The SM Mall of Asia, pioneer and one of the largest malls in Asia, recognize its influence on promoting the happiness of every Filipino. Now on its third year, the MOA Happiness Campaign brings it to the next level of sharing happiness like no other to every Filipino mall-goer. To kick-start the International Day of Happiness, SM Mall of Asia in partnership with SMDC and Runrio Events, Inc is organizing the very first and happiest run in the country – the MOA Happiness Run on March 17, 2019, at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. Everyone can come together to feel happy vibes through running. Our runners will experience a day of extra happiness through our Happiness Bubble Station, Happiness Inflatable Station, Happiness Wall, and Happiness Photo Stations. Upon registration, runners will receive their own Happiness Kit containing a singlet from which you can choose from two happy emotions, loot bag with lots of happy treats and goodies, happiness medal and race bib, which are specially designed to hype the happy feeling. The race course will include fun obstacles and the event itself will have activities that runners of all ages will enjoy. After the run is a Happiness Concert and a segment wherein the event will give away big prizes such as cameras, phones and gift certificates along with more exciting prizes that people should watch out for.

After the MOA Happiness Run, SM Mall of Asia has its own unique efforts of building the mall itself as the hub for happy moments and memorable experiences. It will be a day full of extra happiness on March 20 as we celebrate the International Day of Happiness.

There will be a shower of discounts and promotions from the mall-wide Happiness Sale and surprises from our Happiness Squad who will roam around the mall to give away free hugs and treats to customers.

At night, mall goers will have something to look forward to capturing the iconic MOA Globe transform into our favorite emojis starting March 1.

Celebrate happiness at SM Mall of Asia and sign up for the first ever and happiest run of the year!

#MOAHappinessRun   /   #MOAHappinessDay

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An enthusiast of the transforming power of sports in lives of the citizens, His Highness Sheikh Khalid has been an advocate for change through sport, with a number of initiatives taking place in the Kingdom of Bahrain. As he prepares to watch his vision turned into reality once more, His Highness will be the first from a royal family to attend an event at the Mall of Asia Arena, in Manila, Philippines.

He will be in the country also to strengthen the relationship between the Philippines and Bahrain, as well as making sure the sport of MMA continues its rapid development in Filipino ground, with the likes of BRAVE CF’s Bantamweight champion Stephen Loman already confirmed to be in action on fight night.

BRAVE CF 22 will mark the first time Brave Combat Federation, the largest sports property in the Middle East, lands in the Philippines. The country will join Brazil, Bahrain, Mexico, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Northern Ireland, among others, as hosts of a BRAVE CF’s vision.

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In spite of having Loman as a possible future opponent, Torres was full of praise for the defending champion and claimed it would take something spectacular from Boudegzdame to dethrone Loman.

“Loman is incredible, he always comes back from adversity. He’s a slow starter and almost always loses the first round. Even in his last fight, we thought Felipe Efrain would put him away, but then he came back stronger each round and was able to stay the champion. I know Elias has a very interesting submission game, but he has to beat Loman in the first round, or else I see the champ taking over and winning again”, says “Shorty”.

For Torres, the fact that Loman will fight at home puts him as a favorite against Boudegzdame. The American was full of praise for the Filipino support all over the world, as he experienced first-hand when he commentated on Loman’s last fight at Brave 18.

“As Loman will be fighting at home, Elias has to finish him early. Stephen is from the Philippines, and you see what they do for the likes of Manny Pacquiao, they travel the world to see him fight, you can imagine now, at home, how they’re going to make him feel. The crowd will be relentless. I was in Bahrain when he fought at Brave 18, and the Filipinos were louder than anyone else in the arena. It’s going to be fantastic for him”, claimed Torres.

Brave 22 is the first-ever Brave Combat Federation show in the Philippines. The country joins a long list of places that the promotion has visited inside the first two years of operation, such as Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, India, Kazakhstan, among others.

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Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the organization has taken big steps in a new sport. Compared to the likes of football and basketball, MMA has only been around since the ’90s, and it has already evolved and changed in many ways since its inception, adapting its rules to gain a wider audience – which is one of the changes that has made MMA the fastest-growing sport in the world.

Aside from adapting its rules, MMA has also focused on marketable athletes, and most promotions choose to invest in fighters with certain types of personalities. Brave Combat Federation, on the other hand, takes pride in giving a truly global platform to athletes because of their in-cage abilities and fighting qualities, regardless of how they come across to the media.

This has allowed Brave to set an example in its two-year run as the fastest-growing promotion in the fastest-growing sport. No other organization has traveled so extensively as Brave has in their first two years of operations. Since September of 2016, the company has visited 14 countries: Bahrain, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Jordan, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Morocco, Colombia, Pakistan, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia.

Aside from this, Brave has given opportunities to fighters from more than 40 countries to showcase their abilities to more than 80 countries around the world with a reach close to 800 million homes. The promotion insists on blending in local talent with international fighters whenever it lands on a new country, making sure regional fighters have a chance to shine in the biggest of stages and leaving a lasting legacy to the sport in the new areas reached.

Set for a groundbreaking event in the iconic Mall of Asia Arena, in Manila, Philippines, Brave Combat Federation will once again use its formula of bringing the biggest international stars on its roster to compete with Philippines’ finest. In the main event of Brave 22, the organization’s longest-reigning champion, Stephen Loman, will go for an unprecedented third defense of his belt against former Featherweight titleholder Elias Boudegzdame, from Algeria, by way of Montpellier, France.

Both men have the opportunity to make history in front of Brave’s loyal Filipino fanbase, as Boudegzdame could become the first fighter to hold two belts in two different weight classes and Loman could extend his legacy with a third title defense. A win over “Smile” could very well cement the Bantamweight champion as a Filipino sports legend, after conquering the rest of the world, with appearances in Bahrain and Northern Ireland as well as wins over tough Brazilian and Irish fighters.

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As Brave prepares for its Filipino debut, set for the Mall of Asia Arena, on March 15th, with Brave 22, local stars are gearing up for homecoming. Bantamweight champion Stephen Loman is confirmed in the main event, as he looks for an unprecedented third defense of his belt against former Featherweight titleholder Elias Boudegzdame.

“The Sniper” has been a proud representative of the Philippines on the international stage, as he fought in Bahrain and Northern Ireland, proving his worth to different audiences and earning fans in those two countries, who are known for their love of martial arts.

Meanwhile, another Filipino rising star has gone above and beyond to represent the Philippines flag in the global stage. Fellow Bantamweight Jeremy Pacatiw is the record-holder for most Brave appearances, with seven fights under the promotion’s banner. Not only that, but “The Juggernaut” has become a world-citizen in the process, flying the Filipino flag as he went to enemy territory in Brazil to face local fighter Thiago Dela Coleta, and coming out with a big KO win.

Pacatiw has also been present in some of Brave’s landmark events, such as Brave 14, the first-ever global MMA show taking place in Africa (Morocco). In Tangier, the Filipino star took care of Keith Lee, brother of Lightweight MMA star Kevin Lee, earning a dominant decision win and setting himself up for another big fight and another huge win – in Pakistan for Brave 17, he beat hometown idol Uloomi Shaheen in a fight of the year contender.

Other Filipino stars such as Arben Escayo and Ariel Oliveros were also in action at Brave 17, proving the deep connection between Brave’s rise to the top and the Philippines rise to prominence in the international MMA scenario.

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The Filipino Ambassador for Bahrain, Mr. Alfonso Ver, was on sight to watch the activities from Brave CF 18, when Loman defended his belt against Brazil’s Felipe Efrain and was left greatly impressed with the structure of the show, his countryman’s performance and connection with Brave fans.

During the event, with the presence of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Brave’s visionary leader and patron, Mr. Ver put the wheels in motion for the promotion’s first visit to the Philippines by publicly asking for a Brave show in his homeland. Knowing that Brave has a huge following in the country was a welcomed plus for the diplomat.

Ahead of Brave 22, the parties involved will also look to strengthen the relationship between Philippines and Bahrain, as well as making sure the sport of MMA continues its rapid development in the Philippines as Brave CF looks to give a global platform to local fighters for the first time on March 15th 2019.

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It’s been a thrilling and inspiring journey, indeed. The Philippine national team has been participating in the AFF Championship since 1996. And over the years, they have progressed from the group stage to the semi-finals.

The Azkal’s proudest claim to fame was the so-called “Miracle of Hanoi,” where they beat defending champions Vietnam 2-0 at the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. Despite a fueled desire for the finals, the team has yet to taste the sweetness of the elusive championship. “We’ve come a long way since Vietnam [during the Miracle of Hanoi],” says team captain Phil Younghusband. “There were some wins, some losses, but we’ve pushed through and worked hard to be successful and to draw more fans to Philippine football.”

The recently concluded 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup was held from November 8 to December 15, 2018. Group A consisted of Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The Philippines was placed in Group B with Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Singapore, and defending champions Thailand.

During the group stage, the Philippines started strong, beating Singapore 1-0, last November 13, at the Pana-ad Stadium in Bacolod. It was German-born Filipino Patrick Alcala Reichelt who scored the goal. The Azkals went on for another win against Timor-Leste, 3-2, at an away game in Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Malaysia. Top scorer P. Younghusband, Swiss-Filipino Martin Steuble, and Spanish-Filipino Carlos de Murga scored the three critical goals. Returning to Pana-ad Stadium, the Azkals tied with Thailand, 1-1, where proud Iloilo-native Jovin Bedic made a stunning point against the defending champs. Before graduating from the group stage, the Azkals once more dealt a draw with Indonesia at an away game in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta.

At the 2018 AFF Championship knockout stage, where the two teams from each group advance to compete in a single-elimination tournament, the Philippines competed against Group A’s Vietnam. During the first leg in a home game in Bacolod, the Azkals faced off against Vietnam but lost with a score of 1-2. Right-winger Reichelt again managed to score the goal. “Losing in the finals can be really heartbreaking; but we are always progressing as a team,” James Younghusband shares.

During the second leg, the team traveled to Mỹ Đình National Stadium in Hanoi to square off once again against Vietnam. Driven and required to produce twice the number of goals against their opponent, the Azkals battled it out in a long drawn-out deadlock against Vietnam. But during the last 10 minutes of the game, Vietnam scored two goals ensuring their seat at the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup Championship Finals. The Philippines nevertheless did not concede, managing one goal thanks to midfielder J. Younghusband, but it wasn’t enough to make them advance to the finals stage.

Finishing as semi-finalists for the fourth time, after 2010, 2012, and 2014, the Azkals continue to persevere and inspire. As they gain more experience on the field, so do they become better players. “Most of all, I enjoy being part of the group and being part of this team. We have amazing talents and you can expect greater things from us in the future,” P. Younghusband says.

Despite the loss, the Philippine Azkals have set their eyes on a new goal, gearing up for the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup. “Winning makes it more realistic when you’re trying to chase something, when you’re trying to build something. But first, we have to show our achievements in Southeast Asia before showing the world what we’ve got,” J. Younghusband says.

The Philippine national team looks on to the future, growing stronger together and drawing more attention to Philippine football. As the Azkals continue to chase their dream of football glory, they continue to inspire Filipinos with their drive and passion. “We’ve had our hardships, we’ve had our struggles.

But together, we can show everyone what we can do as a team and as a country,” P. Younghusband ends.

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“Well first when we joined this tournament we really didn’t expect anything, we just want to play.” said Coach Oliver Almadro.  He also added that he and the team didn’t really expect to make it to the semifinals, and making it this far is an added bonus.

The Motolite-Ateneo Lady Eagles have showed dominance the entire conference despite having a relatively young roster behind the inspired plays of UAAP Season 80 Best Setter Deanna Wong, Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag, team captain Bea De Leon, Ponggay Gaston and rookie Vanessa Gandler.

Coach Almadro has also been very grateful about how Motolite’s support of the team has truly inspired the players and the coaching staff.

Motolite’s partnership with the Ateneo Lady Eagles Volleyball Team is a perfect match as it aligns with the brand’s vision of helping Philippine sports.  It has been well documented that Motolite has been a staunch backer of motor sports, billiards, basketball, and of course boxing, having supported multiple time world champion and now Senator Manny Pacquiao even when he was just a fledgling young boxer out of General Santos City.This is proof that the Philippines’ undisputed leader in automotive, motorcycle, and industrial batteries has every Filipino’s good at the heart of Motolite’s branding.

For the longest time, Motolite has been the name motorists rely on when faced with unexpected car battery problems on the road. Its Motolite Express Hatid has helped countless local motorists from the hassle of being stuck on the road due to car battery failure.

Now, with the launch of the Motolite RES-Q App, motorists can likewise experience that same support not only when it comes to car battery failures but also when they need help with a flat tire, overheating, or even emergency refueling.

Free to download from the App Store and Google Play, the Motolite RES-Q App is easy to navigate and with just a few clicks, help is on the way. It also allows you to see the profile of the RES-Q riders coming to you, track exactly where they are in real time, and rate them for the services rendered.

“It is at the heart of Motolite’s branding to guarantee a worry-free driving experience to our clients especially in Metro Manila,” Motolite Vice-President Ricky Chan said. “And to do this means addressing the more common problems they may face on the road and the Motolite RES-Q app is one way to achieve that objective of giving our customers that ‘peace of mind’ while on the road.”

Chan adds that if you have a Motolite battery installed in your vehicle, the RES-Q service will be free of charge. Motorists will only need to pay for the new battery or in certain cases, coolant or fuel, and they can pay either by cash or by credit card.

“In some aspects, that’s better than paying for roadside assistance club annual membership dues,” Chan says.

With the Motolite RES-Q app, motorists and passengers alike will no longer have to worry about car troubles disrupting their schedules especially when they are rushing to work, school, attending an important meeting, or even driving out of town.

“We have countless testimonials of motorists who got rescued by our Motolite Express Hatid riders while stuck in the middle of the road late at night,” Chan says. “But now, we want motorists and passengers to feel at ease that their most unexpected worries on the road will be taken care of by our RES-Q riders through the Motolite RES-Q app.”

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STR8 Brand will be exclusively available at Watsons Retail Chain and The SM Stores.

STR8 is a popular men’s fragrance line presenting high brand awareness and leading market shares in Central-eastern & South-eastern Europe.

The Brand urges young men to “Go for Great”. To get out there and without any fear or hesitation aim high and “go and get” what they really want in life, in order to experience the great feeling of success. Like their hero, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the brand’s Global ambassador, the world famous basketball player of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Starting his journey as an amateur player within Greece, Giannis Antetokounmpo dared to go after his dream working his way up, marking continuous successes in the US and blossomed into an all–round basketball superstar of the NBA, breaking one record after another. His passion, commitment, hard work and integrity are the virtues that helped him grow into one of the best NBA players.

STR8 and Giannis are a perfect match as they stand for the same values.

STR8 belongs to Sarantis Group portfolio of own brands. The Group is one of the leading fast moving consumer goods company in Europe and has a very strong international presence, operating subsidiaries in 12 European countries through an extensive distribution network and exporting to more than 40 countries worldwide.

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Regarded as the second phase of the Astro Kem Bola program, the Advanced Training camp is an intensive experience that formally immersed the young athletes in the rigors of football. Together with other participants from Singapore and Malaysia, the kids, aged 10-12 years old, received in-depth training revolving around pitch and classroom sessions from Barca Academy coaches who were flown down to Malaysia specifically for the camp.

The participants consisted of James Philip Domens, 11 years old, Pasig City; Charles Cedrick Lajom, 12, Mandaluyong City; Nazer Merendad, 11, Mandaluyong City; Tadashi Rysuei Omiya, 11, Montalban, Rizal; Angelane Joy Ortega, 12, San Carlos City; Elijah Raj Pabalete, 11, San Carlos City; Caitlin Clare Panilan, 10, Quezon City; Roy Panunciar Jr., 11, San Carlos City; Michaella Ann Tolones, 12, Zamboanga City; Winceyette Louise Aleichem Tumala, 12, San Carlos City; Zhaira Gail Velasco, 12, San Carlos City; and Joeny Yap, 11, Batangas City.

“Football is not just a game but an overwhelmingly positive force that can change the lives of these young athletes.  That is what we want to do with our sports program.  We want to inspire these financially-challenged children to be the best they can be and be instrumental in giving them a brighter future by opening opportunities to them in the sport that they love,” said Miguel Bermundo, Director for Globe Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing.

To scout for these talented players, Globe held football clinics in different parts of the country where the kids were taught how to play football the proper way.  Through the clinics which Globe holds every year, TM FPSB is also able to help ingrain in the kids the timeless values of sportsmanship such as teamwork and discipline. This way, they would be able to take responsibility for their actions and not fall into the trap of blaming their opponents for mistakes and failures.

The opportunity to train in Malaysia is an added benefit for the kids who have the right skills and aptitude for the game.  This also brings them closer to their dreams and provides them with a chance to help their families through scholarships as they excel in the sport.

“Astro Kem Bola is a regional effort by Yayasan Astro Kasih, in providing an opportunity to children to excel in football. The program provides equal opportunity to girls and boys and has positively impacted more than 17,000  children since its inception in 2012,” said Datuk David Yap, Director of Community Affairs, Astro.

“The Advanced Training camp in Kuala Lumpur presented the participants with a valuable insight into what professional football training is like. We hope the priceless experience of training under the eyes of world-class coaches will inspire them to fulfill their sporting goals. Thanks to our regional partners like Globe, we are confident that the reach of the Astro Kem Bola program can extend even further to more children from underserved communities in the Philippines. Astro hopes this opportunity will be a stepping stone for children in the region to achieve greater heights for themselves, as well as their respective nations,” he concluded.

Since 2016, Globe has been working with Yayasan Astro Kasih; the corporate foundation and corporate social responsibility arm of Astro, a Malaysian media and entertainment company with presence in the ASEAN region, via their Astro Kem Bola program. This initiative is to promote sports development and the intellectual, emotional, and social enrichment of the young people who want to become good in it. Selected girls and boys from the Advanced Training camp will have a chance to further their training with Barca Academy; the renowned youth academy of Futbol Club Barcelona in Spain for 10 days later this year.

“I learned a lot of things about football such as how to quickly play the ball and move it around. I became adept in controlling the ball and in passing it to the right team player. I really wish I can make it to Barcelona,” said Tadashi, talking about his experience in Malaysia.

“I just didn’t learn skills but respect for my teammates as well, whether they are my countrymen or from the other countries,” Roy added.

Zhaira agreed: “I cultivated a lot of Singaporean and Malaysian friendships. I learned to see things through their eyes.”

Caitlin emphasized: “One important thing I learned is to enjoy the game and keep on improving my play, even if I lose. You don’t advance by blaming other people.”

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