In the lead up to this month’s Orange Day Sale happening from June 13 to 15, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launched its latest in-app game, Shopee Shake, with the promise of over 2.6 millions worth of Shopee Coins to be given away.  Within the first three days of its launch on 8 June, Shopee Shake recorded a total of over 100,000 users logging in to the Shopee app during the designated game timings (12 noon and 9pm daily) and shaking their phones for a chance to win Shopee Coins.

Terence Pang, Chief Operating Officer of Shopee, said, “At Shopee, users form the core of all our strategies, features and innovations, which is why we introduced the in-app game, Shopee Shake, as a way for us to better engage our users and provide them with an exciting new way to earn rebates and other prizes. We are thankful for the overwhelming support we’ve had so far, and will continue to work on introducing even more features to enhance the overall user experience. We welcome all users to join us and participate in Shopee Shake.”

From now till 15 June, users can look forward to winning more Shopee Coins by taking part in Shopee Shake.

 

To add to the excitement, Shopee will also be holding a weeklong social media contest where users are invited to post videos of themselves doing the Shopee Shake on Facebook or Instagram. Users should include the hashtag #ShopeeShakePH to stand a chance to be one of three lucky winners to walk away with an iPhone X, Fujifilm X-T20, or Nintendo Switch.

In addition to the launch of Shopee Shake, Shopee will also be holding its monthly Orange Day Sale from June 13 to 15. Users can look forward to discounts of up to 90% off, 2 for the price of 1 deals, category collections, beat the clock vouchers and many more. As a special treat this Orange Day, users can also enjoy 24 hours of free shipping with a lowered minimum spend of just ₱250 on June 13.

What are you waiting for? Set your alarms, mark your calendars, and get ready to shake and shop this Orange Day!



For more information about the Orange Day Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/.
Download the Shopee app for free on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Everyone deserves a love story, but let’s face it: dating within the LGBTQ community isn’t cakewalk. This is especially true for those just coming to terms with their sexuality and are unsure where to start. There are a few options to kick off the quest for love, from LGBTQ-friendly bars to online forums and dating apps. Still, the experience can be quite nerve-wracking without some kind of guide. In the spirit of Pride Month this June, here are five practical tips from people’s experiences to help kindle the chance for romance:






 
Know Your Comfort Level

The LGBTQ community is vast with many levels of coming out. Simple gestures such as holding hands or hugging in public may already be an issue for some, while others may avoid dating in certain places for fear of being seen by family or friends. If you are similarly on the shy side, you may feel more comfortable dating someone equally reserved. It’s understandable that courage can take time, and there’s no shame coming out step by step.



Consider Safe Spaces

The typical coffee shop or restaurant isn’t bad for a meet-up, but if you want a sure-fire, LGBTQ-friendly place in Metro Manila, here’s a few you can consider. Fred’s Revolucion is one among other establishments in Cubao Expo, Quezon City, that signed up for the Safe Space Campaign in 2013 to show commitment in the fight against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. Another is Uno Morato, a cultural hub, coffee shop, and bar along Maginhawa Street, Quezon City, where LGBTQ dates would not feel out of place. In Poblacion, Makati, Commune offers great Philippine coffee and conversation for any and all visitors. There’s plenty more places like these where you and your date can feel more secure opening up, so be sure to look up LGBTQ-friendly spaces online when planning a casual meet-up.



Build Rapport

Chances are your date is just as anxious, more so if you two are newly out and new to the dating scene. In that case, it’s ok to tell your date that you’re nervous to help lighten the mood. Break the ice further by asking basic questions about work, school, hobbies, or future plans, and don’t be afraid to talk about yourself. Being too cautious would only make you look boring, disinterested, or untrustworthy. Should you talk about politics and religion? Some advise against it, but if you’re serious about finding a long-term partner, you would want to know whether your values and principles match. Just keep an open mind and stay cool even if the other one takes a stance opposite yours. Do watch out about getting too personal once the ball starts rolling, like suddenly talking about bedroom fantasies or exes if there are any. You want your date to feel safe, not pressured, objectified, or plainly creeped out.


 
Set Realistic Expectations

It’s not wrong to have standards when dating, but remember that no one is perfect. Don’t let a stringent checklist or ideal preference stop you from enjoying the company of new people. It’s also important not to be too self-conscious, so be yourself and laugh a little. Who knows, your date might just find you attractive and you click from the get go. There are a few red flags, of course, like if your date is rude to the wait staff or has terrible hygiene. Otherwise, be confident and have fun.



Drop a Message

Even if a first date isn’t successful, it’s polite to say something after. Most people today, including members of the LGBTQ community, resort to ghosting—suddenly disappearing from contact without explanation—hoping to get their message across, but imagine being in that other person’s shoes. Rejection is tough, and it gets tougher if you don’t know why. Always follow the golden rule. Send the other person a message saying thanks for hanging out with you, and that you think you don’t match or didn’t feel a romantic connection. On the other hand, if you liked your date, be sure to say that you enjoyed the evening and are interested in seeing him or her again. Don’t sound too pushy, though. Your date is also evaluating you, so give the other person a chance to accept or deny the offer of a second meeting.

LGBTQ dating in the real world isn’t something openly televised or given exposure on media. Fortunately, some shows like First Dates feature everyday people, men and women across the rainbow spectrum, going on blind dates—real-life scenarios perfect for a few lessons on dating. Want more tips on how to go about dating in the LGBTQ world? See how aspiring couples take a shot at love on First Dates, Tuesdays at 8:50PM, first and exclusive on Blue Ant Entertainment.

Blue Ant Entertainment is available on SKYcable channels 53 (SD) and 196 (HD), SKYdirect channel 35, Destiny Cable channel 53, and Cablelink channels 37 (SD) and 313 (HD).
For more updates, follow Blue Ant Entertainment at www.facebook.com/BlueAntEntertainment/, @BlueAntEnt on Twitter, and @BlueAntEntertainment on Instagram.

SM City North Edsa celebrated Independence Day Through Filipino-Inspired Collections. Independence day is our freedom! So whatever style we desire, whichever design we want to represent who we are, it's okay!



Yesterday, SM City North Edsa celebrated 120th Independence Day in partnership with one of the hottest street fashion designer Jeffrey Rogador, whose designs are a celebration of immense and diverse Filipino culture. His collection features a style with a concoction of contemporary and deep-rooted aesthetics that both serves form and functionality. It's about dressing up regardless of age.

Rogador's works are mostly "ready to wear" for the people who love to with style without sacrificing the comfort of what they wear. In other words guys, it is simple and staple. Rogador is a Fine Art graduate from University of Sto. Tomas and is fond of making art that is wearable. To make his vision come to life, he took up fashion design in Fashion Institute of the Philippines and joines as the 6th MEGA Young Designers' Competition and he became one of the mentors of the prestigious Philippine Fashion Competition.

#ManilaStreetWear Fashion Show @jeffreyrogador

A post shared by Thewata Hernandez (@misstheerious) on Jun 12, 2018 at 11:30pm PDT

The Manila Street Wear Fashion Show happened on The Block Atrium, SM City North Edsa. It started at 3:00 pm where DJ Make Lavarez performed awakening music before the fashion show began.


At the Block Atrium, 60 Aspiring models from all shapes and sizes representing the genuine Filipino people of today in an Urban setting joined in the glamorous street wear fashion show. Some famous celebrities, social media influencers, sports enthusiasts are included in the fashion show. They are Nicole Cordovez, 2016 Grand International first runner-up, the social media guru such as Mike Lavarez, who is also a DJ, Tom Tacwigan, Raven Tacwigan, Chuck Aquino and Joe Abad and De La Salle Lady Spikers Major Baron, Kim Fajardo and Kiana Dy.



Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray is also there at the Manila Street Wear Fashion Show.

SM City North Edsa celebrates Independence Day through Filipino-inspired collections #ManilaStreetWear @catriona_gray @binibiningnicolecordoves

A post shared by Thewata Hernandez (@misstheerious) on Jun 12, 2018 at 5:00am PDT

For more information, you may checkout SM City North EDSA Facebook and Instagram accoounts.

More than the power and prestige that monarchs hold, it’s the artifacts and buildings signifying sovereignty that capture people’s imaginations. From the Forbidden City in Beijing to the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, these regal legacies embody the pomp and splendor of royalty commoners can only dream of.

We commoners may never get the chance to own these regal vestments and mansions. But with good enough savings, we can at least treat ourselves to a luxury vacation for a glimpse of these once-exclusive royal attractions. Thinking of spending a little to see some of history's most renowned symbols of royalty? Here are a few ideas that will take you beyond the usual experience of crowns and castles.

Symbols of Japan’s Chrysanthemum Throne



Just a few kilometers from Tokyo Station in Japan, the Imperial Palace offers scenic views in the East Garden where the public can stroll around arboreal spaces surrounded by deep moats and towering stone walls. Guided tours are restricted outside the buildings. Fortunately, the inner precincts open during two occasions: the customary New Year’s greeting every January 2 and the Emperor’s birthday.

As for Japan’s Imperial Regalia, the Three Sacred Treasures are distributed in three holy shrines dedicated to the Shinto Goddess Amaterasu: the jewel Yasakani no Magatama housed in the Imperial Palace; the mirror Yata no Kagami kept in the Grand Shrine of Ise, Mie Prefecture; and the sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi located in Atsuta Shrine at Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. These relics are not on public display, but tourists can still visit the Museum of the Imperial Collections in the East Garden to see the imperial household treasures including paintings, pottery, sculptures, and calligraphy.

Seat of Thailand’s Royal House


In the heart of Bangkok, Thailand, the Grand Palace boasts impressive architecture with several gilded pagodas and intricate embellishments on pavilions, temples, and royal halls. Proper clothing such as long pants and sleeves is a must to gain entry as part of a dress code; otherwise, a booth at the entrance can provide clothes for a small deposit fee.

The Thai royal regalia consist of several items used for the coronation rites. These include the Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella, the Great Crown of Victory, the Sword of Victory, the Royal Staff, the Royal Slippers, the Royal Fan and Flywhisk, the four Royal Utensils, and the eight Weapons of Sovereignty. All these together with other national treasures are on display in the Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Coins at the Grand Palace.

Remains of the Holy Roman Empire

 
Dominating the Nuremburg skyline in Bavaria, Germany, is Kaiserburg Castle, home to the German kings of the Holy Roman Empire for about 500 years.  Notable attractions include the Romanesque double chapel featuring a Gothic crucifix by Northern Renaissance German sculptor, Veit Stross. Others are the Imperial Apartments containing antique furniture, tapestries, and artwork, as well as the Imperial Castle Museum featuring an array of armaments.

The Imperial Regalia, however, is housed in Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. On display include the stone-studded Imperial Crown, the Imperial Scepter, the Imperial Orb, the Imperial Sword, and the Holy Lance said to have pierced the side of Jesus during his crucifixion. These, among a host of regalia and reliquaries on exhibit, are only part of a large secular collection from across Europe.


Pride of Scotland

 
 Tourists at the United Kingdom often think of the Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London’s 140 royal ceremonial objects including the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign’s Orb, and the Sovereign’s Scepter when planning a royal sightseeing. For a different monarchical experience, Scotland is a must-visit.


Standing on an outcrop of volcanic rock, Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle has seen plenty of palace intrigues, imprisonments, and even murders throughout the stronghold’s centuries-old history. Some of the places to explore include the twelfth-century St. Margaret’s Chapel, the massive Mons Meg cannon, and the Stone of Destiny used for the coronation of Scottish monarchs and, later on, the monarchs of unified Great Britain.

The Scottish Crown Jewels once worn by Mary Queen of Scots are on display in the Crown Room of Edinburgh Castle together with the Stone of Destiny. Known as the Honours of Scotland, these royal articles include the Crown first donned by James V, the Scepter gifted to James IV by Pope Alexander VI, and the Sword of State also given to James IV by Pope Julius II.



As the oldest set of crown jewels in the British Isles, the Honours played many roles from crowing ancient Scottish kings and queens to representing the Monarch at the Scottish Parliament in modern times. Curious about the history of the Scottish regalia and its first possessors? Follow the exploits of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, in Reign, every Tuesday at 9:45PM on Blue Ant Entertainment.

Blue Ant Entertainment is available on SKYcable channels 53 (SD) and 196 (HD), SKYdirect channel 35, Destiny Cable channel 53, and Cablelink channels 37 (SD) and 313 (HD).
For more updates, follow Blue Ant Entertainment at www.facebook.com/BlueAntEntertainment/, @BlueAntEnt on Twitter, and @BlueAntEntertainment on Instagram.

Sixteen is always sweet, and it is sweeter to celebrate 60 years! It is an #AweSM year for SM as they celebrate "Sweet 60" at SM Megamall, treating valued shoppers with tons of sweet treats, fun deals, and visual delights this weekend (May 25 to May 27).


SM Megamall's #AweSM Weekend Party turns to an Instagram wonderland where you can splurge on dessert treats and freebies, and snap photos at the different activity station. SM Sweet 60 activity area features an interactive play experience, where shoppers can immerse themselves in a fantastic wonderland of colors and desserts. In partnership with Boysen, Fruits In Ice Cream, The Dessert Museum, and The Lost Bread.






"For 6 decades, every kind of celebration and family fun bonding has happened in an SM mall. This time, we are bringing unique, over-the-top experiences we know that will truly delight our shoppers. This is also our way of saying Thank You to our loyal shoppers for making SM a part of their families through the years," says Steven Tan, SM Supermalls Chief Operating Officer.


They also unveiled the giant logo projection mapping show at SM Megamall's facade along EDSA, plus a relaunch of SM's "We've Got It All Jingle", sang by Ramonne Rodrigues of the Voice. SM Divas Frenchie Dy, Radha, and Bituin Escalante, and SM Little Stars Annastacia Penny and NU Pep Squad performed on stage.






The celebration is happening in SM malls across the country this weekend, where customers can enjoy exciting promos that celebrate the number 60 - Pay only P60. Pay P60 less, or Pay 60%!

SM Sweet 60 activity area at Mega Fashion Hall is until May 28. For more info about SM's AweSM 60 years, visit SM Supermalls Facebook page or checkout www.smsupermalls.com

#AweSM Sweet 60 weekend party at SM Megamall #EverythingAtSM

A post shared by Thewata Hernandez (@misstheerious) on May 25, 2018 at 10:03pm PDT

All hands on deck as Blue Ant Entertainment brings out mermaids and pirates with American drama Siren premiering on 4 June, and the four classic Pirates of the Caribbean movies as part of a new weekly movie block in the same month.


From depths unknown


Legend has it that coastal town Bristol Cove on the Pacific Northwest was once home to mermaids. Folklore proves more than fiction when a mysterious young woman who calls herself Ryn (Eline Powell) suddenly appears one night. The strange visitor soon catches the interests of local marine biologist Ben Pownell (Alex Roe). Together, along with Ben’s fellow marine biologist Maddie Bishop (Fola Evans-Akingbola), deep-sea fisherman Xander McClure (Ian Verdun), town eccentric and folklore expert Helen Hawkins (Rena Owen), and another mysterious woman who calls herself Donna (Sibongile Mlambo) unravel tensions between the denizens of land and sea as predatory mermaids seek to claim their birthright. Catch the two-hour special premiere of Siren on Monday, 4 June, at 9:45 P.M. (8:45 P.M. JKT/BKK) first and exclusive on Blue Ant Entertainment.\


Siren has reached over 4 million views since its premiere in the U.S. alone, and has been well received by audience and critics alike. American digital media and entertainment company for women, Refinery29, describes Siren as “gripping and original,” while one of Florida’s largest newspapers, Tampa Bay Times, says that the show is “worth the deep dive in.” Cinemablend, the Internet’s go-to source of entertainment news, praises Powell as “a standout as Ryn,” and television news source website TV Fanatic says that “Siren is what television has been missing.”

Shiver me timbers



Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise follows the adventures of the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) involving magical treasures, supernatural creatures, former lovers, and even pirate mutiny. In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the governor’s daughter, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), has been captured by Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Jack’s traitorous former first mate who captains the cursed Black Pearl. Together with Elizabeth’s lover, William Turner (Orlando Bloom), Jack sets sail to save the damsel in distress and reclaim what the mutinous Barbossa has stolen from him.


The first four movies of the franchise (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl; Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest; Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End; and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) will air all Thursdays of June on Blue Ant Entertainment.

Love and the big screen


There’s a lot more to look forward to this summer on Blue Ant Entertainment. Romance is in the air as complete strangers meet for the first time over lovely dinner on reality show First Dates every Tuesday at 8:50 P.M. (7:50 P.M. JKT/BKK). First Dates has instantly become a hit in the Philippines two weeks from its launch and has doubled Blue Ant Entertainment’s weekday 8:50 P.M. time slot average compared to the previous two weeks. This is based on data released by Kantar Media.

The big screen is also coming to the network’s international channels, Blue Ant Entertainment and Blue Ant Extreme. The channels will soon carry box office classics from NBCUniversal and Disney to cater to a wider audience in the region.

To learn more about Blue Ant Entertainment’s exciting programs and movie lineup, follow the channel at www.facebook.com/BlueAntEntertainment/, @BlueAntEnt on Twitter, and @BlueAntEntertainment on Instagram.

"Incomparable you"

My mother is the best!
Our existence is her success.
Her love is the greatest!
Having her, I'm truly blessed.

She always knows the best.
Her wish is our success.
In everything, we are her priority first.
Her braveness in life makes me impressed.

She doesn't care how she dressed.
Doesn't even care if have no rest.
Just for our best interest.
I admire her the biggest!

No super power, but a hero.
Even impossible, she can do.
If we're hurt she will rescue.
For all your sacrifice, thank you!

I know you will grow old too.
Even I don't want to.
Whatelse can I do?
I'm grateful because of you!

I may not hear you saying I love you.
But I know your heart is so true.
Our happiness is yours too.
Mami, I love you!