An Unwavering Love: A Mother's Journey Towards a Perfect Smile and Bright Future for Her Child

Mother’s Day is a special occasion to honor and celebrate the courage, triumphs, and unconditional love of mothers. For many mothers, their greatest joy is to see their children smile and have a bright future. 

However, for some mothers, this joy is not easy to achieve, as their children suffer from cleft lip and palate, a congenital condition that affects their appearance, speech, nutrition, and self-esteem. Their unwavering love became the driving force that propelled them toward a path of transformation and hope.

A Mother’s Plight to Achieving Great Joy

Take the case of Lina, a mother of four from Negros Oriental, who faced this difficult reality when her youngest daughter, Mary Joy, was born with a cleft lip and palate. She was saddened when she saw her daughter’s condition and blamed herself, wondering what she did wrong during her pregnancy. Upon learning of her daughter's diagnosis, Lina’s heart was filled with both love and concern, and wanted to give her the best care possible. 

A.S. Watson Greener Stores Accelerate Global Movement Towards a More Sustainable Future

Watsons’ parent company, A.S. Watson (ASW), just celebrated its 180th anniversary, and the Group is launching a Greener Stores Global Framework to accelerate the transformation of retail towards lower-environmental impact stores to achieve a reduction in carbon emissions, water usage and landfill waste as well as leverage its scale for good to speed up the global movement towards a more sustainable future. The ASW Greener Stores Global Framework aims to forge and inspire its businesses to build a stronger sustainability culture and practice in the way it designs, constructs, operates and maintains its stores. 

A.S. Watson Introduces Greener Stores

As the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, A.S. Watson operates an extensive network of over 16,400 stores under 12 retail brands in 29 markets. It is one of the fastest growing retailers opening over 1,000 stores a year. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years, A.S. Watson continued to open 1,600 new stores. That’s why making its stores greener is pivotal in accelerating its sustainability progress. 

According to Malina Ngai, Group Chief Operating Officer of A.S. Watson Group, and CEO of A.S. Watson (Asia and Europe), “A.S. Watson Greener Stores Global Framework shows our deep commitment to accelerate our sustainability progress and move towards a more sustainable future. It is our vision to make every one of our stores a greener store with lower environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. 

“Keys to our Greener Stores Global Framework are efforts to inspire a sustainable culture in the everyday operations of retail stores, engaging customers in choosing more sustainable products and lifestyle, accelerating energy efficiency and renewable energy, increasing the use of responsible materials and waste diversion.”

 

A.S. Watson Chooses Superdrug Peterborough in the UK as its First Greener Store

Ngai continues, “Under the Greener Stores Global Framework, A.S. Watson will be developing store designs that minimize its environmental impact from the full lifecycle of the store. This includes the increasing use of recyclable materials, explore ways to enhance energy efficiency, reduce waste, save water, all the way to end-of life disposal. The construction process will also be carefully planned and managed to ensure landfill and recycling targets are set together with local contractors.” 

A.S. Watson’s first greener store is a Superdrug store in Peterborough’s Serpentine Green Shopping Centre in the U.K. opened last October. Sustainability has been a core focus of the store development process from conception to reality. The store features fully recyclable signages that were made from recycled yarn and plastic bottles. Its ceiling tiles were also made from bio-soluble mineral wool, clay and starch and is also 100% recyclable.  

The store has also introduced several sustainability features including an AAA efficiency rate air conditioning system, a waste management target of 5% to landfills and using a reduced number of LED mood lights in the ceiling which led to a 37% saving on electricity. As a result, the store has managed to save 5,800 KWh of energy annually which is equivalent to a 1,200 kg CO2 annual reduction.

Daily Operations – Forging a Sustainable Culture 

Emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach, Ngai adds, “A.S. Watson Greener Stores Global Framework is not just about how we construct stores, it’s about creating a culture of sustainability inside and outside the organization. That’s why the Framework also comprises of initiatives to engage and inspire our colleagues, our customers, and our business partners to team up with us to build a better world. 

Building a sustainable culture is not a one-off action; it’s a continuous effort to raise awareness of sustainability and bring behavioral changes to our people, customers as well as health and beauty industry as a whole. Providing a safe and healthy environment to our people and customers is just as important in our Greener Stores Global Framework. So we truly believe that the Framework will ultimately bring an all-win situation to all parties.” 

A.S. Watson has been actively reducing the environmental footprint of its products with a better selection of ingredients and packaging materials. Since 2014, A.S. Watson has banned the use of microplastics in its rinse-off exclusive cosmetics or personal care products. This ban was extended to all consumer brand products sold in all stores in 2020. A.S. Watson has also been working on Our Watsons Own Brand and its global partners, including Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal, Shiseido, Beiersdorf, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Kao, Reckitt and Unilever, to offer Sustainable Choices products, in stores and online in Asia, making it easier for customers to find products that have more sustainable packaging and better ingredients and contribute to a better world.

Customer Experience – Inspiring Sustainable Lifestyle

Every year, A.S. Watson serves 5.5 billion customers via its O+O (Offline plus Online) platform so it’s critical to engage and inspire our customers to do good to the planet with us. Besides providing Sustainable Choices products, we’ve been running a wide variety of programmes that encourage customers to lead a sustainable lifestyle. 

In Europe, Superdrug is the first U.K. retailer to provide customers with a solution to recycle empty medicine blister packs in over 200 pharmacies. Thanks to the “Little Packs, Big Impact” recycling initiative, over 4.8 million blister packs have been recycled weighing over 10,000 kg. Meanwhile, at The Perfume Shop, for every perfume bottle that customers recycle, it donates the cost of planting one tree and its target is to plant 1 million trees by 2030.

In Asia, Watsons has rolled out a region-wide plastic containers recycling programme to Go Green with its customers. In collaboration with supplier partners such as P&G and L'Oréal, over 1 million plastic containers have been collected and diverted from landfills and re-processed through local NGOs and recyclers.Meanwhile, at Watsons Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, Refill Stations have been launched to encourage more customers to play a part to reuse the containers and reduce the use of plastic, contributing to a more sustainable world. In the Philippines specifically, Watsons has worked with Plastic Bank and SM Cares, in collaboration with P&G, Unilever and L’Oreal for recycling initiatives.

Ngai concludes, “A.S. Watson Greener Stores Global Framework is just a kick-off of our greener journey together with our customers as we continue to roll out initiatives to make our stores around the world more sustainable. We want to lead by example in setting a new benchmark for health and beauty retail, inspiring more businesses to follow suit and create more greener stores that help transform retail towards making a positive impact on the planet.” 

ICYMI: Bright and Win Now All Over PH Stores for Olay Bodyscience

Fans have been waiting since forever for Bright Vachirawit and Win Metawin to be together again, and Olay BodyScience came through for the much-awaited moment.

Since Olay’s official announcement of the BL heartthrobs as official endorsers, Filipino fans have been well fed with BrightWin content — seen together again. The BL fandom power was felt when Olay Bodyscience products were flying off online and on shelves of stores during 11.11. As a gift, Olay gave Filipino fans with exclusive access to a BrightWin video that has never been seen before. 

Witness Bright and Win with Radiant Skin All Over PH

Many were already on the edge of their seats when the 11.11 celebration with BrightWin came out. Fans have since requested to see BrightWin displayed in stores — and Olay finally delivered.

If you’re one of the many BrightWin fans who are still craving, and wanting to see more content of them together, your BL wishes are granted. 

FREE Extra NOVUHAIR Herbal Shampoo Exclusive at Watsons

Along with the ongoing threat of this pandemic health crisis comes, one has to adapt to the new normal that affects everything and everyone. Despite the urgency of reopening businesses for economic reasons, the majority of the Filipinos are still forced to stay at home with uncertainty. 

Apparently, these endless quarantines have taken emotional and mental tolls in the household affecting Filipino women, most of whom work from home and work at home. They have to take care of the entire family and household while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 

For some women, such trying times are something to lose their hair over, literally. Not many know this, but stress can actually cause hair loss. Mental health issues like anxiety and depression can also contribute to hair loss. Discover some of the 5 reasons why your hair might be falling out. Read more: https://bit.ly/35xfuDA

NOVUHAIR turns favor with Holiday bash promo

So you’ve got your festive outfit set and the fancy gift wrapped for your “monito” or “monita”. All that’s left undone is a party season-perfect hairstyle. 

The fresh out of the shower look can be seductive yet temporary. Blame it to tropical climate, it can spoil your appearance, besides making you feel sweaty and stale. The heat and humidity brought about by extreme weather condition, likewise, dries out the locks easily and make it more fragile. 

Adding damage to your delicate strands are the chemical contents of various products on hand. From shampoo to conditioner and hair treatment, down to styling goods to groom it to your liking, their harsh synthetic materials jeopardize the natural oil and luster of your mane.

HEALTHY LYF: Watsons is “Looking Good and Feeling Great” with its Brand Refresh

Watsons, Asia’s largest health and beauty retailer is set to deliver a totally fresh retail experience as it unveils a dynamic brand revamp and launches More Value, More Life campaign in the Philippines.

Asia’s No 1. pharmacy and drugstore brand*, with an international presence of over 3,200 outlets in 12 Asian and European markets, is rolling-out a refreshed brand “look and feel” and service promise. The brand refresh invites customers to explore and experience Watsons’ extensive quality product range, carefully selected to make them “Look Good. Feel Great.” every day.

The revamp also includes a modified Watsons logo, store interiors, brand visuals and new store front. Store zoning is improved with more prominent displays and enhanced categorization of store areas for beauty, personal care, health and pharmacy. The roll out in the next months also include new staff and manager uniforms together with enhanced pharmacy, health and beauty counseling for customers, delivering a new level of personalized shopping.

Ladies Celebrate Women's Month This March at SM!

March is known to be Women's Month and its actually a great time for ladies to go out and exercise their right to shop! And SM will give a treat for women on Wednesdays of the month!

May it be sale season or not, SM malls definitely makes this moth exciting for you and your retail theraphy with these discounts you can avail from SM stores! 

If they would go to Watsons for beauty, health and personal finds, all women will instantly get 10-percent off on minimum P1,500 worth of purchase. 

Ladies can also be tough when they shop at Ace Hardware where they can get 5-percent less on every P3,000 single receipt purchase on all regular priced items. 

In Our Home, where you can find items which can make your home beautiful and organized, they can get  5-percent off for a minimum P15,000 purchase on all furniture, ladies can also avail of 10-percent discount on all accessories for a minimum purchase of P5,000.

HEALTHY LYF: More Value, More Life With Watsons

There are many things we value in life. We value our family, health, relationships and ourselves. Whatever you value, Watsons values you. That’s why Watsons brings you great value offers so you can get more out of life.

See how these personalities share what they value & how they found great value in Watsons.

A Mother’s Unconditional Love

Watsons newest ambassador & celebrity mom Christine Jacob-Sandejas quips, “My family is really my life. It gives me joy to take care of my husband and five kids – keeping all of us healthy is a top priority. It’s a reality though that healthcare is rather expensive especially with a fairly big family such as ours. It’s good to know that we now have more choices when it comes to branded and generic medicines like what Watsons is offering.”

HEALTHY LYF: Dermablend Soap Swap Is On!

SWAP your way to a "new" you as homegrown personal care company BCP Dermatological Corp. brings you an array of product breakthroughs that nourishes your skin the natural way via its latest promotion, the "Dermablend Animation at Watsons." Now ongoing in select Watsons outlets in the metropolis, this campaign is creating a "buzz-word" among consumers who already have tried superior skin care products only from Dermablend, especially its pioneering Papaya Orange Skin Whitening Soap that guarantees not just whiter but moisturized skin. 

HEALTHY LYF: Georgina Wilson for Garnier Philippines

Skin care is everybody's concern. And with city life getting more stressful by the minute, our skin becomes more prone to signs of aging, acne, and blemishes. With ordinary soaps and facial wash may not be enough to get rid of these stubborn impurities that are hiding in our skin, thus we look more stressed, old and most especially, unhappy with ourselves.

We might also tried many remedies that may seem practical but when not formulated properly may lead to worsening the situation. But it time to take it to a better solution.

HEALTHY LYF: What’s New with Watsons?

Wonderful things happen when you’re in perfect health. A great body is not a luxury but a necessity so we can all live happy and meaningful lives. Watsons offers twogreat news that both benefits health and also brings savings.  Welcome Generic Medicines and Now Foods now available at Watsons stores!

HEALTHY LYF: Compliance Pack for Hypertension, Diabetes and High Colesterol

In Cure and Care: Watsons Compliance Pack is the Key!
 
“It takes too much effort for a patient to integrate a lifetime of treatment into his daily routine …”
 
Treatment Woes 
 
People diagnosed with chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol levels) need to change their lifestyles from how it used to be.

The challenge is to find a trusted healthcare brand that will ensure not just quality but also availability ensuring uninterrupted treatment. Second, the need for lifestyle modification is of utmost importance – patients must be aware of the chronicity of their disease, how complications would arise if these are poorly controlled & how vital it is to modify one’s lifestyle especially practical diet, nutrition and physical activity.

HEALTHY LYF: WATSONS, UNILAB support efforts of PSMID to halt spread of superbugs












WATSONS PHARMACY and pharmaceutical manufacturer UNILAB supporting the 33rd Annual Convention of the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID), which has the theme “Infectious Disease Apocalypse: Seamless Take Over” on on November 23 – 25, 2011. 

The convention focuses on the threat of infectious superbugs and how this can be stopped. “Superbugs” are antibiotic-resistant bacteria that pose a deadly threat to humanity. 

HEALTHY LYF: Be Prepared for the SUPERBUG!

The Wet Season is here again and this means the start of the sickness season. With typhoons now entering the country more often, the spread of diseases are also on the rise. One of them is the deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria better known as the “superbug”. These bacteria is like a superhero that is resistant even with mankind’s most powerful class of antibiotics, the carbapenems, is ineffective against them and they have the potential to cause fatal illnesses. Philippine health authorities warn us that the country is at risk of superbug infection.