SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY HERE AND GOODDAY IS LEADING THE VIBE

PHILIPPINES – When you look at your socials during the summer, blink, and your feed is already packed with beach sunsets, island-hopping clips, and out-of-town escapes that look straight out of a travel vlog. It’s the season of getaways, and as the posts keep coming, it’s hard not to pause and think, “Sana all!” 

But summer doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s highlight reel. While some are off chasing waves, others are finding joy right where they are—spending the season in the city, discovering simple pleasures, and creating their own kind of fun. It’s a reminder that summer can be just as meaningful and memorable, even in everyday moments.

The season can manifest itself in many different moments, big or small. This can show up in small pauses in between busy days, where you just go for a walk or go on a quick merienda break. This can also be those fun little after-office hangouts that stretch into the evening, or basking in the sunset during golden hour, just as the city starts to slow down. 

Summer is not just a season of fun and excitement; it’s also a season of relaxation and a great time to meditate, reflect, and rest in the midst of busy months and seasons. 

BEYOND TASTE: HOW THESE 3 FOOD CONCEPTS ARE TRANSFORMING DINING

  

How GCash for Business Helps Bring Those Experiences to Life

PHILIPPINES – The local food scene has never been more exciting than in the past few years. With new concepts emerging and a constant demand for something fresh, business owners are constantly thinking about how to ensure they’re set for success. 

The modern dining experience is holistic, and the most successful food entrepreneurs understand that every detail shapes how a brand is remembered. Today, it’s not just about what’s on the plate. It’s about every touchpoint before and after the meal – from how customers first discover a restaurant online, to how they’re welcomed, how efficiently they’re served.

Yet across today’s food scene, the experience is constantly challenged by a recurring issue: friction and delays in payment. For three food entrepreneurs, solving this has become central to building their businesses. 

Designing the full experience with the customer in mind

For one of Manila’s coolest new gelato shops, Kariton, designing the experience begins with putting the customer first. 



“The name Kariton comes from the street carts many of us grew up with, so when people walk in, I want them to feel an instant sense of warmth and curiosity. It should feel approachable, not intimidating, but once you taste our gelato, you’ll realize that it’s made with serious technique and high-quality, local ingredients,” Leon Taira, Global Partner of Kariton, explains.

Kariton blends Filipino culture and nostalgia with a fun, Australian-inspired charm to use gelato as a shareable way to introduce local ingredients and culture. But because gelato melts quickly, service speed is a priority. “Very early on, we realized that small details matter a lot. Things like queue flow, signage, temperature control, portioning, and how staff greet you. At the same time, we don’t want to rush the customer, and we want to make sure we have time to tell them our story and the stories in each scoop.” 

INFINIX NOTE 60 PRO: NEXT-GEN ACTIVE MATRIX DISPLAY AND SNAPDRAGON PERFORMANCE REVEALED

Designed as the next milestone in Infinix's flagship journey, the NOTE 60 Series elevates the brand's signature NOTE line with a sharper focus on flagship-class performance, expressive design, and immersive everyday experiences that go beyond expectations.

PHILIPPINES — At its annual flagship showcase, Infinix today unveiled the NOTE 60 Series, with the NOTE 60 Pro at the center, demonstrating a new chapter in delivering premium technology experiences to global users. Infinix also recently introduced its first global brand ambassador, YUNA from world-renowned K-pop group ITZY, whose dynamic and creative energy complements the NOTE 60 Series’ branding.

Advancing design and performance within its class, the NOTE 60 Pro marks a significant milestone as Infinix's first smartphone built on the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4 Mobile Platform, delivering exceptional responsiveness and seamless multitasking that befits flagship-level performance. 

It further elevates everyday experiences with an avant-garde Active Matrix Display that stays invisible when inactive, yet transforms into a dynamic interface for personalized interactivity, intelligent notifications, and on-screen entertainment—expanding what a smartphone can do in everyday life. Paired with a fluid 144Hz 1.5K Ultra HDR Cinematic Display and immersive SOUND BY JBL, the NOTE 60 Pro sets a new benchmark for premium multimedia experiences within its segment, proving that exceptional technology can be both powerful and pleasurable.

"The NOTE 60 Series is our annual flagship showcase—an 'all-out' blockbuster created with industry leaders," said Tony Zhao, CEO of Infinix. "Embracing a whole-series 5G strategy, we are bringing together the best of performance, design, and entertainment—from our first NOTE powered by Snapdragon from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., to premium design craftsmanship with Pininfarina, and immersive SOUND BY JBL. This ensures we deliver a pleasurable, fun experience that lets our global consumers actively enjoy the best modern technology."

THE TRUTHS ABOUT CAFE CULTURE & RUNNING A COFFEE BUSINESS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

How these two coffee shop owners in Baguio are scaling their stores with GCash for Business

PHILIPPINES – If there’s one thing that hasn’t slowed down over the years, it’s cafe culture. In fact, it’s only grown stronger. The Philippine foodservice sector continues to grow - projected to rise by 10% in 2026 according to the USDA - and one major contributor is small businesses like coffee shops entering this space. But behind the stylish interiors, busy queues, and creative menus lies a reality many don’t talk about enough: the pressure to operate efficiently. 

For Archie Villamor and his team at Honey Bakes Café Baguio, it’s about finding ways to simplify and automate tasks that would otherwise be too time-consuming manual processes. For Cynthia Tiplady, franchise owner of Chambee Ace Café Baguio, it’s about overcoming delays, especially during peak hours. 

POV: YOU’RE ROMANTICIZING LIFE WITH ALL THESE FIRSTS IN ZAMBOANGA AT SM SUPERMALLS

 

PHILIPPINES – Career, hobbies, social life, relationships—with so many things vying for our attention, sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters: living in the moment and finding joy in the mundane.

Now, picture this: a Saturday afternoon stroll, slow weekends, a cup of tea in hand. Honestly, when’s the last time you allowed yourself to pause for a while and breathe in times like these? To idealize each and every waking moment, making them seem grander than they are—have you ever wondered what it’s like to fall in love with life again?

Well, wander no more, because here at your most-loved SM Supermalls, we’ll show you what it’s like to live with intention and make your happiness the central plot of your own story. From fresh new eats to new finds and experiences to discover, SM City Zamboanga is here to help you imagine what it’s like to experience the best from your point of view.

Moments Become Worth Savoring

All of a sudden, the food tastes better. You get to enjoy each meal as if you’re savoring it for the first time—each soft bite, each aromatic note—details you previously didn’t notice now bring a smile to your face with every spoonful.

• JCO Reserve
  Located at the Upper Ground Level of SM City Zamboanga, a sweeter kind of pause in your day awaits. Here at the first-in-Mindanao JCO Reserve, coffee and treats feel elevated into little rituals—smooth sips and soft bites that make everything feel just a bit more special than usual.

• BOTEJYU
  Featuring the  first-in-Zamboanga Botejyu, a true celebration of Japanese comfort food unfolds at the Lower Ground Level of SM City Zamboanga, where every dish feels warm, familiar, and deeply satisfying. From hearty okonomiyaki to freshly cooked noodles, rice bowls, and sizzling teppan-style favorites, it’s a table filled with flavors meant to be savored and remembered.

EARTH HOUR 2026: NATIONAL LIGHTS-OFF MILESTONE RE-AFFIRMS SM’S COMMITMENT TO SHARED ACTION

PHILIPPINES – SM Supermalls has once again led a meaningful local observance of the global Earth Hour. Through a symbolic lights-off practice held at all SM Malls has re-affirmed its strong commitment toward shared responsibility, environmental awareness, and community action across all of its most-loved malls.

From 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM, all SM malls nationwide switched off non-essential lights as mallgoers, tenants, and communities came together to take part in activities that made sustainability more visible, more relatable, and more personal. Through SM Cares, Earth Hour became more than a scheduled observance in the evening—it became a reminder that small choices, when done together through empowered communities, can help build a better future. 

THE SECRET TO THE BEST SM SUPERMALLS GALA TRIP IN LUZON

PHILIPPINES – IYKYK: Documenting your daily life is a kind of magic in itself. Whether it’s capturing short clips of small moments at a coffee shop or going full production with your food dump at one of your newly discovered restos, being your own content creator is an adventure you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

Another day, another vlog. Who would have thought that saving memories of your seemingly ordinary day-to-day life could make your everyday routine feel more fun and exciting?

Hey, hey, hey, it’s your favorite mall here! Welcome to a day in the life with your most-loved SM Supermalls. Come spend a day walking through all the best new discoveries here in Luzon, chosen All For You!

9:30 AM: Morning Treats & Cozy Vibes

Start your day right with an early morning drift. Sip on your favorite coffee, nibble on freshly made desserts, and soak in all the Instagrammable corners of these content-worthy hangout spots.

Start your day on a sweet note with the first J.CO Reserve in Bulacan at SM City Marilao, now open at the Lower Ground Level. Known for its elevated café concept, J.CO Reserve serves up its famously made donuts, paired with rich coffee blends in a sit-down setting that is perfect for easing into your day or catching up over a well-deserved break.