Connect with us

Product Showcase

Watsons Philippines unveils its 1,000th store in Manila

Spanning almost 1,000 square meters, the new flagship store is located in The Block, SM City North Edsa Block in Manila. As the biggest store in the country, it showcases the most comprehensive array of health and beauty products in an engaging way that will take the shopping experience to the next level.

Published

on

As Asia’s No.1 health and beauty retailer, Watsons is celebrating an important milestone today as it opens its 1,000th store in Philippines, adding to a total of 8,000 Watsons stores across 15 markets in Asia and Eastern Europe. The new store opening coincides with Watsons’ 20th anniversary in the Philippines, one of its fastest-growing markets.

Spanning almost 1,000 square meters, the new flagship store is located in The Block, SM City North Edsa Block in Manila. As the biggest store in the country, it showcases the most comprehensive array of health and beauty products in an engaging way that will take the shopping experience to the next level.

Dominic Lai, Group Managing Director of A.S. Watson Group, officiates at the store opening event and says, “This new flagship store is important in the nation-wide expansion in this beautiful country as it’s a clear demonstration of Watsons’ determination to strengthen our connection with customers via seamless O+O platforms. O+O platform strategy is at the core of our business to create an integrated experience, to better serve customers anytime, anywhere.”

“Besides celebrating the 1,000th store opening, today marks Watsons’ 20 years of commitment to serving our customers in the Philippines. Over the years, we’ve been working to deliver our purpose to help customers Look Good, Do Good, Feel Great.”

A New Standard for O+O Retail

To respond to the customers’ needs, Watsons’ new flagship store is not only designed to offer a modern and stylish shopping environment, but also create an immersive and interactive O+O experience for its customers. 

Leveraging on an extensive store network in Philippines, Online Express delivery service is available so that customers can have their products delivered to doorsteps in 3 hours or choose to pick up orders at store within 30 mins via Click & Collect Express.

This new Watsons store is a model for the future of beauty shopping with special discovery areas. There’s a Skinfie Lab, a skin analysis tool that creates personalized skincare recommendations based on selfies. The tool, which is also housed in the Watsons app, is able to detect a range of facial attributes from a customer’s selfie, including acne, fine lines, pigmentation and overall skin condition. Meanwhile, makeup lovers can use #ColourMe Virtual Makeup try-on, to experience hundreds of lipsticks, mascara, eyeshadow, brow products, and foundation.

Expanding Digital Health Services

To help customers Look Good, Do Good, Feel Great, Watsons has its first state-of-the-art clinic powered by The Medical City that features virtual consultation and remote physical examination. Vaccination services for flu, HPV, and pneumonia will be available at the clinic soon.

Watsons Supplement Finder is also available to support the pharmacy service and help  customers get personalized recommendations on the best vitamins and supplements for them.

Teresita Sy-Coson, Co Chairman of SM Investments, congratulates Watsons on the double celebrations, “Our long-term partnership with Watsons has realised our promise of bringing the best-in-class health & beauty products to all Filipinos. It’s our pleasure to celebrate this remarkable milestone with Watsons and we will continue to work closely to raise the standard in health & beauty in the Philippines through Watsons’ seamless O+O platforms.”

1,000 Ways of Doing Good

Mr. Lai concludes, “Looking ahead, we’re committed to continuing our expansion in the Philippines, as well as the rest of the world. Besides bringing pleasurable O+O shopping experience to our customers, we want to engage our customers to do good to the community and the planet with us through our sustainability programmes.”

To inspire its customers to live a sustainable lifestyle, Watsons offers over 1,500 Sustainable Choices products under Clean beauty, refill packs, better packaging and better ingredients for customers so that they can contribute to create a better world. Watsons has also mobilised its customers to create a bigger impact with community programmes such as sponsorship of free corrective surgeries for cleft children under Give-a-Smile is targeted to empower 3,300 families in the Philippines by 2030, and the Alagang Pangkalusugan community medical outreach programme will likewise be supporting 20,000 people with free medicines in the coming years.

The celebration activities will continue throughout the year as Watsons show appreciation to customers, partners and colleagues through the #WeLoveYou1000Ways campaign. There will be member-exclusive benefits and special offers, both offline and online to show the brand’s appreciation to loyal customers of Watsons Club.

Zest Magazine accepts contributions promoting everything about living the good life (and how to make this so). C'mon, give us a yell.

Product Showcase

Fullerton Health celebrates two years of advancing preventive healthcare in PH

Published

on

As more Filipino professionals navigate increasingly demanding careers and lifestyles, preventive healthcare is becoming less of an afterthought and more of a necessity.

From routine executive health screenings to proactive wellness programs, a growing number of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and working professionals are prioritizing early detection and long-term health management as part of their everyday lives. The shift reflects a broader understanding that staying productive, achieving personal goals, and maintaining overall well-being require more than treating illnesses when they arise—they require preventing them in the first place.

This evolving mindset is something Fullerton Health Philippines has witnessed firsthand.

Now celebrating their second anniversary, the organization continues to champion preventive healthcare as an essential part of modern living, helping more Filipinos take proactive steps toward better health through executive health screening, advanced diagnostics, and personalized wellness solutions.

“Our mission has always been to empower individuals to take control of their health before illnesses develop or progress. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on helping more people live fuller, healthier lives through preventive care,” said Carmie de Leon, Country General Manager of Fullerton Health Philippines.

The growing emphasis on prevention has fueled Fullerton Health Philippines’ growth over the past two years. Since opening its doors, the organization has established itself as a trusted partner in executive health by combining advanced diagnostic capabilities, efficient patient experiences, and comprehensive health screening programs designed to offer efficient, fast, and seamless preventive healthcare experience.

A significant highlight in Fullerton Health Philippines’ journey this year was the recognition received at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2026, where they were honored as Specialty Clinic of the Year (Executive Health) – Philippines. The award recognizes the organization’s excellence in executive health screening, mainly in offering advanced diagnostic imaging technologies, evidence-based healthcare practices, and patient-centered care designed to support early detection and better health outcomes.

Fullerton Health Philippines has also expanded access through strategic partnerships with major HMO providers, healthcare organizations, and digital health platforms, making executive health screening more convenient for more Filipinos.

The company has also broadened its preventive health offerings through initiatives such as packages bundled with wellness perks that is also attractive for medical tourism, reflecting its belief that long-term well-being is supported by both preventive healthcare and holistic wellness experiences, as well as offering discounts in partnership with major payment networks to provide a more affordable option for Filipinos.

With this, Fullerton Health Philippines continues to receive consistent five-star reviews from clients. The strong satisfaction ratings reinforce the company’s position as a trusted partner in

preventive healthcare.

For Founder and Chairman of COL Financial Group, Inc., Edward K. Lee, preventive healthcare is an essential investment in maintaining both personal well-being and the ability to lead with confidence.

“Running a business means making decisions that prepare you for the future, and I believe the same mindset should apply to your health. Undergoing regular executive health screenings means I’m taking proactive steps to stay healthy for myself, my family, and the people who depend on me,” said Lee.

Similarly, President of Upgrade Energy Philippines Inc., Ruth Yu-Owen, who balances leadership responsibilities in the renewable energy sector while championing initiatives that create opportunities for Filipino women, sees preventive healthcare as an important part of sustaining both her personal well-being and professional pursuits.

“Being able to undergo a thorough health check-up provides me with the opportunity to improve my diet and make necessary lifestyle changes. Most importantly, it gives me peace of mind,” she shared.

These personal experiences reflect a broader shift toward proactive healthcare, where prevention becomes a cornerstone of long-term wellness rather than a response to illness.

Guided by its advocacy to help individuals to Live Fuller, Fullerton Health Philippines continues to champion a future where preventive healthcare is not just an option, but an integral part of everyday life.

Continue Reading

Product Showcase

New IKEA PS Collection brings playful functionality into your home

With the pairing of Scandinavian design DNA, IKEA’s democratic design philosophy and sense of fun, the result — starting with the first PS Collection in 1995 — is a collection of playful forms and practical living.

Published

on

Experts agree that emotional design is the difference between a house that simply functions and a home that makes you smile, creates connections, and moments to remember. It’s the lamp that infuses soft lighting in the bedroom when you read the kids a bedtime story, the utility cart that holds their crayons and drawings, the chair where you relax after a long day.

IKEA agrees with this philosophy and brings it to life with its new PS Collection. With the pairing of Scandinavian design DNA, IKEA’s democratic design philosophy and sense of fun, the result — starting with the first PS Collection in 1995 — is a collection of playful forms and practical living.

Considered as the “experimental playground” for the past 26 years, the collection has had nine editions released since then, each one exploring the future of Scandinavian design and producing some of IKEA’s most loved and enduring pieces.

In 2026’s modern spaces, the PS collection — the tenth edition — centers on useful, functional designs that give you what you need with an unexpected element of playfulness. Think an inflatable chair in bright green with chrome framing; a table clock that looks like a periscope to fire up the imagination; a chair that seems like a plywood puzzle that you solved; and so many more pieces — more than 30 pieces, will be available at the IKEA store in Mall of Asia and online.

Without losing their main function, the pieces were designed to have that happy duty to make people feel good too. “Less is more, simple but not a bore” is evident in the striking aesthetics, playful innovation and, equally important, the commitment to bring these pieces to the many in new ways.

IKEA’s famous and super affordable rice-paper pendant lamp, for instance, is now a half-moon lamp that’s almost three feet in size, casting soft glow to any room; the usual layered utility cart for decor and serving snacks now comes in a fun shade of blue with circular trays; storage solutions are made more stylish via the pink glass cabinet and multipurpose rattan ottoman. Each PS Collection piece brings a sense of spontaneity to any room.

With IKEA’s new PS Collection, spaces become playgrounds for kids, furniture pieces turn into memorable moments in the family’s history, and everyone becomes part of what the future of emotional, joyful design looks like.

Visit IKEA Pasay at Mall of Asia or log on to ikea.com.ph to shop online.

Continue Reading

Product Showcase

Manulife China Bank Life expands access to cancer care solutions

As part of the program, eligible customers will have access to Guardant Health’s Shield multi-cancer detection (MCD) laboratory developed test (LDT), following Manulife’s exclusive partnership with Guardant Health announced earlier this year. The offering will also soon be available through Manulife Philippines.

Published

on

Manulife China Bank Life (MCBL), the strategic alliance between Manulife Philippines and China Banking Corporation, is expanding access to cancer care solutions through ManulifeMOVE Cancer Care, a program designed to help customers take a more proactive approach to their health and support longer, healthier lives.

As part of the program, eligible customers will have access to Guardant Health’s Shield multi-cancer detection (MCD) laboratory developed test (LDT), following Manulife’s exclusive partnership with Guardant Health announced earlier this year. The offering will also soon be available through Manulife Philippines.

Under Manulife’s exclusive partnership with Guardant Health, Inc. a leading precision oncology company—Manulife became the first insurer in Asia to offer the Shield MCD test to customers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. The program expands access to innovative, proven health solutions at a time when cancer remains one of the country’s top causes of death and a significant barrier to longevity for Filipino families. This partnership aligns with the Manulife Longevity Institute, a global research, thought leadership, innovation, advocacy, and community investment platform that aims to advance action on helping people live longer, healthier, and more financially secure lives.

This program is powered by Manulife’s partnership with AC Health, a leading integrated healthcare network in the Philippines. At the heart of the network is Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH)—the Philippines’ first dedicated and comprehensive cancer hospital. This collaboration between the parties brings together Manulife’s ambition to become the most trusted partner for health, wealth, and longevity, HCCH’s expertise across the full spectrum of cancer care from early cancer detection and diagnosis to advanced treatment and survivorship, and Guardant Health’s commitment to helping individuals live longer and healthier lives through blood-based cancer testing.

“Far too many Filipino families are confronted with life‑altering decisions only after cancer is detected too late, when options are limited and financial pressures intensify,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines. “By bringing Shield MCD to eligible customers of Manulife Philippines and MCBL, we’re helping move that decision point earlier by encouraging timely medical conversations and better-informed choices. This can help reduce treatment complexity and cost over time, while we strengthen health and longevity outcomes for more Filipinos.”

With just a blood draw, the Shield MCD test screens for 10 of the most common cancers, many of which have high mortality rates in Asia and the Philippines. The test received Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2025. 

“We are proud to deepen our partnership with Manulife by bringing the Shield MCD test to their customers in the Philippines,” said Simranjit Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Guardant Health AMEA. “Cancer remains one of the most pressing health challenges for Filipinos, and Shield MCD offers a powerful new way to tackle this—detecting multiple cancers through a single blood draw. This collaboration underscores our shared dedication to putting innovative health solutions within reach, and we look forward to the difference we can make together in the Philippines.” 

“Wider access to early, convenient screening can help more Filipino families take a proactive approach to their health and support their journey toward longer, healthier lives,” said Amy Gochuico, President and Chief Executive Officer, MCBL. “Through our extensive bancassurance network, we are helping bring innovations like Shield MCD closer to more communities, supporting a more proactive and continuous approach to cancer care.”

“We believe one of the greatest opportunities in cancer care is identifying risk and disease earlier, before symptoms appear and treatment becomes more complex,” said Dr. Ramy Roxas, Chief Operating Officer of Healthway Cancer Care Hospital. “We strongly encourage Filipinos to be proactive about their health and participate in appropriate cancer screening, as early detection can significantly improve outcomes and expand treatment options. At Healthway Cancer Care Hospital, our goal is to support patients across the entire cancer journey—from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.”

Eligible customers of MCBL, and soon, of Manulife Philippines, will be contacted by their financial advisor or financial sales associate to learn more about the Shield MCD test.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Like Us On Facebook

Loading...

Most Popular

Copyright ©FRINGE PUBLISHING. All rights reserved.