Watsons Switch & Save: Enjoy more by spending less

Thanks to generations of wise mothers, Filipinos have been raised to become smart, practical shoppers, always in pursuit of the better deal, the bigger discount, the best value. When it comes to following a budget at home, while it is common for many to scrimp on luxuries like eating out and shopping, personal essentials like toiletries, medicine and vitamins should never suffer from the budget cuts.

In order to be a successful budget-saver, heartthrob crooner and new Watsons ambassador Christian Bautista believes that one should recognize the value of true savings. 

There is a clear difference, he insists, between being frugal and being cheap, and a difference between saving and scrimping. While scrimping is getting by (uncomfortably, at that) with barely enough, smart saving is about choosing the better value, getting the most by spending less.

“(In my own definition and understanding), saving is preparing for the future. It is sacrificing just a little bit so that you and your children can enjoy in the future. Scrimping, on the other hand, denotes something more negative. It is an attitude that’s based on fear. I prefer to save so that I can enjoy,” he adds. 

As the new ambassador of Watsons Switch and Save campaign (he joins other ambassadors Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Patty Laurel-Filart and Iya Villania-Arellano), Bautista believes in the commitment of Watsons to make quality products more accessible to the Filipino consumer.

“You shouldn’t feel that you have to spend an arm and a leg for your personal essentials,” he says. “As an artist, I stock up on mouthwash, toothpaste, charcoal toothbrushes and breath strips and other things since I sing. Watsons offers all of these. And these are not just any cheap alternative, they are good quality that can match what’s in the market. Maganda at mas mura (It’s good and cheaper),” he reveals, adding that he’d rather save on toiletries so that he can splurge on his other passion, which is travelling. For his next trip, he hopes to walk the streets of his favorite city again, London. With Watsons, he knows he’ll be one step closer to achieving that dream vacation.

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In fact, by switching to the Watsons Label products, like Bautista, smart shoppers can get anywhere from 30 percent to 80 percent savings. By bringing down prices, Watsons allows consumers to stretch their purchasing power so they can spend more on their other needs, wants and luxuries like a new phone or car, or a much-deserved vacation.

 Branded vs. Generic

Karen Fabres, Watsons senior manager for marketing, recognizes the hesitance of some Filipinos towards buying generic brands. “There’s the misconception that generic brands are inferior, but abroad, especially in the US, the majority buys generics. Unfortunately, in the Philippines, only a small percent do, so they’re missing out on a lot of savings,” she shares.

“Watsons is able to provide them at more affordable prices because we use formulations that are off-patent and which have already been proven effective. When launching new medicine, innovator brands have to raise prices to ensure ROI to cover the expenses of their marketing, research and such. This is not the same situation for generics, which have already been proven and tested safe,” she adds.

“A lot of our customers take maintenance meds. But according to some studies, the average Filipino consumes only around 50 to 70 medicines in a year, where it should be 365 (one for each day). The reason they don’t take their proper dosage is because their budget is limited. Imagine, if they switched to generics, they can save money and be able to take their medicines accordingly, allowing them to live a more fulfilling, quality life,” shares Victoria Encarnacion, marketing director for Watsons Personal Care.  

Despite being a bit wary of generic medicines, Filipinos are still very smart shoppers, with specific wants and standards from their products. Today, they are more discerning when it comes to shopping admits Encarnacion. “They no longer want just generic soaps and lotions; they look for anti-bacterial, moisturizing, whitening, etc. They look for variant products that provide more function.” To address the growing demands of the evolving market, Watsons has diversified and come out with new variants to their current list of products, delighting budget savers everywhere.

Another trend that Encarnacion is seeing is the fact that consumers are gearing towards a more active lifestyle, with Filipinos placing more importance on their health and taking vitamins even before they get sick.

Actress, singer and aspiring athlete Iya Villania is one of those who look to Watsons for help, to support and sustain her new healthy living. “I’ve been a Watsons girl for two years. Prior to becoming an ambassador, suki na ako. I buy a lot of its tissue, makeup stuff, and especially Watsons Foot Ease gel cushions.” With the savings she enjoys, she is able to allot more to her other activities and indulgences like training for marathons, shoe shopping, eating out, and travelling with her husband Drew.

“I’m really not that big of a spender. While others would invest in designer bags, I prefer backpacks.Nakakahiya nga kasi parang ako lang yung actress na hindi nagdedesigner bag. And when it comes to travelling, I won’t travel Business Class. Don’t judge if I’m in Economy!” shares the radiant beauty.

Iya and Christian are only two of the many Watson shoppers who have learned to switch and save for better deals. Even if they’re successful and they have the means to buy the best and the most expensive personal care products in the market, they think about their purchases and know the importance of saving up for what matters most.

Christian puts aptly into words what Watsons and many budget-savers believe and strive for: “Life is short. Balance your life in both work and play. Save and enjoy.” Indeed, with Watsons, you can spend less to enjoy more.

Dove Beauty Summit: Real Women, Real Beauty

At the first Dove Summit, the industry’s beauty leaders, celebrities and bloggers gathered at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Harbor Tent to celebrate real beauty. In crisp white outfits — the style choice we were advised to wear — and fresh, perfectly painted faces, we were ready to parade into the immaculate, white lounge and make merry. But before we could catch up and fully appreciate each other’s Instagram-worthy outfits, a slight change of plans.

“Please return to your rooms and remove all your makeup,” said Lexi Schulze-Berenguer-Testa, our bubbly host. Laughter ensued, smiles broke out. But as the minutes dragged on, a subtle but still palpable nervousness began to set in. “Even mascara? Or lipstick? Everything?” we asked.

Most women seemed game to play along, but there was an undeniable number who seemed hesitant. One divulged that even her husband has never seen her without makeup.  (She would wake up before sunrise just to pretty herself up).

Apples Aberin, the PR head of Unilever, gently urged the rest, as she stood onstage sans makeup. Underneath the bright klieg lights, she wasn’t shy to admit that it took a little bit of will power for her not to reach into her purse and pullout her concealer. “Unmasking is an emotional journey,” admitted Apples. “But you can become comfortable, too. Our wrinkles and laugh lines tell a story.”

If Aberin, a stalwart in Philippine fashion and modeling and one of the most recognized executives in the country, needed the security, the armor of makeup to feel better, what more us regular gals?

In a country where women have been recognized as the most beautiful in every major international beauty pageant, and in the metropolis where thousands of “selfies” are uploaded by the second (enough for Time magazine to proclaim Makati City and Pasig City as the “selfie” capital of the world), one would believe that Filipinas are not only confident, but they should have a better, healthier self-image. But the unfortunate fact is that only seven percent consider themselves beautiful. A shocking statistic, indeed.

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In a global survey conducted by Dove, with the participation of 6,000 women, in 20 countries, including the Philippines, it was found that “two out of three women felt pressured to be beautiful. And one out of two women felt critical of themselves. In the Philippines, 93 percent of Filipinas don’t even like the way they look,” stressed Mian Datu-David, Unilever marketing manager for skin.

Hoping to tip the scales and change the statistics, Dove steps in with its Real Beauty, Real Care campaign. As the leading brand in personal care, Dove believes that real beauty can be found in every person. And through its wide range of personal care products: Dove Skin, Dove Hair and Dove Deo, Filipinas can get the real care that they deserve. “We aim to inspire women to realize their personal potential for beauty. Dove believes that every woman has a potential to be her most beautiful self and that is what real beauty is all about,” Datu-David said.

Panagbenga: Baguio in Bloom

Baguio proves that despite urbanization, a city can survive not only the test of time, but can also be reborn into the most beautiful bloom in the garden.

(Photo taken at The Manor, Camp John Hay)

When the Americans first arrived in the 1900s, Baguio was untouched and beautiful in its natural state – 1,500 meters above sea level, a marshland during the rainy season and a pasture for cattle the rest of the year. Perhaps because of its climate, Baguio (from the Ibaloi word bagiw, which means moss) was declared by the Americans as the summer capital of the Philippines on June 1, 1903.

According to Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan, World War II in the Pacific started and ended in Baguio City. It started with the bombing of Camp John Hay by the Japanese Air Force and ended with Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita signing the surrender of the Japanese Army in the US Ambassador’s residence at Camp John Hay. 

While many of today’s generation may not know of Baguio’s rich history and its role in World War II, they are certainly familiar with the city’s festivals, especially its internationally-acclaimed flower festival, the Panagbenga.

Now on its 14^th year, the Panagbenga – a Kankana-ey term for “season of blooming” – continues to fascinate tourists, both local and foreign, with the color and grandiosity that accompanies every festival. 

Panagbenga boasts of blooms from the whole color spectrum and a rich cultural heritage, formed by the local government as a tribute to the devastation of 1990 Luzon earthquake and to celebrate the unique cultural and historical identity of the “summer capital of the Philippines.” 

From a two-day floral and float parade in 1995, the festival has since grown into a more complex, five-week celebration composed of star-studded mall shows, traditional dances and concerts on Burnham Lake, open markets along Session Road, art exhibits, rice wine contests, jam sessions, firework displays, and many more. According to Domogan, over 1.5 million visitors trekked to Baguio during the last festival. The number of tourists was so overwhelming that even Victory Liner requested assistance from the local government to help coordinate parking for the150 buses that arrived every 10 minutes. 

And I believe those numbers. During the Grand Float Parade and Grand Street Parade, you literally could not see the buildings because of the walls of people who lined Session Road, inching themselves closer to get a better view of the bright theatrical floats and dancers in their majestic costumes mesmerizing the crowd with their acrobatics and choreography. It was a stunning sight – the waves of children in green abaca costumes and headdresses running downhill mimicking the sway of pandan fields, the smell of strawberry taho and colored roses that were as big as your hand, the applause of the approving crowd who showered the participants with pink and yellow confetti. It was truly a treat for the senses. More than 40 schools from the region participated in the Grand Street Parade and 23 floats appeared for the Grand Float Parade.

According to the “veterans,” there were significantly fewer floats than last year which may have left some spectators disappointed. Domogan and Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. explained that they had anticipated fewer floats because of the current economic conditions. But though sponsors may have tightened their pockets with their floats, they had contributed to other Panagbenga events. 

The event strategy for the Panagbenga was not to focus solely on the parades but to break down the celebration into smaller events to create different audiences for longevity. By creating more events and dividing the audience, more people were able to partake in the overall festivities, thus helping lessen the coordination problem experienced in previous Panagbengas when accommodations were scarce and traffic was hell during the entirety of the festival. But regardless of the added events, the Grand Street Parade and Grand Float Parade remain to be the favorite, the highlight of the Panagbenga. 

From the luxurious accommodation at The Manor at Camp John Hay, to the breathtaking burst of color and culture along Session Road, my Panagbenga experience was nothing short of spectacular. The Panagbenga organizers pushed the festival to the extremes and had succeeded; a hard feat to top for the coming year. So for 2010, as a new traveling convert, I will make sure to take a pilgrimage back to the “City of Pines” to see if it will continue to rise up to the challenge. 

First published in PeopleAsia Magazine

4000 Miles: Love in Between

The award-winning play,4000 miles, covers the distance between two hearts, that of Leo Joseph-Connell (played by Jef Flores) and his grandmother Vera Joseph (Baby Barredo) .



After his bestfriend dies due to a violent accident, while on a cross-coutry bike trip, Leo pays a short visit to his elderly grandmother at a West Village apartment to seek solace. Over time, their differing personalities and the generational gap becomes apparent, leading to sometimes painful, other times, funny encounters.However, no matter how often they may butt heads, their sincere affections for each other help them maneuver through the sometimes difficult circumstances.

“This is really about someone who is at that point in her life when her body has given up on her and all that she is at this point is a fountain of wisdom. At the other end of the spectrum is a man who is about to begin his life, who is lost in so many ways. Between them, there are 4000 miles of experience and wisdom,” director for the play Bart Guingona shared in a press statement.

First staged Off-Broadway in 2011, the critically acclaimed play was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and named the Best New Play by the Obie Awards in 2012. New York Times had also hailed Herzog an outstanding playwright.

Review...

The play carries itself with quiet confidence, able to deliver a heartfelt story laden with sincerity and wisdom without resorting to an overly heavy and dramatic dialogue. Thanks to Amy Herzog's writing genius, the nuances of each character and their honest interactions make for a truly touching story that every one must watch. And for anything else, Baby Barredo is just simply charming- a true light of talent that not only fittingly trains the spotlight on her own prowess as a theater actor, but allows for her fellow actors to shine onstage as well.

The play, 4000 miles, will run at Greenbelt Mall 1 until March 29. Prices start at P400. for more information , call Reportory Philippines at (63) 843 3570 or TicketWorld at (63) 891 9999

4000 Miles will run until March 29 at Onstage Theatre, Greenbelt Mall 1. Ticket prices range from Php400 to Php600. For more information, call Repertory Philippines at (+632) 843-3570 or Ticketworld at (+632) 891-9999.