Sneak Preview of H&M’s 2015 Spring/Summer Collection

 

It’s always exciting to get a sneak preview of the next season’s fashion collection and being invited to take this peek at H&M’s 2015 Spring/Summer Collection was my exciting event of the day.

I was lucky to get there ahead of everyone else invited. I had time to go around and slowly take in the collection.

Continue reading “Sneak Preview of H&M’s 2015 Spring/Summer Collection”

Moms, think #WeAreBeautiful so your daughters will think so too

Moms, your influence on your daughters is greater than you think.

We’ve heard it said that more important than what we say to our kids is what we do because even as small kids they watch and imitate us. We may not know it but as mothers, we also communicate fears and impressions of ourselves onto our daughters. If we are not careful, they will grow up mirroring our thoughts and actions.

How many times have we said aloud “I don’t like my (fill in the body part)”? This self-deprecation rubs off on our daughters who grow up being self-critical or lose their sense of self-acceptance or self worth.

Dove, in its previous #IAmBeautiful campaign, found out that only 7% of Filipina women saw themselves as beautiful. That is a staggering 93% who don’t think they are. In another locally-commissioned study by Dove, the results showed that 2 out of 3 girls feel pressured to look beautiful and this external pressure comes from peers and friends. The redeeming factor? 81% of them still consider their mom as their role model, much higher than the global average of 55%.

That means that if Moms feel good and beautiful, they have the potential to be catalysts of change. They can change their daughters’ image of themselves and turn them into a future generation of empowered women.

Dove is at the forefront of pushing Real Beauty instead of the worldly notion that beauty has only to do with one’s weight, figure, shape of eyes/face/mouth, and so on. It enlisted the help of celebrity moms Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Christine Jacob, and TinTin Bersola-Babao who were with us at the launch of the #WeAreBeautiful movement to discuss their relationship growing up with their Mom and their current relationship with their own children. Dr. Honey Carandang, a leading psychologist, was also present to add her own professional insights to the discussion.

A video entitled Dove Legacy featured moms who were asked how they felt about their bodies. Surprisingly when their daughters were asked the same question, the answers were very similar. What the Moms did not like about their bodies, their insecurities, their daughters also manifested. But, where they were happy about their bodies, their daughters were too. So a Mom’s attitude can really be very important for her daughter. Watch this video to see how you, as a Mom, can be a life-changer for your own daughters.

Join the rest of us Moms and support the #WeAreBeautiful movement by starting within your own family — your daughters.  From there, you can also bring in the other mothers in your sphere of influence (siblings, cousins, friends) who can work on their own daughters as well. Before we know it, we would have widened the circle of this movement to empower as many Filipina mothers and daughters as possible to feel good about themselves.

To learn more about the #WeAreBeautiful movement, visit Dove’s social media sites:

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DovePH
Twitter: @DovePH
Instagram: @doveph

Townships: Cities within Cities

Living in Metro Manila and other metro cities in the Philippines, with poor transport system and horrendous traffic, can make the average commuter go through hours of just being on the road. And commuters do not just mean employees who sometimes have to commute from one end of Manila to another. It also includes students whose places of residence are often far from their schools.

In the United States, decades ago, I already appreciated the concept of suburbs. They were self-contained communities that included small businesses, entertainment places, restaurants, schools and even churches and hospitals. But suburbs were located outside the city proper. Employees who lived in the suburbs still commuted to the business district (of course, their transport systems were often very good so there was no great inconvenience).

In recent years, we have seen the concept of suburbs taken to a higher level in the form of urban townships. And this time, the townships are located within city proper.

Concept of Township

A township revolves around several key components: Live, Work, Play, Learn, Eat (and should I add, Pray?). Designed by master urban planners, townships’ vision usually revolve around self-contained living and working environments where residents would not have to go far. This concept has been supported also by the mushrooming growth of IT-BPOs which locate within such townships. In addition, accreditation by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) of such cyberparks make the business of townships not just good business but convenient for residents.

One of the earliest townships I have seen is Eastwood City which is roughly 18.5 hectares. Located in Libis, it continues to evolve and expand as new buildings and shopping areas sprout.

Eastwood City Vicinity Map (taken from Eastwood City website)

In its beginnings, sometime in the early 2000s, I remember Citywalk (the part of the vicinity map above showing red roofed buildings) as comprising most of Eastwood City. It was the place where restaurants were found right beside each other with lots of inner walkways away from cars and traffic. The high-rise buildings there were mostly BPOs. Citibank was also one of the first high-rise corporate buildings in that area.

Walking around Citywalk was reminiscent of some places I loved abroad — quaint haunts where people could just walk around cobbled streets, surrounded by restaurants and trees that provided shade. It was a family place. The mall nearby provided the shopping convenience of a one-stop place.

Then as years went by, other high-rise condominiums began sprouting around. They became mixed-use condos — fancy restaurants, shops and convenience stores on the ground floor and upscale residences or offices on the upper floors. A new, more modern Eastwood mall was built on the other side of the road. The plaza facing the mall features fountains, bridges and lots of seating places where people (and their pets, too, because Eastwood City is pet friendly) can hang out and socialize. This is one place where I can go into a mall and not be surprised to see dog breeds of all sorts walking alongside their humans.

Living in a township is the best of all worlds — for professionals who work in companies located within the township area; young married couples who are raising kids and want to have enough family time rather than fighting traffic commuting from home to work and back; and are even ideal places for retired folks who want everything they need within walking distance. When most everything you need is self-contained in a township, life really does get so much easier and more relaxed. Work no longer becomes such a burden because the stress of the commute is eliminated. Play and Eat become so much more pleasant when one starts out already in a relaxed mood.

Eastwood City high-rise units (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Up to this date, Eastwood City is not yet totally developed, which is good urban planning. I like slow development. It gives residents and workers time to get used to the changing landscape as people and vehicle traffic implications are studied, tweaked and improved.

That reminds me. It’s nearing Christmas and I just love Christmas in the air! I should find some time to pay a visit again to Eastwood City and other townships in the metro and see what the Christmas atmosphere is like there now.


Huggies Dry Pants: the easiest way to change baby

It’s been a while (uhhh…no…a long, long time) since I’ve changed nappies. And although I ended up using disposable diapers, I actually started with cloth diapers for my kids, complete with those pins that pricked me if I was not careful changing my babies.

But guess what came recently for me to try….Huggies Dry Pants — the latest in diapers that even do away with those resealable side stickers. This time, Huggies Dry Pants look exactly like underwear that you just slip on left, slip on right, pull up, and you’re done!

To make me experience it for myself, the creative people behind Huggies sent me a baby-sized doll that just wouldn’t stop crying! But watch what happens when I change her nappies to the Huggies Dry Pants.

I took a few more closeup pics of the Huggies Dry Pants so that you can really see how much more superior it is to ordinary diapers. And the cost is not that much more. Each Huggies Dry Pants piece (Large, 36s) only costs PhP 8.52 as of this writing.

Front view 
Side view. I am really impressed by the all-around stretchable waistband!

Back view

The inside look – a blue layer pulls liquid away from baby’s skin, reducing diaper rash incidents

Check out this infographic to see all the features of Huggies Dry Pants.

It was really quite easy to change diapers, based on my experience with the doll. The waistband easily stretched and there was actually a lot of leeway (meaning, it’s comfortable even for a really chubby baby!). I’m just truly amazed at all the innovations done to make diaper changing so easy on Mommy and so comfy for baby.

HAPPY BABY!!! She poses here with Huggies Dry Pants (large). It comes in 36 pieces for babies 9-14kg.

More Mommy Goodies

Huggies is giving away FREE SAMPLES. Mommies, just visit the Huggies PH Facebook page, select supermarkets and various baby fairs to get your free sample.

If you’ve already tried, and loved, the Huggies Dry Pants experience, register via www.pants.huggies.com.ph, talk about your experience and get a chance to win up to a 1-year supply of Huggies Dry Pants.

And…here’s another chance, Mommies, to show just how cute and happy your kids are using the new Huggies Dry Pants. Let them join the Huggies Dry Pants Step Up Dance Showdown (www.bit.ly/HDPDanceShowdown). Winning entries get a 1-year supply of Huggies Dry Pants AND will be featured in the Huggies Step Step Up music video.

1780 by SariSari: heritage Philippine products in one site

The sari-sari stores that we know have been a part of Philippine life for decades. It’s everywhere — those houses in our neighborhood that use whatever little frontage they have to sell canned goods, bread, chichirya (chips), softdrinks, cigarettes, and whatever else. We even have a sari-sari just two houses away from my home!

The physical sari-sari stores are what I call the earliest form of the 7-11 convenience stores. They are the run-to places when you find yourself craving for something to eat when stores are closed. Or the place you buy eggs from when you suddenly run out and it’s just not worth a trip to the grocery. Or even the saving grace when a holiday shuts down all stores and you need to buy a few things.

This was what SimpleSoft CEO Ernell DyLim had in mind when he named his online site, SariSariStore.com after our iconic Filipino one-stop-shop. DyLim realized that there are consumers looking for certain products and merchants selling these products but there was no central place where they could meet. And oftentimes, cost was a big factor for the merchants to bring their goods to market. Thus, his site was born out of this need.

But even as this online platform grew in popularity, DyLim felt that there were still areas where it could make a sizeable impact — small-time business enterprises and undiscovered gems around the country from microentrepreneurs. With this in mind, a new project was born — 1780 by SariSari.

1780 by SariSari is now a sub-portal within SariSariStore.com that showcases Philippine heritage products that have not yet broken into mainstream urban commercial areas. The sub-portal highlights the wide variety of regional delicacies and crafts from different regions and makes us realize just how much more creativity there can be in local ingredients and indigenous crafts.

Why 1780? 1780 refers to the 17 regions and 80 provinces of the Philippines combined in 1 website.

Beautiful closeup photos of the products make up a slideshow on the 1780 home page

Each product has a thumbnail with the price, a Buy button and links to its details

The product details have an interesting write-up on the entrepreneur & a short story on the product

At the launch of the 1780 sub-portal, I got to see for myself some of the products that can be bought via the site . Here are some.

A beautiful banig spread of products one can find at the 1780 by SariSari sub-portal

Fashionable Paniya clutches — made from buntal (palm tree) straw and acacia wood

Pili products like this Corioso and Hopia de Pili by Charito’s Delights are indeed a delight to eat

My first time to see…..mango ketchup!!!

One-of-a-kind pieces from Josephine’s Jewelry use silver and gold metals
with jewels such as topaz, opal or even diamonds
Dark chocolate and spicy dark chocolate — made from cacao and sold by Kablon Farms

CT South Tropic now makes wine out of fruits: mangosteen, passion fruit,
durian, jackfruit, pineapple and dragon fruit, among others

Really beautiful and vibrant colors in these banigs made by the Badjaos of Zamboanga.
Some are so intricate that they take 1-3 months sometimes just for a single mat!

For me, what makes 1780 by SariSari a wonderful idea brought to life are these:

* It recognizes the creativity of the Pinoy microentrepreneur & inspires more such entrepreneurs to look around their own locale to see how they can use what they have to produce world-class products.

* It cuts out the problems and additional cost of middlemen and allows the entrepreneur to connect directly with consumers.

* For consumers, we get access to products that we ordinarily would not see yet in metro cities and which are often found in the local areas of each of the entrepreneurs

You can find 1780 by SariSari at the e-commerce site of SariSariStore.com. Also check the Facebook page of 1780 at www.facebook.com/1780bySariSari.

The 2015 Starbucks planners, Christmas Starbucks cards and Christmas merchandise are here!

It’s that time of the year again when Starbucks goes all out for the Christmas season and the new year!!! (Note: This will be a looooong post with lots of Starbucks goodness inside.)

The much awaited 2015 Starbucks Planners

It’s here!!! I know you are all waiting with bated breath to find out what the 2015 Starbucks planners look like. This is the 12th edition of the planners since it began. You’re getting first dibs before it comes out next week. Take your first glimpse!

Presenting the 2015 Starbucks planners with matching Starbucks double-sided pens!

Each planner is wrapped in a water-resistant apron cloth cover (green, black, red and brown). Just imagine that each planner cover has the exact same apron cloth that Starbucks baristas actually use. The planner also comes with a name tag bookmark, a coffee pin bookmark and a chalk pen with highlighter. One end of the pen has a chalk nib so you can write your name on the name tag bookmark to personalize it. The other end is a thick highlighter nib which smells like coffee. Really nice touch!

My favorite of the 4 – an embroidered version of the Starbucks siren

World Map of the Coffee Belt

A page spread for memories, complete with stickers

Monthly summary page

15 coupons to make you enjoy even more Starbucks goodness

How to get your 2015 Starbucks planner:

1. Get your Starbucks Christmas Traditions promo card from Nov. 3, 2014 to Jan. 8, 2015.
2. 18 stickers (9 Christmas beverages, 9 core handcrafted beverages) are needed to redeem one 2015 Starbucks planner.
3. A shortcut way to redeem it without filling up the promo card with stickers is through a single-purchase receipt worth PhP 7,000 of Starbucks merchandise, whole beans or VIA latte. (Note: This is a change from last year. Starting this year, you can’t get the planner via bulk purchases of gift certificates or Starbucks card load/reload.)
4. Redemption of the 2015 Starbucks planner is from Nov. 3, 2014 to March 8, 2015 at Starbucks stores within the Philippines only.

The first Starbucks Mini Card and 2 Christmas Starbucks cards

The Starbucks Mini Card (center) beside the two 2014 Starbucks cards



A first in the Philippines is a Starbucks mini card that has all the features of the regular-sized cards. This is a true collectible because only a limited number of such cards are going to be available. It comes with a tiny strap allowing many ways of carrying it, including as a mobile phone hanging decor. The mini card is available at a slightly higher consumable load of PhP 500 because of limited supply and the expected demand for it as a collectible. I’m sure this isn’t a problem for regular Starbucks lovers.

Available at an initial consumable load of PhP 500

The two regular-sized Christmas Starbucks cards feature a holiday tree and a snowman. These are similar to last year’s Christmas themed Starbucks card but redrawn in a different way.

The two Christmas 2014 Starbucks cards, available at initial consumable load of PhP 300

Starbucks Card Activation Promo (Nov. 3-5, 2014)

Here are the mechanics from Starbucks:

1. NOTE: This promo runs only from November 3 to 5, 2014 in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines.

2. Customers who activate a new Starbucks Card within this promo period with at least PhP 1,500 gets an additional PhP 300 load.

3. This promo applies only to newly activated Starbucks Cards (any design, including mini card). Reloaded Starbucks Cards are NOT included.

4. Customers cannot use a Starbucks Card or Gift Certificate to activate a Starbucks Card.

5. There is no limit to the number of Starbucks Cards a customer can activate.

6. The additional PhP 300 load must be loaded on the same Starbucks Card activated.

7. If a customer would like to activate a Starbucks Card with PhP 10,000, the customer should only shoulder the cost of PhP 9,700; the PhP 300 balance will be complimentary.

8. This promo cannot be availed in conjunction with other promotions.

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 3670 Series of 2014

Starbucks Card Gift Pack (Dec. 1-3, 2014)

Do your Christmas shopping from December 1 to 3, 2014 in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines!

Starbucks cards now come in gift packs of six (6), each loaded with PhP 300 and selling at a special price of PhP 1,500 within the promo period. Each pack of 6 includes the following designs:

  • Holiday Tree Card
  • Snowman Card
  • Philippine Eagle Card
  • Cold Cups Card
  • Coffee Cups Card (2 pcs)

Starbucks Cards within a gift pack cannot be sold individually or interchanged with other designs. A Starbucks Card or Gift Certificate also cannot be used to purchase a gift pack.

To load a higher amount on each Starbucks Card, the gift pack must be purchased first, then reloaded in a separate transaction. This promo cannot be availed of with other promotions or discounts. (Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 3668 Series of 2014)

Starbucks Christmas Merchandise

From November 10 to December 7, 2014, select Christmas merchandise will be featured with different offers each week. Time your Christmas shopping to take advantage of the promos and discounts.

See the table below for the different weekly promos:

Note that this promo can’t be combined with other offers or discounts and are only valid in Starbucks stores in the Philippines. (Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 3672 Series of 2014)

Enjoy Starbucks Latte Mmm-oments (with a raffle!)

Before anything else, new seasonal lattes are here again! Hot or cold, these 2 lattes are sure to be enjoyable so I’m trying them next time I go to Starbucks.

French Vanilla Latte

The French Vanilla Latte is the first one I want to try because vanilla has always been a favorite flavor of mine. Just imagine the Espresso Roast complemented by steamed milk and creamy French Vanilla sauce with mild custard notes. The beverage is topped with whipped cream, vanilla bean specks and dark chocolate curls.

Dark Caramel Latte

The Dark Caramel Latte is espresso, steamed milk, and creamy dark caramel sauce topped with whipped cream and a custardy caramel flan drizzle.

And there’s more! How would you like a chance to win 30 days of Starbucks Mmm-oments?

How to join: Just purchase a pack of Starbucks VIA® Latte with your registered Starbucks Card and earn a chance to win a one month treat of your favorite handcrafted beverage. You have 3 flavor options:

Mechanics:

  • The Starbucks VIA® Latte Raffle Promo will run from October 15 to 31, 2014
  • To join the promo, customers must purchase any 4-pack Starbucks VIA® Latte using a registered Starbucks Card within the promo period
  • Every valid purchase of a 4-pack Starbucks VIA® Latte will automatically earn one (1) raffle entry. 
  • There is no limit to the number of raffle entries a customer can earn. 
  • There will be ten (10) winners in the raffle draw. Each winner will receive thirty (30) Tall beverage coupons applicable on any handcrafted beverage. 
  • Customers can only win once in the raffle draw. 
  • The raffle draw will be done electronically through a random generator program. The raffle draw will be held on November 3, 2014 in the Rustan Coffee Corporation’s Head Office in Makati City at 5pm. 
  • The winners will be notified through registered mail declaring him/her as a winner. Name of winners will be announced in the Starbucks Philippine Facebook fanpage at https://www.facebook.com/StarbucksPhilippines.
  • All employees of Rustan Coffee Corporation and Rustan Group of Companies including their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the promotion.

How winners claim prize:

Mega-Manila winners

Winners must visit Rustan Coffee Corporation (G/F Urban Bldg. 405 Sen.Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City) and look for Ms. Jamie Silva to claim their prize.

Provincial winners

Prizes of provincial winners will be sent through courier.

Important reminders for claiming

  • To claim the prize, the winner must present a valid ID and the verification letter. Claiming period is within 60 days from receipt of registered notice. 
  • Unclaimed Tall beverage coupons after the claiming period will be forfeited. 
  • Redemption period of Tall beverage coupon is valid in all Starbucks stores nationwide from November 4, 2014 to December 31, 2015. 

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit #3224, Series of 2014.

Contests: Save, Share and get a chance to Win an Electrolux Washing Machine

Electrolux just launched two (2) fun contests and up for grabs are their popular washing machines.


Simple to Save Contest (Aug. 11 – Oct. 15, 2014) EXTENDED!

Electrolux understands that for busy Moms, Dads and even singles living by themselves, doing the laundry can be a daunting task, especially if time is precious for you and saving money is up there in your priority list. . “Electrolux understands that every peso and second counts,” said Andrea Pionilla, Marketing Manager of Electrolux Philippines. “This is the reason behind Delightful-E Simple. We want to help moms save not just money but also their precious time by making their everyday tasks delightfully simple and easy.

On their Facebook page, Electrolux has a Savings Calculator app. They created this to show us that even small amounts of savings add up. This easy-to-use Facebook app actually helps you track laundry expenses and savings.

Four (4) Electrolux twin tub washing machines will be given away to four lucky users. Here’s all you need to do.

1. Like the Electrolux Facebook page facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook

2. Calculate your laundry savings using the Savings Calculator

3. Hit the Share button found in the result page

4. In the caption, type in what you plan to buy using your laundry savings and include the hashtags #DelightfulE and #SimpleToSave and post it on your Facebook page.

The four winners of the twin tub washing machines will be announced after October 15, 2014.

Simple to Share Contest (Aug. 1 – Sept. 30, 2014)

If you did not know about it, Electrolux has an annual clothes donation drive. But this time, they have brought it to a new level. Instead of just collecting clothes for calamity-stricken survivors, Electrolux has now teamed up with Gawad Kalinga to turn unusable donated clothing into baby quilts! We call that retazo, di ba? That’s such a brilliant idea because I know I would have nowhere to donate old prom dresses or party gowns. Why not indeed turn these and other unusable items like torn pants or dresses, save the good parts of the cloth and convert them into usable quilts for babies in orphanages and other communities. Imagine, behind each quilt piece is its own little story. That is really something.

Now, here is how you can not only join the Electrolux contest but also share your own story.

Four Electrolux twin tub washing machines will be given away to four lucky winners who will join the Simple to Share Instagram and Twitter contest. Here are the mechanics:

1. Take a photo of a special piece of clothing you are willing to donate

2. Write down why it’s special to you and why you are donating it

3. Use the hashtags #Delightful# and #SimpleToShare and tag @ElectroluxPH when you post the photo on Instagram and/or Twitter

Get this Starbucks Collectible – The First Edition Philippine Starbucks Card

This is one you would not want to miss at all!

Mark the date – July 29, 2014!

In celebration of the Starbucks card’s 1st anniversary, the Philippines is issuing its FIRST EDITION Philippine Starbucks card! Yup, this is our very own country Starbucks card which you won’t be able to get anywhere else in the world but HERE! It’s a real collectible especially for people like me who have began collecting the cards. In a way, it’s also historical, being the first ever Philippine-issued card.

Inspired by our very own Filipino culture and designed just for us, the card features our very own Philippine eagle against a background that looks like our banig (native mat).

In addition, there is an available customized Starbucks tumbler with the very same matching design.

There are limited days to avail of special promos when you buy the Philippine Starbucks card, 1st edition or its matching tumbler, or both. Here goes:

* From July 29-31, 2014 (3 DAYS ONLY!), customers who activate a Philippine Starbucks card with at least PhP 1,500 will get an ADDITIONAL PhP 300 load.

* From July 29-Aug. 31, 2014, every purchase of a Philippine Starbucks Card tumbler (PhP 565) using a Philippine Starbucks card gets one free tall handcrafted beverage.

And here’s one more promo, just because it’s Starbucks Card’s 1st anniversary. On Aug. 7, 2014, all handcrafted beverages purchased using ANY Starbucks card get a complimentary UPSIZE!

Philips Lighting Innovation Concepts gives us a glimpse of the future, now!

Who says lighting is boring?????  Philips Philippines’ Lighting Division recently showed me just how exciting their lighting products have become.

By shifting to LEDs, Philips has already moved consumers away from inefficient and more costly lighting into more energy-efficient lighting in offices and homes. And at a recent fun, fun blogger event where they introduced six innovation concepts in lighting, I realized that Philips has crossed from functional, hardware store basics into interior and exterior design that incorporates Flexibility, Controllability, Alternative Energy, Connectivity, Dynamism and Materials Integration elements.
Landmarks here and abroad that are lighted up by Philips LEDs
The whole presentation, featuring the entertaining and funny Gabe Mercado, was seamlessly integrated into a moving diorama that drew us into the mini stories while holding us spellbound as each concept was presented experientially.
Alternative Energy

Wouldn’t you love the idea of lights on streets, parks, stadiums brightening up as cars and people move closer to them and dim as you move away? By detecting motion, these kind of lights only go to maximum brightness when they are needed and dim when idle.

Solar-powered LED lighting is what Philips is experimenting with now. Solar panels convert solar energy to electrical energy and store it in the battery. At night, the battery is discharged and electrical energy is released. Philips solar-powered LED lights are easy to install and maintain. In fact their local application which is close to our hearts is in Yolanda-hit areas. With electricity posts down, Philips was able to provide light for Yolanda survivors by harnessing the power of the sun.

Sample of the solar light that Philips used in Yolanda-hit areas

Connectivity

Imagine controlling your lights at home remotely. With Philips Hue, it is already possible to do that using one’s smartphone and Android devices. Not only that. You can choose the mood color you want and when you want it turned on.

I can already think of some uses for Philips Hue:
* Mood lighting – red for a party or romantic ambiance, blue to relax and calm you down after a long day, green to rest the eyes, and white for general purposes
* Keep intruders away – turn lights in different rooms on and off even if you are at the office or on a trip so it looks like there are people at home.

Controllability

Who has not fumbled in the dark for a light switch? I have. Not just at home but in the restrooms of restaurants and other public places. Now, how would you like a light switch with presence, light and temperature sensors that detect the body’s magnetic field and automatically open with a striking wall-wash lighting effect. Perfect for commercial establishments and high-end residential units, the Antumbra comes in three types of panels — Antumbra Button, Antumbra Touch, and Antumbra Display — that allows the user to perform different functions.

Watch this video.





Dynamism

Baguio City Hall. People Power Monument. Transformation Sculpture (BGC). Starbucks on 32nd Ave. (BGC). NLEX. What do they have in common? They are all lighted up by Philips Color Kinetics.

Historical and modern landmarks all over the world are now enhanced with lights that can  be changed depending on the occasion. Check out below how the Empire State Building can change.


And right after Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda, locally) hit the Philippines, the Empire State Building lit up with our flag colors in support of all those affected. Here is a screenshot from its Twitter account.

More and more landmarks are starting to use Philips’ powerful LED lights and advanced digital control technology to create breathtaking imagery. Used for interiors and exteriors, Color Kinetics transform spaces and trigger the imagination. 
Materials Integration

Can you imagine cloth panels that move and come alive with lights? That is now possible with Philips Materials Integration using Kvadrat Soft Cells. In Philips’ website, these luminous panels are described as follows:

Luminous textile is a revolutionary new way to enhance interiors with light, texture and dynamic visual content. A totally unique ambient lighting system, it integrates multi-coloured LEDs seamlessly within beautiful white or coloured textile panels. The result is a “mood wall” that can integrate lighting into a building’s architecture and emphasise the concept of any room. And because of the range of fabrics and the sheer flexibility of the content, its creative potential is phenomenal.

Can’t imagine it yet? Watch this video and be amazed.

These acoustic textile panels have superior sound absorption, reducing unwanted sounds and limiting sound propagation that causes disturbances from unnecessary noise.

Can you imagine a house of the future where you did not need to paint your walls anymore because the panels can just change color depending on your mood? I sure can!

Flexibility

Organic LEDs (OLEDs) are used by Philips to create an interactive display of lights.

Its Living Shapes mirror, for example, contains OLEDs that sense when someone moves closer to it. When it detects the outline of the person, it shuts off the OLEDs that are in the person’s field of vision. It then becomes a mirror with warm lights all around the person’s reflection.

Philips also demonstrated its Living Sculpture concept which will be perfect in homes, offices, buildings, clubs, restaurants and just about anywhere where it serves as ever moving brightly lit chandeliers. The design, arrangement, setup and operation of Living Sculpture is totally up to the consumer who can control light in so many different ways. To create the unevenness of each light diode, rods of different lengths are attached to the baseplates with a Lumiblade OLED on top.


With lights moving, changing colors, and transforming shapes, Philips has made lighting not just functional but interactive, mood-changing and fashionable. Designers can arrange three-dimensional arrays of OLEDs in open spaces like ceilings and walls, add movement to any surface, or make panels throb rhythmically or illuminate interactive displays.

The world of infrastructure will totally change in coming years as colorful, moving lights are integrated into art, design and lifestyle.

I’m excited to see the many ways how…