The digital scroll is fine, but Fujifilm Philippines is making a strong case for the tangible.

For a weekend, the Open House World in Makati transformed into a nostalgic playground for the “In Our Film+ Era” pop-up.

The mission was simple: proving that memories feel better when you can actually hold them.

The stars of the show were the new instax Mini Evo Cinema and the instax Mini Link+, two gadgets designed for the artsy geek who wants their life to look as good on paper as it does on a Pinterest board.

Retro meets technology

The instax Mini Evo Cinema, priced at PhP 22,599, is a total vibe-shifter. With its 10 Eras Dial effects, you can toggle through a hundred different creative combinations.

Then there is the instax Mini Link+ for PhP 8,999, built for the maximalists who refuse to let their best shots die in the camera roll.

This smartphone printer adds AR effects and custom designs, turning digital snapshots into high-aesthetic physical keepsakes.

As Masahiro Uehara, President of FUJIFILM Philippines, put it, the goal is to reimagine how people connect with their memories by blending innovation with raw emotion.

More than just a photo op

The weekend functioned as a masterclass in creativity rather than just a product demo.

On the first day, filmmaker Elyandre Dagli showed the crowd how the Mini Evo works as a powerhouse for documentation and storytelling.

The energy continued the next day with Nica Cosio, who led a session on rubber stamp carving and journaling. Cosio showed how the Mini Link+ bridges the gap between digital tech and old-school scrapbooking.

Artists like Soleil Ignacio, Bryan Sochayseng, and Jill Arteche also dropped by to share how these tools fit into their professional creative workflows, proving that “instant” doesn’t have to mean disposable.

Ready to enter your Film+ era?

If you missed the pop-up, you haven’t missed the tech. The instax Mini Evo Cinema and instax Mini Link+ are officially hitting authorized FUJIFILM dealers nationwide right now.

It’s time to stop scrolling and start collecting.

For the latest updates, you can follow Team Instax on Facebook and Instagram.

AIA Philippines recently hosted its first-ever Rethink Healthy Influencer Summit, bringing together over 200 creators, health experts, and advocates to flip the script on traditional wellness.

The goal was to prove that being healthy isn’t about extreme lifestyle overhauls, but about the small, brave choices we make every day.

The summit follows a recent study by AIA Philippines which shows that Filipinos are becoming more proactive. We are moving away from “enduring” health issues and toward a “ready” approach, understanding that our responsibility to our families starts with taking care of ourselves.

Breaking the “enduring” cycle

One of the biggest hurdles in local healthcare is the tendency to delay care until it becomes an emergency.

MediCard CEO Julian Mengual pointed out that many people wait until a health scare happens before they take action. This “enduring” habit doesn’t just hurt our bodies; it creates a massive financial burden later on.

AIA Life Planner Grace Quinto emphasized that having a plan — whether it’s an emergency fund or insurance — is actually an act of love for your family. It gives you the freedom to seek help early without the fear of draining your savings.

Real talk on mental wellness and burnout

The conversation got vulnerable during the mental wellness session with brand ambassador Wil Dasovich, MindNation co-founder Cat Triviño, and psychologist Dr. Francine Bofill. They tackled the reality of being “high-functioning” while struggling internally.

Wil shared that his most meaningful connections happen when he shows his setbacks, not just his highlight reel. The takeaway was clear: you don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom to ask for help.

Mental wellness should be a regular maintenance thing, not a last resort.

Authenticity over perfection

Celebrity couple Nico Bolzico and Solenn Heussaff joined TikTok’s Charissa Kow to discuss how online content shapes our habits.

Solenn noted that real influence comes from honesty, while Nico reminded everyone that the “perfect” lives we see online are exhausting and, frankly, not real.

By being authentic about their own health journeys, they hope to inspire a culture where people feel empowered to express themselves without the pressure of being flawless.

Strength is about showing up

To close out the summit, Physical: 100 winner Amotti shared a grounded perspective on fitness.

For him, strength isn’t about being the most extreme person in the gym; it’s about consistency. By building simple routines for waking up, eating, and moving, health becomes a natural rhythm rather than a chore.

At the end of the day, the Rethink Healthy movement is about giving you the confidence to start. As AIA Philippines Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Henson put it, the focus is on turning intention into action.

Health is within reach, you just have to take that first brave step.

They say the eyes are the windows to your soul. They never lie.

You can always tell when someone is truly thriving because their eyes radiate a certain spark. A glimmer that suggests they are actually winning at life.

But a doctor I once dated (briefly, for research purposes, mostly) told me that eyes are also a sneak peek into your physical survival. A quick check-up can reveal underlying illnesses before they even knock on your door.

The problem is that hospitals and clinics feel intimidating. Most of us avoid check-ups because we’re terrified of what we might find. Ignorance feels like bliss until reality finally catches up.

When I heard Vision Express (VEX) was reimagining eye care through AI, my inner “orange cat” curiosity took over. I dressed up, booked a ride, and headed to Greenbelt 5 in Makati City to see if technology could make health feel less like a chore and more like… well, a treat.

Sanctuary for my senses

The VEX branch in Greenbelt 5 feels less like an eyewear store and more like a prestige lounge. Even with brands like Dior, Gucci, and Cartier shouting from the shelves, the atmosphere remained inviting.

It lacked that “peasant-profiling” energy you sometimes get in luxury boutiques. I just walked in and gasped at the aesthetic. I’d say I immediately felt at home.

While I waited for the Vision7 program, I detoured to the AI Styling Studio. If we’re being honest, shopping for frames is a high-pressure exercise in self-doubt.

You’re constantly asking, “Does this make my face look too round?” or “Is this too much?”

This AI tool acts like a personal shopper with an objective eye. It’s like ordering McDonald’s at a kiosk, but instead of a chicken sandwich, you get a face shape analysis.

The machine measured my jawline, temple, and the gaps between my eyes with the precision of a fitting for a modeling gig. It concluded I have a round face — or oval, if I tuck my bangs away.

The AI suggested square or rectangular frames. Since I’ve spent years badgering friends to tell me if my sunglasses look okay, having a non-judgmental computer give me the green light was a massive relief.

Seeing the bigger picture

Currently, you can access the full Vision7 program for free. I started by filling out my history on a tablet, feeling very much like an official patient (but a fashionable one).

Dr. Daniel, the optometrist, guided me through the process. As a self-proclaimed “professional yapper,” I quickly learned he was VEX’s top doctor for 2025. His expertise (and, let’s be real, his charm) made the technical bits go down smoothly.

We moved through Objective and Subjective Refraction using their state-of-the-art autorefractometer to check for current eye-grade errors. Thankfully, my vision is still perfect after I stopped wearing correction glasses in 2024.

The three-minute miracle

The real magic happened during the Binocular Vision assessment with VisionPlus. In just three minutes, the system used retinal imaging and machine learning to generate a clinical health report.

I’ll admit, I was nervous. Despite my “perfect” vision, family history is a ghost that haunts your medical charts.

I watched as the AI screened for systemic conditions: hypertension, diabetes, and even early signs of cognitive decline or cardiovascular risks.

Surprisingly, the results came and showed I am “Low Risk” across the board. The system even tagged me as “Very Low Risk” for things as serious as cardiac arrest, provided I maintain my current lifestyle.

The report, which landed instantly in my inbox, gave me tailored advice on diet and sports. It turned out my athletic lifestyle and love for good food weren’t just fun: they were working.

Redefining the retail visit

Unlike traditional checks that only care about your lens prescription, this experience felt like a preventive-health intervention hidden inside a shopping trip.

It proved that an eye exam can be a powerful window into your total health, made easy through clinical-grade AI.

In a world where AI can feel cold or intimidating, this is its most human use case: giving us the clarity to live our lives without fear.

I walked out with a clean bill of health, a clear mind, and yes, I might have lingered just a second longer at the Gucci frames on my way out. After all, I needed to celebrate my health in style.

Try out VisionPlus at Vision Express’s branches at SM Cebu, SM City Cebu, Ayala Cebu, Ayala Glorietta 2, Ayala Greenbelt 5, Ayala One Bonifacio High Street, Ayala Alabang Town Center, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA – The Block, The Podium, and Ortigas Greenhills Mall.