September 16 marks the start of the SM Supermalls 100 days to Christmas countdown as the retail giant brings new and fun experiences in 64 malls nationwide, drumming up glee and anticipation for the world's longest Christmas celebration - Christmas in the Philippines.

HIRAYA is an ancient Filipino word which means “the fruit of one’s hopes, dreams, and aspirations”


We are a Filipino bean-to-bar chocolate company who sources cacao directly from local farmers

We follow sustainable, sociallyconscious. practices, and fair trade principles


Story

    March 2010: Graduated as Professional Chocolate Maker and Professional Chocolatier from Ecole Chocolat
    April 2014: Social Entrepreneurship Business Camp
    Feb 2015: Business Registration
    Dec 2015: BPI Sinag Business Challenge / Crowdfunding Campaign
    May 2016: Acquired Our First Retailer



Mission Vision Impact
Our mission is to improve the lives of our cacao farmer communities through direct and fair trade
Our vision is to produce a strong brand of fine quality chocolate and chocolate
products
To date, we have one (1) community composed of 58 farmers in Brgy. Malabog,
Davao City

Social Entrepreneurship
Combines business with dogood mentality
Contributes to a sense of local identity and supports local economy
Profit oriented but at its core also tackles and helps provide solutions for social issues
Our efforts have since provided +200% in income for our community of farmers in Davao


Our Products
72% Dark Chocolate SingleOrigin Davao (85g)
Flavor Profile: fruity with just a slight hint of bitterness
100% locally sourced ingredients, all-natural, handharvested cacao
No preservatives, no additives, no artificial flavors, suitable for vegans
SRP: PHP180.00


Hiraya x Kalsada Chocolate Bar with Coffee Nibs (70g)
Flavor Profile: strong and robust coffee notes
Featuring premium coffee beans sourced from the highlands of Sitio Belis, Benguet Province
Collaboration with Kalsada Coffee—a social enterprise based in Manila and Seattle that promotes specialty coffee from the Philippines
SRP: PHP200.00

As Featured In
BPI Foundation’s Sinag Business Challenge 2015, Top 40 Semi-Finalist
TheSparkProject.com, Oct-Dec 2015
WhenInManila.com, Nov 30, 2015
Spot.ph, Dec 18, 2015
ANC Green Living, Aired Feb 9, 2016
Yummy Magazine, April 2016 Issue
Breakfast Magazine, Nov 23, 2016
Michelin Guide Singapore, Feb 15, 2017
Pepper.ph, Feb 19, 2017
The Thinking Consumer, May 2017

Contact Us
Office
c/o Roots Katipunan Unit 106 FBR Arcade Bldg., 317 Katipunan Avenue Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Mobile
Arvin Peralta 0917-8511685
Email
hirayachocolates@gmail.com
Online
www.hirayachocolates.com
Social Media
facebook.com/HirayaChocolates
instagram @hirayachocolates

An extraordinary learning experience awaits young and the young-at-heart at the Future City. Put your seatbelts on as we take off to the future and explore how we can help reshape your child’s future today through one-of-a-kind interactive installations that will put your eyes and minds in awe.

Open for just one weekend, The Future Park together with NESTLÉ NANKID OPTIPRO FOUR,—a milk designed specifically for your child’s growth and development that helps secure your child’s healthy future through the power of Optimized Protein, launches FUTURE CITY: An Interactive Digital Park.

From September 9-10, this pioneering digital park opens its doors to guests as a way to educate and empower children and their parents about how their decisions today, can affect their future.

Future City uses technologies from all over the globe. The park contains 6 unique and engaging stations that will give guests the chance to participate in one-of-a-kind experiences that will surely nurture the minds of the kids and kids at heart.

The Future City visually illustrates how science has become the blueprint for brighter, safer future for our children. Guests can begin their exploration and discovery at the Future Dome where they will be given a glimpse of the technological advances that will soon define future cities—from towering smart skyscrapers, solar powered walls, interactive cityscapes, and autonomous vehicles.

Visitors of Future City will be given access to several stations that will surely broaden the mind. A Sketch Village where the patterns you color come to life, a Checkpoint where you can assess your future health, and interactive walls and floors featuring digital games.

After the guests go through these stations, seeing what the future can be and how it can be affected with the choices and lifestyle we make, from there, they will be ushered into a room that highlights an interactive wall demonstrating the evolution of science for nutrition and development, and how scientific advances have helped secure a child’s healthy future.

A big point of apprehension about the future, especially for parents, is their child’s health. Family history plays a big part in determining what diseases and conditions will be inherited by their kids and educating yourself about what can be done to prevent these from being passed on is the key to ensuring your child’s better future health. To that end, the Family Health Screener can help parents assess these possibilities, which will also be unveiled at the pop-up interactive digital park.

All in all, the Future City is a fitting fusion of interactive material and abstract concepts demonstrated in a visual and engaging way for kids and the kids at heart to appreciate and enjoy.

The interactive nature of The Future City is central to the entire exhibit’s message, not just in terms of technology and infrastructure, but for bigger and far more essential choices for your child’s health and development. Exploring the science behind the different elements that drive our lives—the environment we move in, the things we eat, the activities we do—it helps us understand just how relevant all these our to securing a brighter, safer, healthier future for generations to come.

Never settle for anything less especially when it comes to your child. Give your child optimum nutrition and reshape their future today.

On September 28, 2017 at Makati Sports Club, Makati, Philippines from 9AM to 5PM, “ENLIST: Job Carnival” will be happening and we are inviting job seekers to join us brought to us by Elabram Systems, Xremo and TAG Media and Public Relations. It is a not just an ordinary job fair, it is the only event that there will be entertainment from Artist League Manila plus career talks with discussion about digital marketing, branding and E- commerce.

This year, were looking to meet thousands of job seekers in the  carnival. There will be coaching also to better help young professionals and fresh graduates to find the right job while enjoying  the event.

Since the venue is big, we reserve the whole function halls of the exclusive Makati Sports Club, ENLIST: Job Carnival will have a simultaneous event with TRAVELOOZA, a travel and tour event to promote the Philippines as the premier travel destination in the world.

What to expect:

1. Company Booths
2. Career Coaching
3. Talks on stage and discussions from the expert speakers
4. Entertainment
5. Freebies

To register, please contact grace@tagmedia.asia/ 09166299381 on or before September 15, 2017. It is a FREE event. Just bring your CV/Resume. Goodluck!!!

Harvey, me and my Tita Susan recently attended an event by Richprime, which is a mall visit of Thomas and Friends gang at SM North EDSA. SM North EDSA events place at The Block became a huge playgrounds for the kids!

Shopee, the leading eCommerce platform in Southeast Asia, today announced the start of its annual shopping event - Shopee 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day. Shopee will offer a wide range of promotions, including discounts of up to 99% off, top picks under P99, and flash sales. Shopee partners with more than 1,000 sellers, including leading brands such as Johnson & Johnson, Oppo, Lysol, Sandisk, Mustela, and Makeup World, to make 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day the biggest online shopping event of the year.

“Last year, our 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day successfully achieved a five-fold increase in orders and three-fold increase in traffic within 24 hours. This year, with over ₱50 million worth of marketing activities, we aim to increase traffic by five times and triple our sales. We look forward to having all users across the Philippines join us in the biggest sale of the year,” said Macy Castillo, Head of Commercial Business at Shopee.

Since its launch in 2015, Shopee has experienced significant growth across the region. To date, Shopee has surpassed USD 3 billion annualized GMV with over 50 million downloads and more than 100 active million listings. In the Philippines, Shopee has garnered more than 4 million downloads.

Based on a 2017 study by Google and Temasek, the Philippines’ e-commerce market is projected to reach $9.7 billion (₱498 billion) in 2025 and 34% annual growth rate, which is said to be above the global average growth rate.

“The Philippines is an important market for us given its immense potential. As we scale up our product selection to cater to a wider audience, we are pleased to have leading brands such as Johnson & Johnson and Lysol joining our 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day this year. This is a major milestone for us in establishing Shopee as a one-stop shopping destination for users to enjoy a wide variety of products. Together with our 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day partners, including PLDT and Coke, we are confident that this will be a record-breaking year for Shopee in the Philippines,” added Castillo.

Luigi Casas, AVP and Head of Corporate Relationship Management at PLDT Alpha Enterprise, said, “We are very excited and proud to partner Shopee Philippines. Their business platform contributes enormously to the retail industry, as well as the overall digital transformation of the country and our economy. Together, we aim to increase awareness on the benefits of eCommerce adoption and how it drives the country’s economic growth as we redefine the retail industry.“

Starting from 1 September, Shopee 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day will begin with daily deals up to 99% off across multiple categories, including fashion, health and beauty, gadgets and electronics, and home and baby products. Users can also enjoy daily giveaways on Shopee’s social media accounts.

“Looking ahead, the future of the Philippines’ e-commerce market is very promising. We are highly confident that 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day will continue to be celebrated as an iconic day that appeals to the needs of the increasing number of online shoppers in the country,” Castillo ended.

Join Shopee in celebrating 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day. For more information, visit http://shopee.ph/99 and download the Shopee app via the App Store or Google Play.

September, 2017 - Another milestone for this Philippine Medical Association approved medical society is the upcoming 3-day convention (September 2-4) with local and international speakers in Crowne Plaza Ortigas. Did we say fellowship night happening on September 2 is full of fun and surprises?

 The Philippine Academy of Aesthetic and Age-Management Medicine (PAAAMMI) is a non-profit medical organization, whose mission and vision is to provide high quality and cost-effective health care service, based on the very early detection, prevention, and reversal of age-related disease processes, and by employing a combination of the medical disciplines in age management, aesthetics, and cosmetics.


Officers for 2016-1017 include the following reputable doctors: Francis M. Decangchon M.D. -  Chairman of the Board, Jane Enriquez, M.D. -  Chairman Emeritus, Board of Directors: James S. Boado, M.D., Elenita Simundac-Daco, M.D. (Deceased), Ma. Rhoda B. Espino, M.D. Alvin M. Jorge, M.D., Charlie H. Mendez, M.D., Maria Ellery M. Mendez, M.D., Yolanda C. Rodil, M.D., Thelma D. Tamayo-Rojas, M.D., Gisela Trajano-Sarmiento, M.D., and Richard Nicomedes R. Sarmiento, M.D.


In each convention, PAAAMMI will equip the attendees with new learnings and knowledge in the Anti-Aging and Age Management fields through the well-prepared presentations and discussions at the plenary lectures. Different international speakers from countries such as Hongkong, Malaysia, Korea, Canada, USA, Switzerland, Aruba, Turkey, Germany, Italy, and   distinguished prime movers in the aesthetics and anti-aging fields from the Philippines will be invited to share their specialties and advancements in this Science of the New Millennium.



These plenary lectures have become a foreground in establishing a good rapport throughout the conventions.   Added features are live demonstrations and workshops presented by the guest speakers and corporate partners. These activities are considered to be a benchmark in the anti-aging and age management practice. It is part of PAAAMMI’s altruistic initiative to further enhance the education amongst the doctors.

PAAAMMI moves forward by refashioning the word and concepts of ‘beauty’ and ‘wellness’ in the coming years. These are lifestyle choices that the patients of our members make in their everyday lives, but with only a cursory knowledge that does not dig deeper beyond image and appearance. PAAMMI will show through extensive research and application how aesthetics, beauty, and personal health should be integrated in order to boost an individual’s inner confidence, vitality, and overall physical attractiveness.

PAAAMMI’s annual conventions will constantly be designed to enhance the camaraderie in the medical community while serving as an avenue to provide updates on medical breakthroughs and advances in technology, thereby promoting the continuing medical education and professional growth of all of members, equipping them further to better serve their patients.  

To inquire, you may contact PAAAMMI secretariat at 0977-806-4659
or visit www.paaammi.org.ph

SM Supermalls launches the 2nd Art For Everyone Art Fair on August 23-27, 2017 and happening simultaneously at different SM Supermalls all over the country. ART FOR EVERYONE features visual artworks by student artists from participating art schools and universities, providing our young and upcoming talents the ideal venue that offers better opportunity for a wider audience beyond art galleries.



Student artists get the rare chance of showcasing their works, a valuable experience for young creatives who are starting to build their careers in the art world. Moreover, to add more value to this experience, the fair offers workshops and talks by educators and established artists in different fields, that will enhance their knowledge and skills in their chosen fields. SM Supermalls provides the booths for free.

This year 2017, SM Supermalls aims to prmote student artists and push for a higher and bigger turn out by extending the art fair to 9 mall venues,
namely:
1. SM Megamall
2. SM Aura
3. SM Mall of Asia
4. SM Dasmarinas
5. SM Baguio
6. SM City Clark
7. SM City Cebu
8. SM City Bacolod
9. SM Lanang (Davao)

ART FOR EVERYONE is produced and organized by SM Supermalls, in partnership with ArtisteSpace, and with the curatorial guidance of Dr. Patrick Flores, curator of UP Vargas Museum, Mr. Peter Natividad, curator of the Lopez Museum and Ms. Louside Marcelino, Instructor at UP Department of Art Studies.

They invited some celebrities to event to design a wall art.

Celebrities together with SM Officials

Glimpse of some of the arts I found at the event

They also caters workshops at the event please check the details below for more information:

On SM Megamall | Painting: Lecture On Drawing and Acrylic or Oil Painting Demo

As bermonth season comes near, we Asians have this feeling of being sick because of the sudden change in climate. This cooler weather also makes germs stronger and more infectious. That is why we need to teach our kids and also us adults some of the tips that we can do to prevent colds and flu spreading.

So I am all set to learn more about those germs and #MalingAkala so lets begin.

I recently got an invite from Safeguard's Science Discovery Launch here in the Philippines, which was located at Ascott Hotel in BGC. The Agenda of this tour/launch is to answer and prove those many wrong assumptions or as we say in Tagalog "Maling Akala" are all wrong and we need to take precautions to stay clean and get away from those germs especially this rainy season where floods and germs is all around. Safeguard teaches us the value of proper hand washing will make a big difference to our family's health.

We were welcomed and briefed by Ms. Carissa Limcaoco Communications Manager at Procter & Gamble, Philippines. She told us a brief history of Safeguard and some of the pre-assumptions or #mailingAkala that we Filipinos lived by. After the briefing, I got excited to wear lab gowns and goggles ( On the side note, I've been dreaming to be a scientist one day when I was still young)  when they handed me the lab gown I felt that I'm a real scientist but kidding aside we were given those lab gowns and goggles to be protected on our tour.

As we enter the house of Safeguard, our first activity is to check the common areas around the house like the center table where we say that already clean and the kids can put their food. Also on the bathroom door.

#MalingAkala no.1: Areas looks clean, therefore, it is clean and safe from germs. 

Mr. Gabriel do the swab test and checked the amount of germs with the use of Adenosine Triphothate or ATP. We are all shocked that there are hundreds of thousand germs that you can get by just touching those areas.This action proves that whenever you go, bacteria and germs are always present. This germ and bacteria are the one causes disease like flu, diarrhea, cough, skin infections.

#MalingAkala no.2: Washing with beauty soaps and just water makes our hands clean.

The next demo, mommy bloggers, learn more about germs. Do you cook for your family? Do you usually use chicken as your main ingredient? If yes, you have to see this.


The petri dish in the middle is a hand of an individual after holding a raw chicken, as you can see there are lots of germs and bacteria specifically salmonella found on the hand. On the lighter note the right side petri dish is where you wash your hand with Safeguard, which is an almost clean hand. Truly Safeguard proves that they can clean your hand by just washing it with their soap.


Here are some more samples if petri dishes. Let me just ask you, are you that kind of person who is just using their beauty soaps for their entire body even on washing hands? If yes, take a look at this petri dish.This is the sample petri dishes which hand was washed by either beauty soaps and other soap bars available here in the Philippines. The rightmost second row petri dish was only washed by water alone. The upper rightmost one was washed by a safeguard. You see the difference? Proper hand washing really cleanses your hand and body also the bar soap you are using is also important. Safeguard is proven to be the best germ killing soap.

Experiment time

Ms. Ong, a Gemologist shows this clear balls the other ball, she pours some brand x soap and on the other is Safeguard. She mixed the soap with the clear ball for a couple of minutes. After that, she washes the balls and show it to us. Brand x balls became opaque in color unlike the ball which uses the Safeguard. This means that there is no soap residue remain in our body when we use Safeguard.

#MalingAkala no.4: Safeguard removes germs and moisture to our skin

Next they advise us to take a spot on their table to test out the gentleness of Safeguard soap compared to other soap. I took two rose petals and placed them each in a petri dish separately. I pour on a safeguard liquid soap to one if the petri dish and the other some brand x soap. I let it sit for a couple minutes, so that the rose petals can absorb the same.


After a couple minutes, here is the result, you can see that on the petals that we use brand x the edges of the turned darker compare to the petal that we use safeguard. In this experiment we compare this rose petal to be our skin, some other brands are really harsh to our skin causing it to be dry.


As a mom we should teach our children the proper hand washing to help avoid spreading of germs and getting sick. We should choose only the best products to help us deal with these germs. For me, I recommend Safeguard on cleaning my family's body.

Manila, Philippines -- A recent Google and Temasek study predicts Filipino online shoppers to grow to 42 million by 2025, spending $19 billion (₱918 billion) and a big contributor to this growth is the rise of smartphone users. Today, 61% of Filipino adults own a smartphone and use their devices to communicate, work, and shop wherever they are, creating more productive days, foregoing Manila traffic, and skipping crowded malls altogether.

Shopee, the leading eCommerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, has leveraged this mobile trend to great success, converting shoppers from buying offline to online by creating a convenient platform that combines the authenticity of a marketplace with payment and logistical support. Shopee has amassed over 4 million downloads in the Philippines and has virtually replicated the traditional shopping experience online, like providing a live chat feature that allows buyers and sellers to communicate directly -- even allowing the very Filipino tradition of “tawad” on the app -- while providing multiple forms of payment including the popular Cash on Delivery option.

“Filipinos typically spend over 3 hours per day online using their mobile devices and are heavy social media users. Shopee users spend 25 minutes daily browsing the app and are highly social, with over 86% of buyers chatting first with the seller before making a purchase compared to only 75% in the other six countries Shopee is present in, mainly attributed to Filipinos wanting to feel more secure about their transactions by speaking personally with sellers. We take these and other user behavior into consideration when improving the platform, prompting us to develop features such as user ratings and reviews, live chat, and Shopee Guarantee, where sellers only receive payments when their buyers have received their orders,” said Macy Castillo, Head of Commercial Business for Shopee.

This focus on elevating customer experience on the platform has resonated well with Filipinos, as Shopee has reached the #1 mobile shopping app spot in the country on both Google Play and the App Store just 2 years since its launch. As more and more tech savvy Filipinos embrace online shopping, Shopee is looking to become the Philippines’ mobile commerce destination of choice, attracting new eCommerce users with its highly intuitive and user-centric platform that integrates social, business, and logistical functionalities.

“We realized early on that payments and logistics was a big barrier for a lot of users wanting to shop online, and we addressed this by giving all our buyers and sellers access to Free Shipping and Cash on Delivery nationwide. Listening and empowering our users has been key to Shopee’s success, and this will continue to be part of our strategy to leading eCommerce in the country,” Castillo added

Everyday is playday as SM City North EDSA, along with 16 other malls, celebrate more than a thousand days of fun for kids and kids at heart!

During the next three months, twenty-five global brands will be launching their latest toy collections in SM City North Edsa. Likewise, more than 35 characters from the various Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Youtube animated stars will tour 16 other malls in a series of shows, and meet and greet sessions.

And the Sylvanian Families, Doraemon, PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig, and Piny Pon lead the way this August.



The fun begins with the launch of the new Sylvanian Families collection of toys and figures at the atrium of The Block at SM City North Edsa on August 15-25. The Sylvanian Families live in the idyllic world of Sylvania and encourage traditional family life play incorporating houses, furniture, accessories, and more.


Kids of all ages will enjoy the Doraemon "I'm Your Hero" Roadventure show, and will be able to Meet and Greet Doraemon, Nobia, Shizuka and their friends on August 21-25 at the Event Center of SM City Manila. They will also have a first glimpse of the newest toys inspired by this Japanese manga series revolving around a Doraemon, robotic cat servant who travels back in time from 22nd century to aid a pre-teen boy named Nobita Nobi.



Join Ryder and his PAW Patrol rescue dogs in an afternoon filled with fun and games at SM City San Mateo on August 21-27. Ryder and his PAW Patrol dogs - each with a specific set of skills based on a real-life profession - work together on missions to protect the shore side community of Adventure Bay.


Peppa Pig fans will be given a rare opportunity to Meet and Greet siblings Peppa and George on August 14-19 at their play park at atrium of the Block at SM City North Edsa. Peppa and George will also visit SM City Taytay on August 21-27, SM City San Mateo on August 21-27 and at SM City BF Paranaque on August 22-28.

Little girls will surely wouldn't want to miss their chance to see new toy collections from Pinny Pon on August 24-29 at SM CIty San Lazaro.

Watchout for more exciting toy launches and events in September. Everyday is Playday at SM Supermalls.

Pizza Hut opens its flagship store at SM Mall of Asia with a new twist of concept for their diners last August 15. This event is graced by the reigning Bb. Pilipinas winners led by Bb. Pilipinas Universe Rachel Peters, their Brand Ambassador, and top executives of Pizza Hut.



Let me just tell you a quick history about Pizza Hut, One day in 1958, two enterprising college students, Frank and Dan Carney, borrowed 600 dollars from their mother and opened a small pizza restaurant in their hometown in Wichita, Kansas. Who would have thought that the meager amount would result into great success?



From its modest beginnings in 1958, Pizza Hut has grown to become the world's largest pizza chain with more than 15,600 restaurants in 90 countries making it the most popular pizza brand in the world.



In the Philippines, Pizza Hut started in 1984. It is now the country's most popular pizza chain serving Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, as well as Visayas and Mindanao with its Dine-In restaurants, Delivery Units, and Express counters. At Pizza Hut, pizza lovers are guaranteed not only of the best-tasting pizza, pasta, and chicken wings but excellent, customer-oriented service and that feeling of being in your own happy place with friends and family. How can competition ever hope to top that?

Right from the start, Pizza Hut has always been known for its penchant for keeping up with the times. For its newly renovated store at SM Mall of Asia, the famed pizza chain is doing away with the rather formal dining experience of yore and switching to an all-new concept of fast casual dining that is easy to access and avail of. "What we are offering in our new flagship store at SM Mall of Asia is a more immediate and less tedious dining concept," says Lorent Adrias, Chief Marketing Officer of Philippine Pizza Inc.



"The move to renovate and make the store in SM Mall of Asia bigger, better and a venue to experience the total pizza experience is also made possible by Pizza Hut's strong partnership with SM Prime Holdings, Inc., SM's mall subsidiary," adds Adrias.






A fast casual dine in store heightens the whole pizza experience with faster ordering and serving services which also means comfort and convenience for its customers. The New Pizza Hut SM MOA also offers new services like a coffee and dessert bar to satisfy dessert cravings and a unique merchandising are where PH fans can purchase limited edition shirts and caps.



The new store can hold as much as 175 people at the same time and features a show kitchen where customers get a first-hand look at how their well-loved pizzas are prepared. Pizza Hut pizzas are guaranteed made fresh everyday.

The new store located at Level 1 Main Mall Entrance also comes with an all-new look inviting, comforting , never intimidating. It should appeal to millennials, aside from the already strong market composed of families, friends and office mates.

For more information, you can follow them on Facebook or at website: www.pizzahut.com.ph