October is for the kids, and at your most loved SM City Valenzuela, it is also a perfect excuse for the whole family to play, discover, eat, and make memories together.

The best family days do not always need a carefully planned itinerary. Sometimes, all it takes is a favorite place to play, something delicious to eat, a little shopping, and an afternoon where everyone can simply enjoy being together. With the Ber months bringing unpredictable weather, having all these family favorites under one roof makes every outing easier.

WHERE LIL IMAGINATIONS TAKE THE LEAD

And because October is all about celebrating childhood, there is even more reason to make playtime the highlight of the day.

For kids who love stories, drawing, and creating, National Book Store offers another kind of adventure. From books and stationery to creative finds, it is a place where young readers and budding artists can discover something that sparks their imagination. Parents may even find themselves browsing a little longer, too.

A LIL TREAT MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER

Of course, no kid-approved family day is complete without something delicious.

After a busy afternoon of play and exploring, Popeyes is a tasty stop for crispy favorites the whole family can enjoy. For something equally familiar and satisfying, KFC and Mang Inasal offer crowd-pleasing meals that make it easy for everyone to find a favorite.

And for the kids-at-heart, a stop at Starbucks gives parents and grown-ups a chance to recharge while the family slows down, shares stories, and decides what to do next.

Because sometimes, the best part of a family day is simple: good food, happy kids, and everyone gathered around the same table.

DRESS UP, SHOW UP, AND MAKE HALLOWEEN MEMORIES

Little boos are invited to come dressed in their cutest, spookiest, or most creative Halloween looks for a chance to win fang-tastic prizes.

Happening on October 31, Saturday, at 2:00 PM at the Ground Level, the celebration gives kids one more reason to get excited about their favorite month of costumes, candy, and make-believe.

Families can register through SM Malls Online: https://me-l.co/k5ta43as and let their little monsters bring their Halloween best.

FOR KIDS AND THE KIDS AT HEART

What makes a family day memorable is not necessarily how much gets accomplished. It is the laughter between activities, the excitement over a new discovery, the meal everyone agrees on, and the spontaneous moments that turn an ordinary afternoon into a favorite memory.

This October, celebrate the little things kids love and the moments family’s treasure. From playtime and favorite meals to creative discoveries and a spooktacular Halloween celebration, All Your Faves Here at your most loved SM City Valenzuela.

Leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. scored a double win at the Asian Experience Awards 2026, recognized for delivering immersive and customized experiences across its consumer and enterprise businesses.

Converge took home the Philippines Product Experience of the Year – Technology award and the Philippines Digital Experience of the Year – Telecommunications award, which highlight the company’s approach to moving beyond traditional product and marketing strategies to create experiences relevant to how customers navigate an increasingly digital world.

Converge Vice President and Head of Marketing Ma. Lourdes Grace Ramirez

Reimagining broadband around how Filipinos live

Converge won the Philippines Product Experience of the Year - Technology for its Live to the Power of X Campaign that entails dedicated lifestyle offerings that allow customers to choose solutions based on how they live, work, and play online.

Traditional broadband products often rely on technical specifications like speed, bandwidth, and price. While these metrics matter, they rarely help consumers understand which plan fits their lifestyle.

Recognizing this gap as internet speeds became standard across providers, Converge redesigned its product experience around real customer needs instead of speed tiers.

The Converge Global Business Group Marketing Team behind the said podcast series (from left): Converge Sr. Creatives and Graphic Design Specialist Achilles Lee Mazon, Converge Events & Trade Marketing Assistant Manager Marjarelle Pascual, Converge Sr. Brand & Marketing Communications Specialist Gretchen B. Tenebro, Converge VP and Marketing Head of Converge Global Business Group Valery Briones, Converge AVP and Segment Marketing Head Ronald Allan Catli, Converge Sr. Content & Creative Specialist Dianne Tampos, and Converge Marketing Services Specialist Hendrick Allen L. Llovit.

Products such as GameChanger for gamers, Netflix Bundle for entertainment, Time of Day for changing online schedules, and Super FiberX for connected families allowed customers to select services based on daily use. This structure simplified decision-making while increasing customer value.

“By organizing its offerings around customer needs and behaviors, Converge made it easier for consumers to identify products relevant to their lifestyles while highlighting the value beyond connectivity itself,” said John Paul Aguilar, Converge SVP and Acting Head - Consumer Sales and Marketing.

The strategy delivered strong business results, with adoption of higher-value broadband plans expanding and bundle adoption increasing from low single digits to nearly half of all subscribers. The initiative also reached millions of customers and contributed to overall subscriber growth.

Bringing enterprise technology conversations beyond the sales pitch

Converge Global Business Group, the company’s large enterprise unit, also won the Digital Experience of the Year – Telecommunications award, which recognizes its B2B podcast initiative, Where the Digital World Converges: Conversations on Cloud. The recognition highlights the company’s innovative use of journalistic storytelling to elevate discussions on technology and the country’s digital future.

The Converge Global Business Marketing Team with their podcast co-producers from BusinessWorld.

Converge co-produced an editorial podcast series with business news organisation, BusinessWorld, prioritizing journalistic credibility over standard brand promotion. The series brought together leaders from the private sector and public institutions to discuss key topics shaping the country’s digital growth.

Distribution spanned multiple platforms to effectively reach enterprise leaders. Audio and video content appeared on Spotify and YouTube, whilst social media helped drive audience engagement.

The initiative expanded Converge’s digital reach across targeted audiences, recording tens of thousands of views from business professionals on social media platforms. It also generated significant video views on YouTube and steady listenership on Spotify, while securing extensive media coverage across channels to strengthen the company’s presence in the enterprise market.

Through the project, Converge shifted its communications strategy from direct selling to informative engagement. The initiative strengthened connections between public and private stakeholders while expanding conversations on the country’s digital progress.

The Asian Experience Awards recognizes the ingenious initiatives of creative companies that deliver meaningful brand experiences. It celebrates unique, standout, and innovative experience initiatives launched for clients, potential customers, or employees.

As second homes to children, schools play a vital role in providing safe and nurturing environments where students can learn and grow. In times of crises, equipping school communities with the knowledge, skills, and resources to respond effectively is essential to safeguarding learners’ well-being and strengthening resilience.

Underscoring their #KonektedforResilience advocacy, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) partnered with the Department of Education Region VIII (DepEd Region VII), the Department of Education Schools Division of Tacloban City (DepEd Tacloban City), and St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban Inc. (STEFTI) to conduct a three-day series of wellness and resilience-building activities in Tacloban City.

“With the recent crisis faced by our division, we found it timely and necessary to provide psychosocial support to our learners and empower our school heads to become psychological first aiders. Beyond building knowledge and skills, this effort helps ensure that our schools remain safe and inclusive spaces for all Taclobanon learners,” said Sherlita A. Palma, DepEd Tacloban City Schools Division Superintendent.

Grade 9 and 10 students from San Jose National High School participated in a mental wellness session that taught them practical strategies for managing personal challenges and responding to crisis situations they may encounter in their daily lives. The initiative was likewise extended to junior and senior high school students of STEFTI.

Through interactive discussions and activities, the learners gained a better understanding of common stressors, healthy coping mechanisms, and mental health myths, as well as learned appropriate responses to difficult situations while maintaining their mental well-being.

Meanwhile, a training-of-trainers session on Psychological First Aid (PFA) equipped DepEd Tacloban City school heads and STEFTI teaching and non-teaching personnel with practical tools to provide immediate psychosocial support during emergencies. Participants were also encouraged to cascade these learnings to their fellow teachers and staff.

“The partnership with PLDT and Smart allowed us to have students and representatives from our school to participate in these important initiatives. While we are trained as educators, understanding mental health and helping students care for their well-being requires specialized expertise. We greatly appreciate and welcome every opportunity to strengthen our capabilities and provide better support to our students,” said Mary Bernadette Palami, school director at STEFTI.

DepEd Tacloban City and STEFTI also received PLDT and Smart's “Ang Paglalakbay ni Tala” (The Adventure of Tala) books to help raise awareness on internet safety among children and encourage them to be responsible digital citizens.

“Children and the youth are among our most important stakeholders, and their safety and well-being, both offline and online, remain among PLDT and Smart’s priorities. We are grateful to work alongside DepEd and STEFTI in reaching students in Tacloban and helping foster environments where they feel secure, supported, and empowered,” said Marylou B. Gocotano, Stakeholder Engagement Visayas Relations head at PLDT and Smart.

These efforts are aligned with PLDT and Smart’s commitment to helping the country achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG No. 3: Mental Well-being and Health and SDG No. 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

AirAsia Philippines reminds guests to be mindful of their words and actions at airports and onboard aircraft as the airline records a rise in bomb joke incidents that can disrupt flight operations and trigger security procedures.

While some remarks may be intended as jokes, any statement suggesting the presence of a bomb or explosive device is treated as a security concern. Such incidents can trigger additional security checks, including passenger and baggage searches, which can cause flight delays.

Guests who make bomb-related remarks may be denied boarding or removed from the flight and referred to the PNP-AVSEGROUP for appropriate handling depending on the circumstances. They may also be subject to blacklisting from future travel with AirAsia Philippines, in accordance with applicable airline procedures and case review.

Our operations have always been anchored in keeping operational reliability and safety. However, any perceived risk necessitates rigorous compliance measures that impact the entire passenger experience as well as the airline’s operational efficiency. Previous incidents serve as a reminder for guests to continuously learn and remain committed to keeping every flight safe and comfortable for everyone,” AirAsia Philippines President & General Manager Anna Victoria Lu shares.

AirAsia Philippines reminds guests to think before making a joke

HUAWEI’s newest wearables, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series and HUAWEI WATCH D3, are now officially available in the Philippines, starting at PHP 14,999. This latest lineup brings smarter sports performance, proactive health management, and AI-powered insights to daily routines.

Built for different needs and lifestyles, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series helps users train smarter, stay active, and get more out of outdoor adventures. The HUAWEI WATCH D3, meanwhile, supports a more proactive approach to cardiovascular health with 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and easy-to-understand health insights.

Both wearables are now available with exclusive first-sales offers and flexible payment options. This gives users more ways to choose the device that fits their routines, goals, and priorities–or the thoughtful tech gift for someone special this holiday season.

HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series: Advanced Sports and Health Performance Companion

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series brings accurate tracking, comprehensive sports and health features, and AI-powered insights together to help users train smarter and better understand their performance. Delivering accurate outdoor tracking, its Sunflower Positioning System and AI-XDR Positioning provide reliable GPS route tracking, even in challenging environments. For a more comprehensive view of performance and health, the series supports more than 100 sports modes, alongside intuitive features like climb reminders and climb planning.

Beyond fitness, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series also supports physical readiness and health insights, including Diabetes Risk Study across the series and Coronary Heart Disease Study on the Pro model. With AI-powered Workout Analysis, users can turn their training data into personalized coaching, recovery insights, and recommendations to help guide their next workout.

HUAWEI WATCH D3: Staying on Top of Heart Health Every Day

For those seeking a proactive approach to cardiovascular health, the HUAWEI WATCH D3 brings blood pressure monitoring into everyday life.

HUAWEI’s latest wearables are made to transition naturally through different parts of the day, from morning workouts and office hours to evenings out.

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series combines performance and premium design, while HUAWEI’s first EasyCross strap features an innovative tuck-under design for a cleaner profile and comfortable fit.

The HUAWEI WATCH D3 is similarly designed with everyday comfort in mind. Its all-new slim profile adds a more refined look while supporting accurate wrist-based 24/7 blood pressure monitoring.

Get More Out of a New HUAWEI Wearable

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series and HUAWEI WATCH D3 are now available with exclusive first-sales offers until November 11, 2026, with benefits worth up to PHP 8,416.

First Sale Offers

Each mWell Health Pass Gift Code includes a free 24/7 online doctor consultation, along with a free prescription, medical certificate, and lab referral, accessible through the user’s mWell Health ID.

This offer is available at select stores:

To learn more, visit HUAWEI’s official website or social media accounts (Facebook | Instagram).