tuesday, September 3, 2024


As the beauty industry continues to evolve, Filipino brand Happy Skin is at the forefront, blending innovation with a commitment to skin-friendly products. From its humble beginnings, Happy Skin has become a household name by offering makeup that cares for the skin. Recently, the brand has embraced the digital shift, harnessing the power of TikTok Shop to reach a wider audience and redefine customer engagement through live selling and strategic promotions.

“Our partnership with TikTok Shop has allowed us to meet our customers where they are most active,” said Jacqe Yuengtian-Gutierrez, CEO and Co-founder of Happy Skin. “Through live selling and targeted promotions, we have been able to create more meaningful connections with our audience, turning each interaction into an opportunity to showcase the value and quality of our products.”

A key driver of Happy Skin’s success has been its strategic use of TikTok Shop’s Assortment, Content, and Empowerment (ACE) indicator system. By aligning its efforts with these indicators, the brand has effectively enhanced its digital strategy, leading to significant sales growth.

Leveraging Product Diversity to Drive Sales

During the May 29-31 Payday sale, Happy Skin introduced notable discounts, including 50% off the bestselling Lip Mallow Tint and Lip Mallow Mousse. This promotion significantly contributed to the brand’s gross merchandise value (GMV), with these products alone accounting for 81% of total sales. The Kiss and Bloom Water Lip and Cheek Tint, a favorite on TikTok, also saw a surge in customer engagement, achieving a product conversion rate of 5.81%. Over 22,200 units of Lip Mallow products were sold, illustrating the impact of targeted promotions on sales performance.

Creating Engaging Shopping Experiences

Happy Skin leveraged TikTok Shop’s dynamic platform by scheduling several multi-hour live streams, collaborating with the Multichannel Network (MCN) Vertical Megabeauty and top live affiliates. These sessions, supported by Live Shopping Ads (LSA), were instrumental in boosting content-related GMV, which accounted for 70.3% of the total GMV—a significant increase of 16,240%. The brand-led live streams achieved GMV per session, which was 4.2 times higher than its usual performance.

“Our live streams have become a vital part of our strategy on TikTok Shop,” added Yuengtian-Gutierrez. “By engaging with our customers in real-time, we’re not just showcasing products, but we’re building a dynamic community around our brand. This interactive format has driven significant increases in both engagement and sales, proving essential for a modern, digital-first shopping experience.”

Amplifying Reach through Targeted Advertising

To bolster its live selling efforts, Happy Skin invested in LSAs and Video Shopping Ads (VSA), which were complemented by shop-exclusive vouchers and subsidies during peak periods. These initiatives led to ads GMV contributing nearly 20% to total shop sales, with an impressive Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) of 21.7. This period of strong performance earned the brand the #1 spot in Total Beauty, #2 in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), and #5 across all categories on May 30.

“TikTok Shop's ACE Indicator System was crucial in amplifying Happy Skin’s campaign,” said Franco Aligaen, Marketing Lead, TikTok Shop Philippines. “Through our advanced features like targeted ads and live selling, we were able to help the brand reach its audience more effectively, showcasing the potential for substantial growth on our platform."

Building on Digital Success

Happy Skin’s recent performance on TikTok Shop, including a 19.6x uplift during the 6.6 sale, underscores the brand’s successful adaptation to digital platforms and its ability to drive substantial growth. The brand continues to explore innovative strategies to engage with customers and expand its reach, setting a benchmark for other beauty brands on TikTok Shop.

Beyond business success, Happy Skin is also leveraging its partnership with TikTok Shop and HOPE to make a meaningful social impact. Through the ‘Build a Classroom’ program, every purchase on TikTok Shop contributes to funding classroom construction in underserved communities, reflecting the brand’s commitment to community betterment.

“Our recent success with TikTok Shop underscores the platform’s importance in our strategy,” added Yuengtian-Gutierrez. “As we continue to innovate and expand, TikTok Shop remains integral to maintaining our momentum in the beauty industry and amplifying our efforts to give back to the community.”

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Emirates doubles partnership connectivity in a year, opening opportunities for travelers to reach nearly 1,700 global cities beyond its network

Monday, September 2, 2024


In the past year, Emirates has doubled the number of cities it offers beyond its own network, unlocking nearly 1,700 additional cities beyond its own global network. This has enabled an average of over 61,000 passengers to seamlessly connect on the shared networks of Emirates and its partners every week.

By forging new partnerships and deepening existing ones across the transport ecosystem, the airline is delivering an array of additional travel choices alongside 31 codeshares, 118 interline, and 13 rail and helicopter services partners. Having 162 partners in over 100 countries means an expanded network reach with more and better connections for travelers, seamless single ticket itineraries, enhanced baggage transfers, frequent flyer benefits, lounge access, and other advantages to ensure a smooth travel experience at every touchpoint.

For customers of partner airlines flying on Emirates, popular destinations are even closer through Emirates’ robust network over 140 destinations and frictionless connectivity offered at DXB, complemented by industry leading experiences on the ground and in the skies, all easily within reach.

In the last year, Emirates launched 16 new partnerships which include codeshares with Avianca and Batik Air Malaysia and the airline also finalized and implemented interline arrangements with KAM Air, Sri Lankan Airlines, Condor, Flynas, Viva Aerobus, Sun Express, Maldivian, Siberia Airlines and Kenya Airways.

From plane to train, Emirates customers are now one ticket away from fast connections to cities across Europe through codeshare partnerships with Trenitalia, Spanish Rail Renfe, Austrian Rail OBB and Swedish Rail SJ. The airline was also the first full-service carrier to enter an innovative interline partnership with BLADE, an urban air-mobility company to provide Emirates customers with helicopter flights between Nice and Monaco on a single ticket.

“In the last year, we’ve doubled down on our strategy of deepening our global presence and expanding our footprint across six continents by forging new partnerships with like-minded airlines, rail partners and air mobility operators to provide a huge choice of onwards destinations, connectivity options and seamless ‘last mile’ access for travelers like never before. While organic growth will always at the heart of our plans, we’ll continue to leverage the strength of our partners’ complementary networks as part of our commitment to help our customers reach every corner of the globe in the easiest way possible. World-class connectivity keeps economies strong and resilient, and our partnership growth ambitions align with Dubai’s D33 strategy to make our home and hub the most connected city in the world, attracting business, tourism, and investment from all over the globe,” said Emirates Airline Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim. 

Over the years, Emirates’ many partnerships have paved the way for the airline to form robust networks that not only connect customers to unique points but also provide the advantages of schedule optimization, seamless connectivity at DXB with access to Terminal 3, as well as reciprocal loyalty benefits. Its cornerstone partnership with flydubai is an exceptional example of how cooperation yields smoother journeys and more customer benefits. Today, customers have access to over 230 destinations across 100 countries, with 275 codeshare flights to choose from on an average day. Emirates customers can book flights to over 90 unique flydubai destinations and flydubai customers can choose from over 100 Emirates destinations. As a result, over 17.5 million passengers have connected on the joint networks of Emirates and flydubai since the partnership launched in 2017.

For leisure travelers heading to popular destinations like the Maldives, Emirates’ unique interline partnership with Maldivian enables customers to access 16 islands beyond Male. Emirates’ partnership with Pro Flight Zambia provides access to 13 points served by the southern African airline, including unique regional getaways like Lower Zambezi National Park, a short trip from Lusaka that offers a captivating safari experience. 

The airline’s major partnerships with United, Air Canada and Qantas continue to deliver unmatched access for its customers to more than 350 destinations across North, Central and South America, Australia, and New Zealand, expanding connection opportunities, providing unrivalled reciprocity across loyalty programs, as well as other world-class customer benefits like lounge access. 

Emirates continues to expand city pairs on a single ticket and boost connectivity and choice across numerous other strategic partnerships in the airline’s network including:

The Americas: Emirates customers can access more than 375 cities through United, Air Canada and other partner airlines across Canada, Mexico, Caribbean Islands and Central and South America. Customers connecting on Emirates’ network onwards from Dubai can choose from unique destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Central and South Asia.

Europe: Travelers can access over 380 cities through seven codeshare, 33 interline & 12 rail and air mobility partners including Condor, ITA Airways, Air Malta, Air Baltic, Aegean Airlines, TAP Portugal and Siberia Airlines, in addition to Emirates’ rail partners across Germany, Spain France, Italy, Austria and Sweden that provide on-ground transfers and flexibility to explore multiple cities on a single ticket.

Asia: Emirates’ Asian network is further bolstered through the airline’s 12 codeshare partners and 42 interline partners reaching over 500 popular cities across the Far East, West Asia and Indian Ocean, as well as Middle East.

Australia: Emirates long-standing partnership with Qantas provides access to over 85 Australian cities, while Qantas customers can fly Emirates to Dubai and access over 45 cities in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa beyond Qantas’s existing international network.

Africa: Emirates’ footprint across Africa expands to over 210 regional points through 5 codeshare and 18 interline partners, offering superior connectivity and value for customers with more flight options to smaller regional points across the continent.

Emirates Skywards, the airline’s loyalty program and Emirates SkyCargo also work closely with codeshare and interline partners to support and complement network and loyalty program frameworks that ensure both passengers and cargo customers reap the full benefits of the airline’s major partnerships. On the operational side, Emirates Airport Services play a vital role to ensure teams are on hand to assist customers so they can connect seamlessly from one flight to another and access the airline’s Dubai and outstation dedicated lounges.
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AIA Philippines bags two honors at HR Asia Awards


AIA Philippines, formerly Philam Life and one of the country’s largest life insurance companies, won two honors at the prestigious HR Asia Awards, the Best Companies to Work For Award and Sustainable Workplace Award, spotlighting the company’s commitment to employee well-being and workplace sustainability.

The HR Asia Best Companies to Work For recognizes organizations identified as one of the top employers in the region, with AIA Philippines employees having reported high work engagement and satisfaction. The insurer previously won the accolade in 2018 and 2020. 

At AIA Philippines, People and Culture is among the key areas of the company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, encompassing priorities such as development and career progression, diversity and inclusion, equal opportunities, and risk awareness. 

Some concrete measures in achieving the goals include adding more women in the workplace and in leadership positions, increasing training for employees, institutionalizing a network of LGBTQIA+ members and allies, rewarding performance, and strengthening sanctions for workplace violations. 

AIA Philippines’ core focus of health and wellness has also been crucial in instilling a work-life balance for its employees. AIA Philippines offers a complete suite of protection and long-term savings products both for customers and employees, and the insurer’s partnership with MediCard boosts employee access to the best offerings addressing various health needs.

“AIA Philippines is guided by the philosophy of ‘Doing the Right Thing, in the Right Way, with the Right People…and the Right Results will come,’” said AIA Philippines Chief Human Resource Officer Ellen Imasa. “In order to deliver exceptional care to customers, we support our employees first. The honor of being one of HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work For inspires us to help more Filipinos live longer, better, and healthier lives.”

Meanwhile, the HR Asia Sustainable Workplace Award honors companies that demonstrate environmental responsibility and sustainable business practices, showcasing AIA Philippines’ exceptional leadership in fostering a culture of sustainability.

Among the strategic priorities under AIA Philippines’ Sustainable Operations include ensuring green buildings, improving environmental performance, increasing digitalization and automation to reduce paper usage, and encouraging improvements in ESG performance.

Another sustainability initiative of AIA Philippines includes targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the United Nations’ “Net Zero Coalition” push.

“Our commitment to a green future is holistic—we develop it in our workplaces, operations, and the value chain,” added Imasa. “The recognition as one of HR Asia’s Sustainable Workplaces shows that AIA Philippines is taking the step in the right direction.”

AIA Philippines’ ESG strategy encompasses health and wellness (including financial inclusivity), sustainable investment, sustainable operations, people and culture, and effective governance.

Click here for more information about AIA Philippines, or here to visit the AIA Philippines Facebook page, email customerservice.ph@aia.com or call (02) 8528-2000 to know more.

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InLife launches InLife Convo: An online community for shared experiences and learning


InLife (Insular Life) recently launched InLife Convo, a growing online community for learning and sharing of experiences and expertise on various topics.

InLife Convo provides a platform where members can connect and discuss experiences about life, finances, mental well-being, and more. The community also offers members exclusive updates and sneak peeks into InLife’s current and upcoming initiatives, and opportunities to participate in activities and have the chance to win prizes.

“We envision InLife Convo to be an inclusive community where everyone may freely express themselves, share their thoughts and ideas, reminisce about past experiences, and collaborate especially on projects and concerns that may require collective insight. You may easily find it on Facebook, and everyone is welcome to be part of it, even if you are not a policyholder of InLife. At InLife Convo, we encourage everyone to talk about their life experiences knowing we have a lot to learn from each other,” said InLife Chief Marketing Officer Gae L. Martinez.

InLife Convo members are entitled to perks such as member-get-member rewards; access to exclusive events, concerts, podcasts, webinars, and workshops; discounts and vouchers from merchant partners; special gifts; and more.

During the event, titled “When Things in Life” held at the Insular Life Building in Makati, Event Host and Stand-Up Comedian Micah Andres recalled having no knowledge about the costs of giving birth in hospitals which he and his wife had to learn the hard way. He emphasized the importance of being a part of a group, such as the InLife Convo, to guide them as they plan for their future. He also encouraged everyone to view life insurance not as an expense, but as an investment for the future. “When things in Life get difficult, overwhelming, and serious, you guys can have a space where you can get inspiration from others,” he said.

Meanwhile, SPIT Manila, Asia’s premier improv theater group performed and introduced their brand of comedy to the audience. The group entertained everyone present, and incorporated in its sketches insurance and financial terms that would normally be considered “serious” topics. This reflects InLife Convo’s aim of making financial matters normal conversational fare.

During the program, winners of the “When Things in Life” video contest were also announced. The video contest was open to members of the InLife Convo, who created 30-second videos sharing their personal views on seeing the good “When things in life” happen.


Join the growing community of InLife Convo on Facebook. To learn more about InLife, visit their website or Facebook page.
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Landco Pacific Corporation Named as the First “Amazing Workplace” Certified Company in the Philippines

At Landco Pacific, employees are engaged, creative and happy at work.

Landco Pacific Corporation, known for pioneering premium landscapes for more than 30 years and a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, is acclaimed as the first company in the Philippines to be certified as an “Amazing Workplace” by Amazing Workplaces, an international integrated HR platform for employer branding. This highly-coveted recognition is a demonstration of Landco Pacific’s commitment to excellence in its latest premium resort and leisure developments through its human resources and internal operations. 

As a testament to being the first Amazing Workplace-certified company in the Philippines, Landco Pacific provides a rewarding experience for its loyal employees. Landco Pacific Corporation and Landco Lifestyle Ventures President and CEO Erickson Y. Manzano (extreme left), Former Chief Financial Officer Vivian S. Liban (second from right),  and Senior Consultant for Hospitality and Tourism Patrick C. Gregorio (extreme right) together with the Five-Year Service Awardees.


The milestone certification for fostering employee satisfaction and engagement encourage creativity and innovation in Landco Pacific’s real estate developments. Its human resource drive innovative designs and effective solutions to overcome challenges and enhance new projects.

“Our workplace culture at Landco Pacific Corporation thrives on collaboration, support and camaraderie to drive collective success. Great ideas and solutions to challenges come from our employees from all levels. I make it a point to talk to our employees when I visit Landco Pacific developments throughout the country and get the insights from everyone across the ranks especially when we have new projects,” stated Landco Pacific President and CEO Erickson Y. Manzano.

At Landco Pacific, we deeply appreciate our exceptional team’s hard work and dedication to achieve this prestigious certification from ‘Amazing Workplaces’. This renews our unwavering commitment to continue to implement employee engagement activities that will foster our employees’ happiness, well-being and professional growth; and cultivate a work atmosphere of teamwork, trust and harmony,” Manzano expounded.

Landco Pacific fosters camaraderie and teamwork through fun events such as the highly-anticipated production numbers of different departments in the annual party.


“Our certification as an ‘Amazing Workplace’ is a testament to the strong connection between employee well-being and financial performance. At Landco Pacific, we recognize that a positive work environment is integral to achieving our corporate objectives, as it fosters productivity, innovation, and long-term stability. This achievement underscores our commitment to creating value through our people. We are proud to prioritize both employee satisfaction and fiscal responsibility, ensuring that we continue to deliver value to our stakeholders,” added Marycris L. Panganiban, Chief Finance Officer, Landco Pacific Corporation.

The ”Amazing Workplace” Certification recognizes Landco Pacific Corporation’s thrust to creating a positive work culture where employees feel accepted and cared for, employee development is prioritized and opportunity is given to work close to their hometowns especially in the latest developments of the luxury beachfront condominium The Residences at Terrazas de Punta Fuego; BeachTowns CaSoBe (Calatagan South Beach) and Club Laiya in Batangas and Costa Azalea in Samal island, Davao; and at premium real estate legacy projects in key cities of the country.

“Our ‘Amazing Workplace’ certification is a proud achievement for us at Landco Pacific, and it’s rooted in our belief that a happy and engaged workforce is the key to success. We continuously strive to create a culture where everyone feels heard, valued, and part of a bigger mission. This recognition fuels our commitment to making Landco Pacific a place where employees thrive both personally and professionally,” said Allan Sangoyo, Senior Human Resources Manager, Landco Pacific Corporation. 

Promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle, Landco Pacific holds sports events for employees.


Landco Pacific also actively engages its employees with meaningful activities to take care of the environment. Employees participated in the planting of saplings for mangrove reforestation at an estuary in Laiya, San Juan Batangas and annual release of turtle hatchlings at Landco Resort Estates CaSoBe and Club Laiya.

As an “Amazing Workplace” Certified company, Landco Pacific has employees that are genuinely happy working for them and 85% or more of anonymously surveyed employees have said they are happy or very happy at their workplace. 


The certification process starts with an Employee Happiness Survey, designed to measure employee happiness across critically important workplace areas: engagement, leadership, culture, productivity, job, pay & benefits, workplace, and more. 

Once complete, workplaces have access to the most comprehensive online happiness improvement platform anywhere — created to empower workplaces to take action based on employee feedback. The commitment to take action based on employee feedback is the key to improving employee happiness and creating more amazing workplaces for all.

“Amazing Workplaces” is a global integrated HR platform for employer branding, dedicated to analyzing, enriching, and promoting best practices across nine core pillars of workplace excellence. These pillars encompass Hiring & Retention, Culture, Compensation & Benefits, Employee Engagement, Rewards & Recognition, Internal Communication, Diversity Inclusion & Equity, Learning & Development, and CSR.

For more information about Landco Pacific Corporation, visit their website or Facebook page.
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Young Filipino Leaders Making a Difference: TAYO 21 Awardees Honored

Sunday, September 1, 2024


In an era where youth are often overlooked, a group of young Filipinos is proving that they are the driving force behind positive change. The TAYO Awards Foundation recently recognized the top 10 youth organizations that have made significant contributions to their communities. These organizations, known as the TAYO 21 awardees, are inspiring examples of modern-day heroes.

The Power of Youth-Led Initiatives

The TAYO Awards Foundation celebrates the achievements of youth organizations across various fields, including culture, education, environment, health, and entrepreneurship. This year's theme, "Makabayani," highlights the importance of patriotism and community service.


“Ang pagsagot sa hamon para maging isang Makabayani ay nangangailangan ng malalim at totoong paniniwala at pagmamahal sa Pilipino, the Filipino is worth uniting for,” said former senator Bam Aquino during his keynote message.

Meet the TAYO 21 Awardees

  • Salumayag Youth Collective for Forests: Committed to environmental conservation and sustainable practices.
  • Second Chance Philippines: Providing support and opportunities for at-risk youth.
  • Achieve Minarog Youth Organization: Empowering youth in rural communities through education and skills development.
  • MSU - Iligan Institute of Technology Youth Chain of Peace: Promoting peace and understanding through interfaith dialogue.
  • Sidha - San Jose City: Working towards sustainable development and social justice.
  • Therawee Health Innovation Inc.: Improving healthcare access and quality in underserved areas.
  • ADHIKA PH Inc.: Advocating for the rights of marginalized groups.
  • Project Barako: Empowering youth through sports and leadership development.
  • Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders, Inc.: Fighting discrimination and promoting equality.
  • Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute Inc.: Developing the next generation of leaders in the Philippines.



Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI) President Cecile Alcantara emphasizes the role of youth in national development. CCFPI has been a co-presenter of TAYO Foundation since the 5th TAYO Awards.

Special Awards

In addition to the Top 10 awardees, several special awards were given to organizations that have made exceptional contributions in specific areas. These awards recognize the unique work of these organizations and their dedication to their communities.

The TAYO 21 awardees are shining examples of the power of youth-led initiatives. Their dedication, innovation, and passion are inspiring a new generation of leaders. By recognizing and supporting these organizations, we can create a brighter future for the Philippines.
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