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According to a study by HealthScape, millennials are more likely to spend on self-care products and wellness activities than any other age group. With wellness and “me time” becoming such a huge part of our culture today, it’s no surprise that many Filipinos are starting to ditch the fun in exchange for something more chill and laid back.
Now that the COVID-19 restrictions have been eased, more retreat centers have reopened to welcome visitors looking to recharge and reconnect with their inner souls. If you want to embark on self-discovery and unplug from the noise of the city, you can spend a day or two (or even a week) of self-reflection at these retreat houses in Manila.
Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain
Photo by Facebook/Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain
Just an hour away from the capital city is Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain, a wellness retreat that sits atop a hill in Antipolo. The retreat center has a chapel where you can pray, a cafeteria that serves freshly baked pastries, and a garden area with cottages where you can unwind and address whatever challenges you’re going through in life. You can also work under the guidance of professionals for a more personalized wellness experience. Single room rate starts at P1,000 (based on 2019 prices).
Committed to advancing the practices and principles of prayer is this peaceful retreat center in Silang. Be it for body or soul, Oasis of Prayer has a myriad of wellness activities and amenities designed to aid in personal transformation. Whether you want to get closer to God or reconnect with yourself, this tranquil center offers a true escape from the stresses of everyday life. A three-day guided retreat costs P4,500 per person.
Location:Oasis of Prayer, Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Cavite
Nurture Wellness Village
Photo by Website/Nurture Wellness Village
Nurture Wellness Village is one of the most well-known retreat places in Tagaytay. A pioneer in the Philippine spa and wellness industry, this place offers a unique ecotherapy experience with its Ifugao native huts and Filipino-themed wellness treatments. The location also has plenty of outdoor space for yoga, zumba, massages, and enjoying the beauty of nature. Couple’s rate starts at P10,800 per night.
Location: Nurture Wellness Village, Pulong Sagingan, Barangay Maitim II West Luzon, Tagaytay City
Angel’s Hills Retreat and Formation Center
Photo by Facebook/Angel's Hills Retreat and Formation Center
Established in 1999, Angel’s Hills Retreat and Formation Center offers a slew of services such as pastoral planning, one-on-one spiritual sessions, value formation seminars, team-building activities, and more. Tailor-made for big groups and soloists, this retreat center is perfect for anyone looking to have a spiritual rejuvenation. An overnight stay costs P1,280 per head.
Photo by Website/Sisters of St. John the Baptist - House of Prayer
Offering picturesque views of the iconic Taal volcano is Sisters of St. John the Baptist – House of Prayer, a little slice of holistic heaven in Tagaytay. The retreat center boasts a chapel, a prayer room, a massive garden area, and dormitories that can accommodate 60 tenants. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is the perfect place to recharge and experience ultimate relaxation. Price starts at P700 per night.
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Looking to upgrade your fur babies’ wardrobe? Whether it’s a stylish outfit for a special occasion or an adorable matching ensemble, pet clothes are just one of the ways we can pamper our four-legged pals and show off their personalities.
With the growing number of pet owners in the Philippines, pet boutiques, grooming salons, and doggy daycares are more popular than ever, providing infinite ways to show our love to our pets. For this list, we’re unleashing the paw-some shops and designers offering made-to-order pet apparel that’s both fashionable and functional. Read on to learn where you can order custom pet clothes and make your furry friends the most chic and dapper companions!
Pawtelier de Melon
Named after the owner’s adorable Pomeranian, Melon, this Pasig-based boutique specializes in bespoke designs, tailored ensembles, and exclusive ready-to-wear apparel for pets
and their humans.
The name literally means “paw+atelier of Melon” and is managed and produced by one artisan who originally started the business as a hobbyist's creative space in 2019. Her interest in pet wear began the year before, and she made her first jackets and dresses for her puppy while on Christmas holiday from university.
Armed with skills passed down by her mother and refined with summer courses, Pawtelier de Melon designs and produces a range of outfits from charmingdoll-style and regal formal attire to versatile two-way barkday gowns. The IG shop gained traction mainly for its strawberry dresses and custom matching dresses. We especially love the seasonal collections too, which can be found on their prêt-à-porter (or should we say pet-à-porter) page here. So, if you ever wish to upgrade your pet’s wardrobe, have a dress made for a special occasion like a birthday, or even get them aisle-ready for a wedding, you can DM them now to order!
Custom Jackets are priced at P2,300 while dresses range from P3,200 to P4,900 (long gowns). You can check out the full price list here. Although mainly based in Manila, the shop offers worldwide shipping.
This online shop provides customized designer dressesforpets as well as fashionable vest harnesses. One look at the page and you’ll immediately see a flurry of tulle and premium fabrics on adorable furry friends, which goes without saying that this boutique specializes in creating enchanting pet dresses, dapper suits, and magical accessories like bowtie collars and sparkly harnesses
that will surely make head turn once your fur baby walks into the room!
For orders and inquiries on prices, you can message them directly on their official pages.
Bandanas
are some of the cutest pet accessories and Club Thread offers a range of paw-some bandanas with patterned fabrics and custom name prints for pets. Established in 2017, Club Thread was created by pet owner, Sam, who had a passion for fashion. After enrolling in a fashion design school in Makati and being inspired by the colorful fabric prints she witnessed on a trip to Seoul, Sam began creating colorful home items such as pillowcases and water jug covers. It was only when they got Granny, their adorable little Schnauzer, that she expanded to making bandanas. According to their website, they tested out making bandanas and handed them out to Granny’s friends in the village they lived in, and sure enough, they were a hit!
The great thing about these bandanas is they’re reversible, so you get two designs for the price of one! Prices vary depending on the size: P150 (XS), P170 (S/M), and P200 (L/XL).
Additionally, Club Thread also sells “Hooman Tees,” tote bags, statement caps (for pets and owners), hoodies, and patches. You can check them out on their online store or DM them for orders.
From the name, which is a play on the word “faculty,” this small local business provides pet owners with the opportunity to dress their beloved fur children in work or school-inspired outfits.
Pawculty PH is known as the original maker of pet uniforms and scrubs. Yes, you heard that right. Can you imagine your pets wearing a polo paired with a plaid skirt or slacks? Or imagine them in a lab coat or medical scrubs. ADORABLE!
Show your school or work pride by wearing a coordinated outfit with your fur babies. Apart from custom uniforms and scrubs, they also make university jerseys perfect for a game, graduation togas so your fur babies can celebrate the milestone with you, as well as other custom shirt designs. Their uniforms and shirts can cost as low asP199 and are available for purchase on their official Shopee page. You can also message them directly for custom orders.
This Filipinosocial enterprise makes pet accessories and furniture. Founded in 2017, Life is Pawsome (LiP) started out in GK Enchanted Farm and is now based in Bulacan. They make premium quality pet accessories that can be custom-made, as well as pet furniture that supports local community artisans and animal shelters.
One of their most popular products is their custom bandanas, as well as the made-to-order Barong Tagalogbandanas, which are available in a range of designs and colors.
Speaking of Barongs, the first to make them for pets is this boutique. Fil Dog Scarf by Dress Code by A.Y.A. offers a wide variety of modern Filipiniana apparel and accessories for women, men, dogs, and cats. It goes to show that pets aren’t left behind especially when it comes to fashion.
The Barongs are all personally embroidered, locally made, and are available in a variety of colors and styles. You can check out their design catalog here. According to their official Shopee store, their pet Barongs start fromP600.
You can also message them directly for customization. Apart from these gorgeous pieces, they also sell scarves, dresses, and polos — all of which can be shipped anywhere in the world!
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There are plenty of good reasons to go vegan, whether that’s for your health or for sustainability goals. But of course, going meat-free can be intimidating too.
Fortunately, there are now a growing number of vegan restaurantsin Metro Manila (and NCR)offering alternatives to your favorite food. These eateries make veganism not just accessible, but enjoyable too! Try these delicious, award-winning restaurants whenever you’re craving something healthy and meaningful.
Pipino Veg
Vegan desserts at Pipino Veg | Instagram/Pipino Veg
Though the restaurant is vegetarian in nature, a lot of Pipino Veg’s recipes are vegan too.
In fact, their version of halo-halois made with eggless leche flan, almond milk, and coconut cream! Aside from dessert, the restaurant’s “bagoong” ricemade with black beans is a definite must-try, not to mention the restaurant’s specialty, plant-based kare-kare.
Location:Pipino Veg, 39 Malingap St., Teachers Village East, Quezon City
Wabi Sabi Noodle House
Wabi Sabi Noodle House vegan ramen | Instagram/Wabi Sabi Noodle House
Vegan ramen? Yes please! Wabi Sabi Noodle House presents a lineup of vegetarian ramen that can also be made vegan if specified.
All the “meat” used in their ramen is made of vegetables; whether it’s the minced meat in their tantanmen ramen or the chasu in their shoyu ramen. They even have vegetarian appetizers such as the Sweetcorn and Cream Cheese Tempura,and Mushroom Siomai. If you choose to dine-in at their restaurant, you can even avail of vegan frozen foods such as Vegan Caldereta, Sisig, and Siopao.
Location:Wabi Sabi Noodle House, POS Building, 305 Scout Madrinan, Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City
WILD Plant Based Café Bar
Bang Bang "Chck'n" sandwich | Instagram/WILD Plant Based Cafe Bar
Looking for a plant-based mid-day snack? Check out this BGC café and bar. WILD's affordable menu makes eating vegan easy and accessible, with food items all priced below P500. Try their Beetroot Hummus Dip, a colorful alternative to traditional chickpea hummus, or their Protein Waffles, especially if you’re looking to reach your protein goals. Of course, the café’s mainstays remain to be their sandwiches and burgers: try their Classic Cheeseburger or “Chck’n” Burger flavored with BBQ, gochujang, maple butter, or bang bang sauce.
Meals from The Greenery Kitchen | Instagram/The Greenery Kitchen
Awarded by PETA Asia as “2024’s Best Vegan Filipino Restaurant," Greenery Kitchen is proud to transform traditional Filipino favorites into healthy alternatives. They have an incredible menu that features Liempo, Dinuguan, and Caldereta all made vegan!
Their menu is flexible too and can accommodate diners for dine-in and take-out; those looking to take-out can even purchase party trays for up to 15 people. The Greenery Kitchen also has a weekly vegan meal plan and frozen foods for delivery, making veganism accessible for all kinds of lifestyles.
Location:Greenery Kitchen, 2078 E. Pascua Street, Kasilawan, Makati City
An unassuming restaurant located across Greenbelt, iVegan serves us homey, nourishing food that’s good for body and soul. A personal favorite is their Shitake Mushroom Soup, which is made with goji berries, roasted white onions, and carrots. This healing broth works as a fantastic appetizer to their meals.
To get the full vegan experience, we recommend going for a classic: either the Black Bean Burger or the Portobello Mushroom Steak followed by a Smoothie Bowl for dessert. Don’t worry; it’s all good for you!
Location:iVegan, Unit 106, Plaza 100, VA Rufino, Corner dela Rosa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Shaka
Shaka smoothie bowl | Instagram/Shaka
A tropical favorite that’s since become a mainstay in Manila, Shaka Café serves the best smoothie bowls in Manila. Made with fresh tropical fruits blended together in perfect harmony, Shaka brings the best of healthy island living across multiple locales.
We also recommend their mains such as the Vegetable Lasagna made with red lentils, Mushroom Stroganoffmade with cashew sauce, or the Birria Tacos made from jackfruit.
Location:Shaka Café, 117-107 L.P. Leviste Street, Makati City
This Poblacion staple remains on the top of our list for vegan restaurants. Specializing in Filipino comfort food, Cosmic brings plant-based alternatives to the forefront of a traditional local diet. Their Sisighas been lauded as one of the best vegan alternatives in the metro, and is made with both seitan and tofu. Their Vegan Isaw, Kare-Kare, and Silog meals are flavorful must-tries that will make you forget about meat altogether.
Location:Cosmic, 4980 P. Guanzon Street, Poblacion, Makati City
Green Bar
Colorful, healthy, vegan food from Green Bar | Instagram/Green Bar
This cozy café located in Legaspi Village, Makati is the perfect hangout for those looking to get healthy. Green Bar's menu is extensive and covers breakfast foods, desserts, and drinks – all made vegan! The restaurant’s hot bowls are a great option for those looking to try it out; you wouldn’t know that you’re eating tofu, seitan, or mushrooms!
Of course, you have to have their fluffy Vegan Donuts for dessert afterwards. They have a rotating daily menu of delicious flavors that range from Lemon Chia to Boston Cream-filled.
Location:Green Bar, 106 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
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It’s always a good idea to get to know yourself better. Perhaps that’s why personality quizzes seem to be on the up lately, especially online. Among these tests is the ever-popular MBTI, which classifies people into sixteen different personality types.
Known as the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), MBTI looks at four key dichotomies that include: extraversion versus introversion (E vs I), sensing versus intuition (S vs I), thinking versus feeling (T vs F), and judging versus perceiving (J vs P). The theory is that this spectrum can describe an individual’s tendency, and knowing where one lies can help one understand one’s self better.
“Being aware of your personality enables you to focus on your strengths and your areas for improvement,” said Clinical Psychologist Ma. Alodia Cueno-Mercado. “If you know your nature, you may be able to describe, define, and control your behavior when exposed to stressful or anxiety-provoking situations.”
Alodia with podcasters Jim and Sab | Instagram/Limelight Planners
Alodia, who’s spent her professional life observing how people act and react, also attests that MBTI results – while often thrown around in the most casual conversations – are reliable indicators of people’s personalities. “The four preference scales on the MBTI assessment have internal consistency reliabilities of around .90, and test-retest correlations are over .80 for periods up to 15 weeks,” she explained. “Basically, this means that MBTI has high reliability and validity.”
This is perhaps why MBTI personality types are so popular: aside from the fact that results are typically easy to access (just take a quiz online!), MBTI personalities tend to be accurate for some time. That doesn’t mean one’s MBTI won’t change, but it does help an individual to be aware of how he or she responds to things at the moment.
To add to that, MBTI results can make something as complicated as personalities easier to understand. They simplify one's tendencies in a way that people find relatable or approachable. This is particularly helpful for those seeking to improve themselves or better their perspective in life. It’s also a helpful step for those looking to be more mindful.
“To be more mindful, observe yourself: how you react to things, how you process information, and how you see the world. Be mindful of your limitations and do something about it,” Alodia advised.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that a person can be reduced to four simple letters. As Alodia has acknowledged, personalities are complex and ever-evolving. They develop through time and are influenced by multiple factors: biology and genetics, environment, and experiences. “The existing needs may also alter the way people prefer to act, most especially when we are talking about survival,” she added.
What MBTI personality types can offer is guidance for people looking to change for the better. This is particularly helpful for the new year when resolutions often come to mind. A helpful tool that Alodia recommends is a journal. Journaling has been proven to have benefits for one’s mental health and it can also be a valuable stepping stone to achieving goals.
“If you want to change or achieve something, you can monitor yourself better if you have a planner that can guide you through your journey in actualizing your plans,” said Alodia.
For this, people can turn to the 2025 MBTI Planner from Limelight Planners. Tailor-made for each personality, this innovative journal promises users 365 days of self-discovery, using tools that are sure to be beneficial to different thinkers.
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Planners are more than just tools for organizing; they’re also a reflection of our personality and style. Here in the Philippines, we are spoilt for choice with options ranging from sticker-collecting exclusives like Starbucks and Coffee Project planners to premium buys available in stores and online, like Hobonichi Techo and Muji’s minimalist planners. Whether you’re drawn to unique designs, functional layouts, or a touch of inspiration, these planners we've lined up below cater to every taste and lifestyle. Check them out!
Starbucks 2025 Sable Planner and Pouch
Website/Starbucks
Sip, celebrate, repeat! Starbucks is once again bringing the holiday vibes with its 2025 Traditions Collection, featuring a chic Sable Planner with a leather cover, rose gold pen, and matching pouch. To get this, all you need is to collect 17 e-stickers (which you can track via the Starbucks PH app) by grabbing your favorite Starbucks drinks until Jan. 2, 2025. You can also earn stickers by ordering via GrabFood, foodpanda, or PICK.A.ROO. Visit their website for more details.
Coffee Project Planner 2025
Facebook/Coffee Project
Here's another set of stickers you can collect! Homegrown coffee shop chain Coffee Project is ready to inspire your journey of self-discovery and goal setting with its Coffee Project Planner 2025. Get this by collecting 20 stamps with every drink or meal purchase at Coffee Project: five stamps for any Coffee Project Holiday Drink, 10 stamps for any Coffee Project Iced or Hot Beverage, and five stamps for any Coffee Project Pastries & Hearty Meals.
Each kit includes a Coffee Project Planner 2025, an exclusive planner bag charm, and Coffee Project planner stickers. Promo runs until Feb. 20, 2025.
PICKUP COFFEE x Everyday Planner 2025
Facebook/PICKUP COFFEE
Get ready to plan your year in style with the PICKUP COFFEE x Everyday Planner 2025, designed in collaboration with artist Winnie Wong! Featuring 10 exclusive artworks, undated monthly and weekly calendars, finance trackers, goal agendas, and more, this planner is perfect for staying organized and inspired. Choose from two elegant colors: Oak and Green.
Collect 35 stamps on the PICKUP APP (one beverage = one stamp) to redeem your planner! Reminder: Orders must be made in-store or through the app only. Third-party delivery apps like GrabFood are excluded. Promo runs until Jan. 31, 2025, with redemptions until April 1, 2025.
Muji 2025 Monthly/Weekly View-At-Once Planner
Website/Muji Philippines
The Muji 2025 Monthly/Weekly View-At-Once Planner offers a seamless way to organize your year, featuring fold-out pages for quick access to monthly, daily, and vertical plans. Inside, you'll find dot-grid memo pages and an overview of up to four pages at once. Available in sleek White and Black colorsandsizes B6 and A5, it’s a minimalist’s dream for effortless planning.
Where to buy: MUJI Philippines stores nationwide or online via mujiph.com
Hobonichi Techo
Instagram/Hobonichi Global
Another Japanese stationery staple that should be in your to-buy list is Hobonichi Techo. Available in seven types (Planner, Original, Cousin, HON, Weeks, Day-Free, and 5-Year Techo), four formats (one page per day, weekly horizontal, monthly calendar + notebook, and consecutive years), and three sizes (wallet, A6, and A5), it's a versatile and customizable daily planner designed to fit your unique lifestyle.
With a page-per-day layout, it's perfect for capturing everything from plans and notes to personal reflections and creativity. Each page includes inspiring daily quotes and features Tomoe River paper that's both lightweight yet fountain-pen friendly. It also opens flat for stress-free writing and offers a range of colorful, customizable covers with added storage for your essentials. If you're a fan of popular anime like One Piece and Spy x Family, you might want to check out their collaborations!
If you love South Korean supergroup BTS, you'll also likely love this planner by The Purple Press. The Spring Day 2025 Planner is an A5-sized, 12-month dated planner that features a luxurious leather-like hardbound cover, fountain pen-friendly 100gsm pages, and a handy back pocket. Each planner includes a mystery cardholder with a random BTS member ID and exclusive artwork that doubles as monthly phone wallpapers. This is one perfect way to stay organized and connected to your bias all year long!
Linya-Linya Planner: Para sa Sarili Naman Ngayong Taon - Self-Love Guidebook
Website/Linya-Linya
Popular for their 100% witty Filipino shirts, Linya-Linya has taken a different approach by releasing their own Para sa Sarili Naman Ngayong Taon - Self-Love Guidebook planner. Introduced in 2022, this undated planner is your ultimate companion for the upcoming year and beyond.
It celebrates self-love with spacious monthly and weekly spreads, extra pages for braindump and notes, and trackers for health, finances, relationships, and career goals. It's also packed with inspirational Filipino quotes, poems, and stickers for decorating. Available in black and yellow, this 256-page guidebook (5.8" x 8.1") is perfect for planning your year, your way.
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No Christmas celebration is complete without a lively round of parlor games. Whether you’re gathering with friends to exchange gifts or bonding with family before savoring Noche Buena, these games take the holiday cheer to a whole new level — especially when prizes are on the line!
From laugh-out-loud challenges to thrilling team battles, parlor games bring an extra dash of excitement to every get-together. So, cue the holiday songs and get ready for unforgettable moments with your loved ones! Here are eight fun parlor games to spark friendly competition and festive fun this season.
Christmas Charades
Looking for a classic Christmas parlor game? Christmas charades never go out of style! All it takes is a list of festive phrases, holiday movies, or iconic Christmas characters for players to act out while everyone else guesses.
Examples to Get You Started: Santa Claus, Noche Buena, Home Alone, and Rudolph
Name That Holiday Tune
Test everyone’s holiday playlist knowledge with a Christmas song guessing game! Split into teams, then have someone play a few seconds of a classic Christmas tune. Teams race to name the song, guess the next lyric, or even identify the artist.
Examples to Get You Started: Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You, Last Christmas by Wham!, Kelly Clarkson's Underneath the Tree, Jose Mari Chan's Christmas in Our Hearts
Pin the Nose on Rudolph
Put a festive twist on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” with "Pin the Nose on Rudolph!" Simply hang a cartoon reindeer on the wall, blindfold the players, and have them try to place a red paper nose as close as they can to Rudolph’s snout. Whoever gets closest to his snout/nose wins the game!
Christmas Trivia
Put your holiday knowledge to the test with a Christmas trivia contest! Whether played individually or in teams, this game is all about answering fun, festive questions while racing to top the scoreboard. For an exciting twist, add a rapid-fire round to break any ties and crown the ultimate trivia champ!
Examples to Get You Started:
Question: In the film "Home Alone," Kevin was left behind when his family went on vacation. Where were the McCallisters going to go?
Answer: Paris, France
Website/Pexels
Christmas Family Feud
Bring on the holiday fun with a Christmas-themed game of Family Feud! Divide everyone into two teams, then ask festive survey-style questions like “Name a popular Christmas song” or “What are two of Santa’s reindeer?” Teams take turns guessing answers, battling it out for the top spot on the scoreboard.
Pass the Bow
Gather in a circle and pass around a big festive bow while music plays. When the music stops, the person left holding the bow is out — keep going until only one winner remains! Pass that hot potato — or rather, Christmas bow!
Christmas Dance Freeze
Get everyone moving with a holiday dance-off! Play some festive tunes and let everyone groove until the music suddenly stops — then shout "Freeze!" The last person caught moving is out, and the laughter is nonstop!
Christmas Cup Tower Game
Stack up some holiday fun with this quick and crafty game! Using green plastic cups and pom-poms, challenge players to build the tallest Christmas tree without it toppling over. The tallest tree wins, and you can reuse the cups for an eco-friendly twist!
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Dive back into the world of fun and wonder for kids and kids-at-heart, as Museo Pambata is reopening its doors this December!
Following its renovation and temporary closure, which began in 2022, the Philippines’ first children’s museum is set to make a soft reopening on Dec. 6 this year at its location along Roxas Boulevard, Manila.
The reimagined Museo Pambata will offer new experiences and interactive spaces. This includes a modern Bahay Kubo, which transforms the museum’s herbal garden into a space where visitors can experience a traditional Filipino home.
Another new space to look forward to is the “Balay Yatu,” a brand-new building that will feature artworks made from various regions in the Philippines and will be home to the museum’s gift shop and cafe. The space will also be used for Museo Pambata’s events and activities.
The museum will also feature revamped mainstays, such as its iconic “Bahay Pukyutan” outdoor play space, among others.
The reopening comes just in time for the museum’s 30th anniversary. To celebrate this, Museo Pambata is also holding a series of activities for parents and kids, such as the “Isla Pambata” exhibition and “Dulaan Pambata” performances starting this month.
The newly revamped Museo Pambata is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with tours held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It is also available for private group reservations, rentals, and private events on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
For more updates on Museo Pambata’s reopening, follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
Location: Museo Pambata, Roxas Boulevard cor. South Drive, Manila
Opening Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM (Friday to Sunday) | Tuesday to Thursday for private groups and events
Admission Fee: P300 (Friday), P450 (Saturday & Sunday), Free (Children 2 years old and under)
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It’s no secret that since the beginning of 2020, when the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in pet ownership across the globe. Many people turned to pets, particularly dogs
and cats, to cope with loneliness as a result of social distancing and quarantine rules. If we’re talking about countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines took the top spot as the country with the most number of pet-related searches in the region during this time, according to data from iPrice Group.
Millennials in particular are among the biggest pet owners among the generations. More than an aftereffect of the pandemic, many of them are also waiting longer than previous generations to start families and as a result, tend to treat their pets like their own children. Pet owners are now spending more money on their “fur babies” especially when it comes to veterinary care. Just imagine the thousands of pesos Filipinos spend on vet visits, from consultations down to prescribed medications.
That’s where Life by Petto comes in, the first app-based health and wellness service for your pet’s concerns. With this app, you can get the most paw-some care for your fur babies through health plans that cover the basics of your pet’s needs.
The Beat Manila sat down with the app’s co-founder, Eileen Borromeo,to tell us about the inspiration behind the business, the challenges and rewards of running it, and the offerings on the app that aim to provide your beloved pets with the well-lived life they deserve (and more).
A Business Born Out of a Need
Like many entrepreneurs, the seed from which this pet healthcare startup grew was from a need. Eileen told us about how her personal pet story shaped the idea for the business, when her cat, Bunny, was diagnosed with a disease known as Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).
“If you're a cat owner, FIP is one of those things that are dreaded, and there's [over] 90% fatality rate. It’s basically a mutation of the coronavirus,” she explained. “The vet said, we'll send her home for palliative care, which is often code for just make her comfortable until she passes away. I was fortunate enough to have been directed to a Facebook support group that also dealt with such issues, so I was able to access experimental medicine, non-FDA approved, which I had to procure from one of the members of that group and which we had to obtain from Hong Kong. I spent over three to four hundred thousand [pesos] on her medication. Bunny was able to survive FIP, but not without leaving a huge dent in my pocket.”
Eileen had been lucky to receive the support she needed at that time, but most pet owners aren’t so lucky when it comes to supporting and handling their pets’ unexpected illnesses. This experience led to a realization that eventually gave birth to the business.
“My eventual co-founder and friend [Choco Cuaso], works for the people in the insurance industry and I asked, ‘Wala pa bang pet insurance(Isn't there a pet insurance yet)?’ This was in 2021, so that was really how it started,” she shared.
Courtesy of Life by Petto
According to their website, Life by Petto enables access to health and wellness services from partner veterinarians and vet clinics, as well as retail services that help better our pet’s lives. Eileen mentioned how we should think of them as the HMO (health maintenance organization) for pets. She also explained further how the service works and what makes them stand out from other companies.
“What really differentiates Life by Petto from other pet insurance companies is that we're basically more preventive, more healthcare-focused. We don't cover death or loss. Again, knowing the market, we don't want to be responsible for people suddenly just picking up a stray or a rescue and pretending that it's their pet, only to claim it for insurance, for a death benefit.”
Eileen and her co-founder got to work in 2021 but didn’t launch it until 2022. Within that year, the entrepreneurs did their homework to understand and confirm if there was really a need, making sure they had the market identified. This was done through research, surveys, FGDs (Focus Group Discussions) and in-depth interviews with anyone they knew was related to the industry.
They also had to figure out ways that they could get defrauded to prevent falsified claims, “Whilst we’re not technically insurance, there are services that overlap with its functions. We're basically a pet membership platform that allows access to veterinary clinics. It’s really an HMO-inspired business.”
Eileen also told us that one of the reasons they decided to create a membership-style pet HMO is because pets are unfortunately considered "non-living things" under the insurance commission. She explained that one of the advantages of the business model is that people are aware of its importance and are actually spending more money on their pets than themselves.
“It's a big cultural shift, not just in the Philippines but also globally. Children are more expensive in general and pose huge responsibilities. There's also less of the stigma related to starting a family. I think it was more felt in older generations where if you're in your early 20s and unmarried with no kids, your parents or grandparents start asking you questions about when you’ll start a family,” Eileen said. “So, pets provide that fulfillment emotionally. They provide companionship.”
She further explained how this has also caused a premiumizationof pet products as people are now more willing to spend on their pets, “We're happy that other industries or other companies actually launched because it means that we're not alone. It's not just us imagining that we need something like this, but it's a legitimate industry. Though it's still in its infancy.”
But like in any business, or in this case a startup, it is not without its challenges. “Because we're a startup, everything is pretty much run by myself and my co-founder. Customer service is a challenge and making sure the operation side is more efficient. So we know what the issues are and we've had a relaunch for version 2.0. That's something that we're already working towards improving and we do see those improvements happening by this month.”
“Another challenge is there's no standard yet. People are expecting certain coverages but unlike with people’s insurance, it’s more fixed. With pet insurance, there's still no standard. Everyone's still learning from each other, but the demand is there,” she added.
Life by Petto: Making Your Pets’ Lives Better
So what exactly is on the app and what can you expect as a member? Eileen walked us through some of the highlights and how it makes not only pet’s lives better, but also their owners’ lives easier with its accessible features and user-friendly interface.
One of the first things you’ll notice when you get on the app is how it reduces the pain of having to fill up multiple forms just to be able to share data.
“My co-founder is with the people in the insurance industry so he knows all the lengthy paperwork and requirements needed,” she said. The creators made sure that the registration feels like you're having a conversation with a chatbot, simplifying the entire process.
Life by Petto currently offers two types of health plans: the Basic Plan (P990) and the Plan+ (P1499). The "Basic Plan" is a health plan valued at PHP 100,000 and covers all the essentials including diagnostics, vaccines, and accidents. Meanwhile, the "Plan+" has an additional coverage of up to 20% of procedure cost which includes spay or neuter procedures, surgeries, and common illnesses.
The app is also partnered with a variety of pet service providers including veterinary clinics, grooming services, pet supplies, and animal welfare groups.
“The latest version of the app now has promotions and marketing initiatives from our retail partners.
So we realized that pet owners pay for everything. We don't get benefits in any way. It's easy to get benefits for the pet, but we also want to reward the pet-friendly establishments. We hope to see more of, [you know,] vouchers for pet-friendly resorts so if you're a Life by Petto member, that's something that you can enjoy. Even if your pet's not getting sick, you can get all these rewards as part of the membership.”
When asked if the business plans to support other animals apart from cats and dogs, Eileen stated that they’ve yet to expand their offerings to other types of species due to a lack of data available. “In the Philippines, there's no actuary for pet insurance in general. There are some beginnings of it in Asia, but we're not a mature market like the U.S., Europe, or Australia where you can break down the services down to the breed. They have the data which we don't have yet.”
However, while talking about the future of the app, Eileen confirmed that she has made it her personal goal to add more animals to the mix including rabbits, hamsters, and Guinea pigs. She also stated that any feature they intend to add in future versions would be reliant on data like whether it would be more helpful to have specific plans for cats and dogs, rather than having one base plan that covers everything.
It’s also important to note that Life by Petto is the only service that includes senior dogs as Eileen noted that small and large breeds have big differences in terms of age like how smaller dogs can still be young and active at the age of seven or eight but larger breeds are considered to be seniors at that age.
The business is also gearing up to launch a new vertical
this Q4 called, “Petto Daily,” which is meant to be the go-to guide for pet care. The inspiration behind the idea was based on personal experience as Eileen is familiar with the woes of not having access to important information, especially for new fur parents.
“One of the hardest things, for example, when you're starting out and you're not sure what to do, people just ask everyone else on social media and they're not vets. So, there's really no source of information or knowledge that guides pet parents and you have to do so much research and the data is so fragmented. That's what we're doing. We're like a specialist pet publication and marketing business. So, watch out for that.”
Petto Daily aims to give access to vetted and verified knowledge for all your pet care needs. The co-founder also revealed that they are working with companies to offer Life by Petto as a benefit to employees.
Courtesy of Life by PettoCourtesy of Life by Petto
It's safe to say that Life by Petto definitely got us covered when it comes to securing our pets’ health and wellness needs. When asked about the best part of running the business, Eileen simply expressed a similar sentiment with pet owners, “Just being around dogs and cats because we visit our vet partners a lot. Also, being surrounded by things that you enjoy doing, so the marketing and product development [aspect] of it. It helps to be around inspiring vet partners as well, because they really love what they do and that also inspires us to do better.”
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