SM Lipa Employee Turns in Gold Bangle to Owner

"There are still honest people out there..." 

True enough, this is what was exemplified by an ordinary SM employee in Lipa as he turned in a gold bangle amounting to Php 29,000 to its owner (found at one of the cinemas at the mall). 

COMMENDABLE ACT: Arnold Jeffrey Mea, also known as AJ, a regular employee of SM City Lipa returns to Ms. Baby Shahriza Benamer, a 24K gold bangle which AJ recovered from SM Lipa’s theater premises last November 2, 2015.  The bangle has a market price of 29,000 pesos. 

Taza Mia Opens 7th branch at SM City Lipa

Lipa City –  A fast growing chain of coffee shops, Taza Mia recently opened its 7^th branch last October 30.  Located at the ground floor of the posh annex building of SM City Lipa, Taza Mia offers casual alfresco dining experience with a jazzy acoustic band performance during weekends.

Taza Mia at SM Lipa is open 24 hours to cater to the growing BPO industry in Lipa City.  They aim to consistently delight customers with the best tasting yet affordable hot, cold and ice blended coffee mixes.  They also have non-coffee based drinks ranging from smoothies, sodas and juices.  Making them unique against other coffee shops is that they are serving full meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Their specialties include baked salmon, grilled barbeque ribs and pork steak. They also have sandwiches and pastas which can be perfectly matched with any beverage for an afternoon or even midnight snacks.

According to Taza’s CEO and President, Rodel G. Lacorte (RGL), the inspiration for Taza Mia were his travels around the world.  The homey and relaxing ambiance of the coffee shops in Europe where families gather, important meetings are held and friends meet up is something that RGL wants Filipinos to experience, thus the tagline “Taza Mia, where family, friends and partners meet.”

Taza Mia CEO and President Rodel G. Lacorte, (far left) together with SM City Lipa Mall Manager Liza F. Dimaculangan and Engr. Roldan Lopez (center) with officiating priest Fr. Russel B. Matuloy (far right) during the cutting of the ribbon and blessing of Taza Mia’s seventh branch at SM City Lipa. 

Started as a family business four years ago by RGL, the company had its first branch in San Pablo City in Laguna where it became an instant hit among the locals during its first months of operations.  Soon prospecting entrepreneurs wanted to franchise Taza Mia. This has catapulted the coffee shop to build another branch in San Pablo and expand branches in Candelaria and Tiaong in Quezon, Sto. Tomas in Batangas, Robinsons Place Lipa and SM City Lipa. They are also set to open two branches in Batangas City before the year ends.  By next year, they are eyeing a branch in Tagaytay and Nuvali in Sta Rosa.

Taza Mia CEO and President Rodel G. Lacorte

As RGL terms it, their company is going glocal – a local brand that can be competitive globally.  With the ASEAN Integration happening in 2016, foreign brands will be entering the market.  RGL intimated that while foreign business is entering Philippines, Taza Mia will also bring their business abroad, particularly in Vietnam and Malaysia. 

Halloween Costume Contest and Trick or Treat 2015 at SM City Lipa

It’s this time of the year where children and children at heart will get in their most creative and spookiest costume- Halloween! SM City Lipa will be a one-stop site for children’s Halloween Trick or Treat as the mall opens at 10am on October 31. No registration needed for the trick or treat.  Kids and adults may also join in the Halloween Costume Contest which will be held on the same day at 11am.

Here are the mechanics for the costume contest:

1.       Participants should have a minimum purchase requirement of Php1000 single or accumulated receipts (for 1 day) from any store at SM City Lipa.

2.        Interested participants should register on or before October 31, 2015, 10 am.  The registration forms are available at the reception area of the SM Lipa Mall administration office.  Completely filled registration forms must have the following attachments:

a.       Birth Certificate or any valid ID with birth date

b.      Signed parents’/guardians’ waiver (if below 18 years old)

c.       Proof of purchase.

3.       Deadline of submission of application forms to Mall Marketing Department shall be on October 31, 10AM.

4.       Below are the categories and prizes at stake:

Teens and Adults Category Each participant must be: -          13 years old and above -          Wearing a Halloween costume with monster theme -          All costumes must be presented and appropriate for the family-oriented theme	Prizes at Stake -          First place- Php5000 worth of SM GC -          Second Place- Php3000 worth of SM GC -          Third Place- Php1000 worth of SM GC. Winners will be announced on October 31.
Kids Each participant must be -          4 to 12 years old -          Wearing a Halloween costume with monster theme -          All costumes must be presentable and appropriate for the family oriented theme	Prizes at Stake -          First place- Php5000 worth of SM GC -          Second Place- Php3000 worth of SM GC -          Third Place- Php1000 worth of SM GC. Winners will be announced on October 31.

5.       Criteria for judging:

Visual Impact                     30%

Creativity                            30%

Adherence to theme            20%

Stage presence                    20%

                Total                                            100%

6.       A DTI representative shall witness the contest proper and the tallying of scores.

7.    Shopping Center Management Corporation and judge’s decision is final in concurrence with DTI.

8.       Employees of Shopping Center Management Corporation, its affiliates, mall tenants, agencies and service providers, their respective officers and the relatives of these employees and officers up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are not qualified to join the contest

Maulion, Solidarios, David, to represent Batangas in National Sudoku Championship

Lipa City – The Batangas regional eliminations on the search for the next Sudoku Champions was held last October 17, Saturday at the Events Center of SM City Lipa.  The eliminations was divided into three categories the Sudoku Wiz Kid (grades 1 to 6), Sudoku Wizard (junior to senior high school) and Sudoku Grand Master (College and professional). After a series of time bounded number puzzles in increasing degree of difficulty, Abegail M. Maulion from De la Salle Lipa was announced as the only one qualified to participate in the nationals for the Wizard category , while two students from University of the Philippines namely Candice Renee Beatrice T.  Solidarios and Mica Anne Boleyn B. David  were qualified for the Sudoku Grand Master level. 

The national qualifiers together with the Mathematics Trainers Guild (MTG) Coordinators, from left to right, MTG Calamba Center Coordinator Marlyn Ortiz, MTG Tanauan Center Corrdinator Susan Ignacio, Sudoku Grand Master National Qualifiers- Candice Renne Beatrice Solidarios and Mica Anne Boleyn David, Sudoku Wizard National Qualifier Abegail Maulion and MTG Officer Lowela Lupac. 

       Maulion, Solidarion and David will be among the one hundred and ninety nine national finalists for the Sudoku Championships which will be held on The Skydome of SM North EDSA on January 30, 2016.

What’s New at SM Lipa

Hairless

Beyond waxing, hair removal can be permanent and this can only be done through thru laser or Intense Pulse Light (IPL). In the past years, IPL hair removal services is very costly, but with the opening of Hairless, this treatment can be availed in an affordable price.  Hairless is the only laser hair removal service shop in the country that offers 650 pesos per area per session rate. Hairless is located adjacent to The Events Center at the second floor of the main mall of SM City Lipa.

Taza Mia

Founded by mostly Batangueño entrepreneurs, Taza Mia opened its 5^th branch at SM City Lipa last October 8.  With their business tagline, “where family, friends and partners meet”  Taza Mia aims to consistently delight customers with the best tasting yet affordable hot and cold coffee.  They also have non-coffee based drinks ranging from smoothies, sodas and juices.  Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, their specialties include baked salmon, grilled barbeque ribs and pork steak. Taza Mia is located at the ground floor of SM City Lipa’s annex building. 

10th Sudoku Super Challenge Batangas Eliminations set at SM Lipa

This will be a chance for Batangas’ Sudoku enthusiasts to be part of the 10th Sudoku Super Challenge Regional Eliminations which will be held at The Events Center of SM City Lipa on October 17, Saturday.

The regional eliminations will be done simultaneously on SM Supermalls in Cagayan de Oro, Dasmarinas (Cavite), Sta. Rosa (Laguna), Baguio, Cebu, Pampanga, Iloilo, Lucena, Baliwag, Bacolod, Lipa (Batangas), Rosales (Pangasinan), Tarlac, Davao, Naga, Gen. Santos, Olongapo and Marikina, while the national finals will be on January 30, 2016 at SM City North EDSA.

Interested participants may contact MTG’s Batangas Coordinator Susan Ignacio of First Asia Institute of Technology at 09258242729.

THE BODY SHOP LAUNCHES OILS OF LIFE AND SPA OF THE WORLD

The Body Shop brought together the most precious ingredients from around the world when it launched its Oils of Life and Spa of the World lines at SM Makati.

Event host Bianca Valerio and the Best Photo Challenge winner Rorie Carlos-Manzano with The Body Shop’s Emily Koa and Cecille Chua-Uy.

            Hosted by Bianca Valerio, the event had a nature setting – mini gardens, blooms, and even wood crate boxes as if to emphasize the fact that these ingredients were sourced from the most exotic locations. There was even a mini-spa to get a revitalizing experience with The Body Shop’s new skincare collections.

The Body Shop recently launched its precious ingredients infused skincare ranges—the Oils of Life and Spa of the World at SM Makati. 

To create its Oils of Life, The Body Shop searched the world and selected 3 precious seed oils known for their revitalizing and repairing properties, and infused this in its recently launched skincare range.

            The Oils of Life’s three precious seed oils have been infused in highly sensorial textures to bring new life into your skin: Black Cumin Seed Oil from the Egyptian Nile Valley, which is known for its concentration in antioxidants; Camellia Seed Oil from the evergreen trees from China, which is naturally rich in nutritive oleic acid; and Rosehip Seed Oil from the Andes Foothills of Chile, which is rich in Omega 3 and 6.

Spa of the World’s Relaxing Ritual helps one de-stress, unwind, and reconnect with body and mind with the African Ximenia Scrub, Himalayan Charcoal Body Clay, Japanese Camellia Cream, and French Lavender Massage Oil. 

            And when you choose Oils of Life™ skincare, you help plant seeds and make a positive difference. In partnership with World Land Trust, The Body Shop aims to plant 1 million seeds of native tree species in degraded areas within seasonal dry forest in the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest. The planting will be followed by monitoring and maintenance actions to promote regeneration of forest cover.

            The project will take place over a two-year period and will commence in August 2015.  Seeds will be collected for storage and preserved for planting, and later in the year, the plantation site will be prepared for sowing.  This is in line with The Body Shop’s commitment to help protect the earth’s varied biodiversity and to help preserve and enrich life on the planet.

            Escapism, on the other hand, starts at home with the Spa of the World collection, whose ingredients were discovered from different parts of the world, where the most treasured ancient beauty rituals, cherished for their precious effects on skin.

The Oils of Life revitalizing routine begins with applying the Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion after cleansing. A unique bi-phase [oil + water] formula, it provides instant visible results while preparing and activating skin for the next steps in your routine. 

The Oils of Life routine’s second step is with the Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil, lightweight daily facial oil that effortlessly melts onto skin leaving a non-sticky velvety soft finish.

            Infused with the finest natural ingredients, Spa of the World’s refined textures and delicate fragrances will take body and mind on the ultimate sensory spa journey. Making you feel so good, inside and out.

Spa of the World’s Revitalising Ritual invigorate minds and body with its energizing spa ritual. Scrub with the Dead Sea Salt Scrub, treat your body with Moroccan Rhassoul Body Clay, and massage with Thai Lemongrass Massage Oil.

            The Body Shop’s Spa of the World has three uplifting body rituals: the Relaxing Ritual, which is the perfect way to de-stress, unwind, and reconnect body and mind; the Revitalising Ritual, which invigorates and energizes mind and body; and the Blissful Ritual, a sublime ritual to indulge in.

Spa of the World’s Blissful Ritual which is believed to let the skin glow with a luxurious nourishment. Nourish with Polynesian Monoi Radiance Oil, treat with Hawaiian Kukui Cream, and massage with Tahitian Orchid Massage Oil.

            The Oils of Life and Spa of the World ranges are available at all The Body Shop stores. The Body Shop now accepts SM Advantage Card for points earning and redemption, SM and Sodexo premium pass in all The Body Shop stores nationwide, such that of their branch at SM City Lipa.

---

The Body Shop was founded in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick in Littlehampton, England. The beauty brand pioneered corporate activism and was built on a philosophy that business can be a force for good. With its brand expression, Beauty with Heart, the company continues to be focused on five core values; Against Animal Testing, Support Community Fair Trade, Activate Self Esteem, Defend Human Rights and Protect The Planet. All products are created using the finest ingredients sourced from the four corners of the globe, which are not tested on animals and are 100%. vegetarian. The Body Shop has been in the Philippine market for eighteen years with over 55 strategically located stores nationwide. 

Bigg’s Diner SM Lipa Offers Php5 Extreme Supreme Burger, Celebrates 5th Anniversary

Bigg’s Diner SM Lipa celebrates its 5^th anniversary this 2015 with a bang! Offering the Extreme Supreme Burger at Php 5 (with a minimum purchase worth Php300), burger lovers and Bigg’s fanatics would surely crave for more. The first 100 customers can avail of the said promo tomorrow, September 8, at SM Lipa.

The celebration will start with a mass at 7:00 AM, followed by a breakfast/get-together and opening remarks by Bigg’s VP for Operations Mr. Mariano-Ronnie Dolot as well as a message from CEO Mr. Carlo B. Buenaflor. At 9:00 AM, vintage car enthusiasts shall be enthralled with a motorcade of 15 vintage cars along Lipa City. This will likewise set the launch of Bigg’s Delivery Service.

Bigg’s Delivery Service

Bigg’s will be launching its delivery service, allowing customers to get a free 1.5L Coke for a minimum food purchase of Php1000.  The said promo will not be valid in conjunction with other promos, discounts or signing privileges. Promo runs from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

Serving Good Food Since 1983

Originating from Bicol (Naga), Bigg’s Diner humbly started as “Mang Donald’s” take-out window in Jan. 18, 1983. Since then, it has captured the hearts of Bicolanos with its “taste of American fare”.

What I love to order when I eat at Bigg’s is their Pork Cordon Bleu with mashed potato and buttered vegetables. Their macaroni and cheese, as well as their special burgers are also must-tries.

Excited for tomorrow? Visit Bigg’s Diner at SM Lipa to join their celebration and catch the latest promos.

Bigg’s Diner is located at the ground floor of SM Lipa (beside Starbucks).

Read More: Bigg’s Diner – SM City Naga

7 Shopping Tips for SM Lipa’s 3-day Sale

Twice a year, SM Lipa is staging its biggest promotional sale- the SM 3-day Sale.  The second sale this year will actually be a 4-day sale to give way for a long weekend on August 28-31. Below is a list of shopping tips that will help a shopper get the best value for their money.

1. Take advantage of SM’s raffle promos – the 3-day sale is a highly budgeted event of the mall and thus they are preparing fabulous prices for their raffle promos.  Below are the two raffle promos that shoppers can join in.

The Mall Raffle
Prize at stake: 1 Unit of Suzuki Celerio
How To Join: For every, 1000-peso worth of purchase in any shop, store and restaurant inside SM Lipa, a shopper is entitled to have a raffle ticket. The raffle tickets can be redeemed at the redemption booths that will be located at SM Lipa’s Events Center and in between Café de Lipa and Pizza Hut. Last 3-day sale, the prizes at stake were 2 units of Suzuki Raider motorcycles and were won by Renelyn Endozo of Lemery, Batangas and Vanessa Cruzat of Balete, Batangas.

The SM Store Raffle
Prizes at stake: 24,000 pesos-worth of load from Globe.  
How to Join: They are giving this to each of the nine lucky winners.
For every single receipt purchase of 2000 pesos at The SM Store, the shopper may redeem his/her raffle entry at the redemption booth located at the ground floor of The SM Store. Winners will be drawn on the following dates and time:  AUGUST 28 (FRI) – 8:00 PM (3 WINERS)/ AUGUST 29 (SAT) – 8:00 PM (3 WINNERS) / AUGUST 30 (SUN) – 9:00 PM (3 WINNERS).

2. Get that additional 10% off on the first two hours on the first day of sale.  First, you have to be an SM Advantage, SM Prestige or BDO rewards card holder to avail of the additional discount. To be precise, this is between 10:00am to 12:00noon on August 28, Friday. The stores that gives this additional discount are the following: The SM Store, Ace Hardware, Surplus Shop, Crocs, The Body Shop and Uniqlo. Yes, Crocs, The Body Shop and Uniqlo are already SM Affiliates. For the SM Appliance Center on the other hand, additional 5% off are given for their appliances on the first two hour sale.

3. Get that 200-peso worth of SM Gift Certificates. “May GC sa Resibo”.  SM is giving away 200-peso worth of SM Gift Certificates for every 5000 pesos worth of single receipt purchase starting August 28 to August 30 from any shop inside SM Lipa. Take note, the 5000 peso purchase must be in one receipt or transaction only. Keep your receipts with you as the GC redemption is timed on August to 29 to 30, 10am to 6pm only.  The redemption booth is also located at the Events Center and in the area between Pizza Hut and Café de Lipa.



4. Get one of those 1000 free pizzas, burgers and sundaes. Yes, you heard it right.  Free food! Shop at least 1000 pesos worth of purchase from any store or restaurant on August 29 to 31 to get a free food promotional stub from our redemption booth.

• August 29, Saturday: Free 1000 pizza slices from Pizza Hut
• August 30, Sunday: Free 1000 burgers from Bigg’s Diner and Jollibee
• August 31, Monday: Free 1000 sundae cups from McDonald’s

Take note: Do not go directly to the participating restaurants, redeem your “free food stub” first at the redemption booths located at the Events Center and in the area between Pizza Hut and Café de Lipa.

5. Get additional rebates when you use your BDO credit cards, cash cards or debit cards at The SM Store. As credit cards make purchasing more convenient, it also gives us additional perks.  Like if you use your BDO cards on the three day sale, the shopper will be getting additional rebates:

A. 10% rebate will be given on a minimum P25,000 purchase when you use your locally issued BDO Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Union Pay / American Express credit card.
B. 5% rebate will be given on a minimum P5,000 purchase when you use your locally issued BDO Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Union Pay / American Express credit card.
C. 3% rebate will be given on a minimum P3,000 purchase when you use your locally issued BDO Debit or Cash Card.

Take note: The rebates will be applicable on the net of all discounts (SMAC and Class Discounts).

6. Make a list and shop early.  Take note that the 3-day sale particularly its first two hours is something that people really look forward to so expect many shoppers as eager as you to shop.  This is particularly obvious at The SM Store and Ace Hardware. One helpful tip is to hunt for your “things to buy” the day before the sale.  Try to fit the clothes and shoes, tests the appliances and inspect the items you are planning to buy.  The sales associates at The SM Store and Ace Hardware are friendly enough to reserve your items for you.  Have your items ready on one cart so when tomorrow comes, you will just be paying your items at the counters.

7. Take note of the mall hours.  August 28, opening at 9am, closing at 10pm. August 29-31 opening at 10am and closing at 10pm.

Lipa Made Even Sweeter with Krispy Kreme

Sweet tooths surely had a blast as Krispy Kreme (KK) opened its 65th store at SM Lipa, Aug. 15, 2015.

Not only that, for the "joy" that KK aims to deliver was just made more exciting with promos that caught Lipenos' fancies. As promised, the 1st to 100th to line up would get supplies of the Original Sugar Glazed doughnuts and coffee.

True enough, no efforts were wasted as the first to line up, Gerald de Guzman, from San Pascual, Batangas, received his very own Golden Ticket. De Guzman won his way to a one-year supply of doughnuts and signature coffee. Runner-ups did not come empty handed as they too won the Silver, Bronze and Blue Tickets.

The opening celebration of KK at SM Lipa was also made even more fun with games, raffle of 3 Golden Tickets (for VIP guests), a brunch for VIPs, and discounts.

#JoyInABox was indeed made a reality with Krispy Kreme!

One-Year Supply of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Anyone? KK to Open at SM Lipa

One-Year Supply of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Anyone?
KK Opens at SM Lipa

Hooray!! Krispy Kreme to open at SM Lipa, August 14, 2015.

Not only that, for you just might win a golden ticket – meaning, you get a one-year supply of KK’s Original Glazed Doughnuts – when you get to line up first during the opening. Other guests still receive free doughnuts as per the promo guidelines (Check out the details below).

Contest Mechanics:

•          The first customer to line up at Krispy Kreme SM Lipa wins a one (1) year supply of Original Glazed doughnuts and 8oz Signature Coffee prize certificate (Gold).
•           The second customer wins a 6-month supply of Original Glazed doughnuts and 8oz Signature Coffee prize certificate (Silver).
•          The third customer wins a 3-month supply of Original Glazed doughnuts and 8oz Signature Coffee prize certificate (Bronze).
•          The fourth to 100^th customer wins a one-month supply of Original Glazed doughnuts prize certificate (Blue).
•          Guests number 101 onwards get a box of 6 Original Glazed doughnuts for any dozen purchase through the Krispy Kreme mobile app.

To Win:

•          The customer must stay in line from the time they lined up until the store opening – 10:00 AM of August 14, 2015 at Krispy Kreme SM Lipa (one hour before the store opening, numbered pins will be issued by Krispy Kreme to ensure order and avoid confusion).
•         Customer must present registered Krispy Kreme Mobile App and purchase at least a dozen doughnuts (P325.00 for Original Glazed doughnuts, P375.00 for Mixed dozen doughnuts or P425.00 for Assorted Doughnuts) at the store opening of Krispy Kreme store to qualify.
•           Valid for dine-in and take-out.

Other Guidelines:

•          Proxy or reservation in line is not allowed.
•          Leaving the line is allowed only during call of nature reasons only.
•          Customer may only win once.
•          Reward can be redeemed starting August 21, 2015.

Ready to line up? I’m pretty sure doughnut lovers (like you perhaps) from Lipa and nearby towns would be gearing up for this exciting day. Mark your calendar and don’t miss this special treat from Krispy Kreme. :) 

Can't get enough of KK doughnuts and coffee? Or would you just like to share your love for KK online? Just use the hashtag #JoyInABox and join in the conversation.