Experience Hong Kong with fresh eyes, as the region hikes up treats, deals, and discounts to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the former British territory’s handover to China. To mark two decades of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Cebu Pacific boosts the frequency of its Manila-Hong Kong route by 50%.  

One of the most popular destinations in Asia, Hong Kong has been pulling all the stops to mark the historic milestone. Lavish decorations and banners are seen upon arriving at the Hong Kong airport and other entry points to the destination. Giant traditional lanterns are also displayed in Central to promote this vital part of the Chinese heritage. Special workshops for lantern-making are also scheduled until the end of July.

The festivities kicked off with a “super fireworks wall,” a 23-minute pyrotechnic display will be multimedia extravaganza with components like LED screens and beam lights to go with the synchronized music. Said to be the city’s most expensive fireworks event since 1997, it measures 1,250 meters long and 300 meters high is set to light up the Hong Kong skyline over the famous Victoria Harbour.  Accompanying beam lights were projected from Causeway Bay to adorn the fireworks and give a 3D effect to the whole performance.

Fun-loving travelers looking to be a part of the merrymaking are in for a treat, as Cebu Pacific will be sending off more of its fleet to Hong Kong starting this month. The airline is flying three times a day, or 21 flights weekly, between Manila and Hong Kong. Travelers coming in can enjoy more spacious seating and modern ambiance as the airline trades up its A320 Hong Kong-bound fleet for the Airbus A330s.

“Bigger aircraft means more seats and lower fares for the Manila-Hong Kong route. We look forward to bringing everyJuan on a two-hour plane trip to experience the historic twenty-year milestone in Hong Kong’s history, or revisit the city with fresh eyes,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Distribution.

Hong Kong Holiday

Another guest also reappears to celebrate the 20th Handover Anniversary. Hong Kong’s online sensation, the Rubber Duck, is back after generating waves online. This time, the inflatable installation takes the limelight while in a dry land, next to the anniversary’s equally adorable display, the longevity buns.

Around the city, eyes will wander to the open spaces beautified by designers and local artists. Select flights of stairs will be embellished with flower patterns from the Hong Kong Museum of Art collection; and museums will carry special exhibits, including the ongoing display of the 126 pieces sourced from Louvre, France.

Beyond the cityscape and the urban vibe of Hong Kong, visitors can enjoy attractions in the outlying islands. The remote Po Lin Monastery, hidden away by lush mountains on Lantau Island, is revered for its 111-foot Tian Tan Buddha statue, which faces north towards Mainland China. Hiking trails and outdoor adventures also offer a scenic way to discover Hong Kong’s storied past.

Fly and discover more of Hong Kong today.  Aside from Manila, CEB offers direct flights from its Clark hub to the destination and flies 10 times weekly using the 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft. Iloilo flights to Hong Kong are scheduled three times weekly, while Cebu flights to the destination are scheduled daily.  

Fab finds, biggest deals await at the 2017 Great Singapore Sale

The summit of retail therapy returns as the Great Singapore Sale (GSS) rolls out Asia’s biggest shopping extravaganza from June 9 to August 13. Presented by the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), it is where the best deals and bargains from the hottest brands are and where shopaholics’ dreams come true.

“Singapore is truly a shopper’s haven and once more, the Great Singapore Sale welcomes our visitors to experience the biggest shopping spree in Southeast Asia,” said Lael Loh, STB Area Director for the Philippines.

Fill your shopping bags with the best finds

First things first, for shoppers heading into the GSS, remember that prices can drop to as low as 70% from the hundreds of participating brands such as Oakley, GoPro, LEVI’S, Dockers, ALDO, Pandora, Ralph Lauren Home, Lacoste, Quicksilver, Nike, Tempur, TISSOT, VANS, TOPMAN, TOPSHOP, Dorothy Perkins, and a whole lot more.

Indeed, stretching those Singapore dollars is what one can expect as a line-up of just about everything is up for grabs—even spa treatments, dining offerings, and accommodations from luxurious and quirky boutique hotels are available for that holistic lifestyle pampering experience.

A complete, hassle-free shopping experience

With two months-worth of activities and a dizzying array of participating merchants, one should know the must-dos, must-haves, and must-sees to fully appreciate this immersive shopping experience.

For cashless transactions, UnionPay International cards come in handy. Not only is it the official card partner of GSS, it also allows shoppers to score exclusive offers from big brands such as Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Tumi, and Victoria’s Secret.

Going on a shopping spree becomes even more convenient with the newly-rebooted GoSpree app, which provides a comprehensive list of GSS retail and service stores, shopping malls, dining outlets, attractions, leisure activities, and hotels.

With the GoSpree app, shoppers can also browse for amazing deals such as $500,000-worth (P18 million) of eCoupons that include 1-for-1 treats, additional 20% off sale items, and buy-2-get-1-free offers.

Shoppers also stand to win great prizes simply by shopping! From May 26 to August 13, a minimum of $30 (P1,070) single-receipt purchase at participating stores will give shoppers the chance to win $300,000-worth (P10.7 million) of vouchers, household appliances, gadgets, and even a brand-new Subaru Impreza or a Nissan Pulsar, in exciting weekly draws under the Shop & Win promo by the Singapore Press Holdings. Shoppers can also double the chances of winning these exciting prizes using their UnionPay credit cards.

Local goods to cop

Popular Singaporean brands are also something shoppers should watch out for. Benjamin Barker, creators of suave bespoke men’s apparel, will have every fine gentleman beaming over items they need for a dapper wardrobe, while Pedro’s exquisite shoes and accessories for both ladies and men will fill a collection that’s fit for any occasion. For a true taste of local, artisanal craftsmanship, Museum Label offers well-designed merchandise that gives life to Singapore’s rich culture and heritage.

Naiise, which showcases over 15,000 locally-made items from more than 890 emerging and established local and international brands, is set to tease shoppers with one-of-a-kind pieces, from quirky souvenirs and stationaries to accessories and household products—essentially, everything that one needs as a reminder of Singapore and the Great Singapore Sale experience.

“The Great Singapore Sale has always been a highlight in Singapore’s events calendar. Together with SRA and other partners, we have added new components this year to enhance the overall shopping experience, so that our returning visitors and newcomers can enjoy a retail experience like no other,” said Edward Koh, STB Executive Director for Southeast Asia.

With all these at hand, one can truly experience the greatness of the Great Singapore Sale. And with an endless supply of exciting events and fun-filled activities, Singapore is truly a destination where one can not only hunt for great bargains but create memorable and new experiences. For more information on Singapore’s lineup of offerings, please visit www.visitsingapore.com

Our eyes are placed in front because it is more important to look forward than to look back. I'm really liking "sayings and quotable quotes"  I love reading (books, magazines and mostly surfing the internet) so much that I must admit I'm not paying attention to my very own eye health, not until the moment that I started to feel something wrong about me, like having headaches, blurry vision, teary to a sometimes achy eye. A healthy eye sight is so important for working individuals like us. But I think it is more important to students for it is a major essence of learning. Sadly, 10 out of 100 Filipino students suffers from poor eyesight. With this, Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) partnered with brand ambassador Piolo Pascual in launching the Eye Can Succeed campaign, a program geared at providing free eye check-ups and free prescription eyeglasses to help 10,000 senior high school students.

Piolo Pascual - Essilor Brand Ambassador

EVF kicked off the advocacy campaign at Rizal High School, which has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest secondary school in the world, by having licensed eye health professionals discuss the importance of healthy vision, proper eye care, and optometry as a career option for Grades 11 and 12 students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) academic strand. With the assistance of volunteer optometrists, EVF examined the school’s 4,000-strong Grades 11 and 12 students and distributed free prescription glasses to students who are in need.

The campaign is focused on senior high school students who are vulnerable to vision problems due to long hours of reading and exposure to blue light from digital devices like laptops and computers. They are also at a critical stage in their lives, where the pressure of choosing a career path looms before them. EVF aims to ease some of their concerns by giving them free eye examinations and eyeglasses when needed so they can have a clear vision which is critical to pursuing their studies and achieving their dreams

Essilor Vision Foundation EyeCanSucceed aims to help 10,000 Filipino students 

achieve their dreams through better vision

“Poor eyesight is a rampant issue among young Filipinos simply because very few are aware on the importance of having a regular eye check-up,” -Essilor Philippines Marketing Manager Jinky Navo. “Through Eye Can Succeed, which we have initiated with our brand ambassador Piolo Pascual, we aim to highlight the importance of good vision in achieving one’s dreams and success.” 

As Essilor’s brand ambassador, Piolo is a strong advocate of healthy eyesight for Filipinos. He believes that the campaign will not only help students succeed in the near future, it will also help them perform well in their daily tasks and see life clearly. He said:

“Education plays a huge role in the future of these young Filipinos, and poor eyesight will only hinder their progress in learning. By giving them thorough eye check-ups and access to free prescription eyeglasses, they will no longer struggle with vision problems in their lessons, allowing their natural intelligence to shine through.”

This perspective is shared by Lauren Wyper, Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) associate director of communications. She said:

“It is alarming to learn that many of our target public school students have never had their eyes checked up at all. Launching the Eye Can Succeed campaign here in the Philippines not only helps fulfill the foundation’s mission of enabling Filipinos to have better lives through better sight, but also enables us to spread awareness on the importance of proper eye care through an expanded network consisting of academic institutions, the media, and local campaign ambassador Piolo Pascual.”

“We are very grateful and honored for being the first to benefit from EVF’S Eye Can Succeed school tour. Through the free eye check-ups and prescription glasses of the campaign, our students are given a great opportunity to have better vision which is vital for their education.” -Virginia Membrebe, Rizal High School Principal

The Essilor Vision Foundation is committed to eliminating poor vision and its lifelong consequences, and to providing underprivileged people the opportunity to live a better life through better sight. For more information about EVF and the Eye Can Succeed advocacy campaign.

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