Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket launches Benjarong Phuket – Authentic Thai Cuisine Restaurant

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




Indulge in the delightful tastes and textures of authentic Thai Cuisine nestled in an elegant Thai-style teak house amongst a tropical garden and overlooking a lagoon at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket.

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, a luxurious beach resort on Phuket’s northwest coast, is pleased to announce the soft opening of Benjarong, the Signature Thai restaurant of all Dusit Thani hotels under the Dusit International’s umbrella. Benjarong serves authentic Thai Cuisine crafted from unique recipes passed from generation to generation.

Formerly known as Ruen Thai, Benjarong is an ode to Thailand’s culinary heritage and blends the delicacy of flavours with visual appearance in the form of sophisticated ingredients and artistic presentation. The restaurant’s location is as immaculate as the cuisine served. Benjarong is set in an elegant teak house designed in the Thai tradition, surrounded by gardens, and overlooking the lagoon. The atmosphere is enchanting and refined.

Benjarong aspires to source locally from Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and the northeastern region of Thailand in order to deliver the highest quality seasonal ingredients. The restaurant is pleased to collaborate with farmers and producers in different parts of Thailand who have introduced us to ingredients from the rich biodiversity of the region.

Chef Boonram is at the helm of Benjarong. With over 20 years experience as the chef of Ruen Thai, he uses fresh local ingredients, cooked with authentic methods, to honour the traditional flavours of authentic Thai Cuisine. Previously, under Chef Boonram’s expertise, Ruen Thai was recognised by the MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2019 & 2020 in the category of “The MICHELIN Plate.”

Discover the enticing flavours of signature dishes recommended by the MICHELIN Guide at Benjarong including Mung Korn Lui Fai, Phuket lobster in red curry sauce served with flambé’ or Yum Nue Yang, a Thai-style tenderloin beef salad.

To make a reservation to dine at Benjarong, call +66 (0) 7636 2999 ext. 7310.

The restaurant is open daily from 18:00 - 23:00

It’s Christmas! Get your Superbook Gifts on Shopee and Lazada

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Christmas is fast approaching! Wondering where to get awesome Superbook merch for your Monito and Monita?

Your favorite Superbook goodies are now just a few clicks away on Superbook PH – the official distributor of Superbook items on Shopee and Lazada.

Don’t miss the chance to give your little loved ones the best Christmas gifts!

Add to cart Superbook shirts and hoodies that are perfect for your holiday family matching outfits!

Let them enjoy learning how to write and draw numbers, letters, shapes, and fruits with Superbook Tracing Books, Notebooks, and Notepad Set!

Your whole family can bond together this Christmas over different activities based on Superbook episodes. Get the Superbook Activity Book for kids who like interactive puzzles, activities, and games!

You can also include completing Superbook Jigsaw Puzzles in your holiday family bonding activities. Grab the 4 sets and make it a friendly match on who finishes completing it first!

Superbook bag tags and stickers are also available to complete their back-to-school essentials after the holidays. The best part? You can get these items for a minimum donation of Php 50 only!

What are you waiting for? Be a blessing to your children this Christmas by giving them something that would introduce the greatest gift of all: Jesus!

Visit Superbook PH on Shopee and Lazada and be ready to learn Bible lessons in a fun, interactive, and exciting way.

Have a SUPER merry Christmas!

SSS contribution hike to beef up benefit payments for members

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


The Social Security System (SSS) on Monday said that the 2023 contribution increase would help fund higher benefit disbursements to its members.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Michael G. Regino explained that the four-stage contribution rate hike readies the SSS fund for the future needs of its members.

Starting January 1, 2023, the new contribution rate will be pegged at 14 percent, up by one (1) percentage point from the current 13 percent.

“We have already expanded the benefits to our members such as the unemployment benefit, and maternity benefit under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law (EMLL). Both these benefits, however have no particular source of funding but since 2019, we have continuously given these benefits to our members,” Regino said.

From 2019 until October 2022, SSS has already disbursed P3.78 billion in unemployment benefits to more than 287,000 members.

Likewise, the annual maternity benefit disbursement rose by 78% from P7.07 billion in 2018 to P12.54 billion in 2022.

The SSS Chief also said that the previous contribution increases boosted benefit disbursements for its members.

“From January 2019 to October 2022, we have released P822.86 billion benefits to our members, which is 38% higher than the P596.30 billion benefit disbursements from January 2015 to December 2018 prior to the amendment of the Social Security Law,” he added.

Moreover, Regino said the latest SSS actuarial valuation revealed that the fund life would last until 2054. “The reforms in the contribution rates are among the factors that helped boosted our fund life brought by Republic Act No. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018,” he added.

This is an indicator that the pension fund has enough funds to support the short-term and immediate financial needs of our members and pensioners in the decades to come.

Under the Social Security Act of 2018, SSS should gradually increase the contribution rate until it reaches 15 percent by 2025. The four-tiered contribution increase will ensure the pension fund’s financial viability for the benefit of its members, pensioners, and their beneficiaries.

Under the new rate, employers would shoulder the one (1) percentage point increase for its members with employers. The employee’s share will remain at 4.5 percent, while the employer’s share will increase to 9.5 percent from the current 8.5 percent.

For individual paying members such as self-employed, voluntary, non-working spouse, and OFW members, they will shoulder the whole 14 percent contribution rate since they have no employers.

Moreover, there will be an adjustment to the minimum monthly salary credit (MSC) from P3,000 to P4,000, while the maximum MSC will increase from P25,000 to P30,000.

“The new SSS contribution rate is also a great opportunity to help our members beef up their retirement savings through its mandatory provident fund program or the Worker’s Investment and Savings Program (WISP). We want our members to have a comfortable retirement after their productive years. Every additional peso that a member contributes is more savings for their retirement. This is the principle that we want them to adapt---WORK, SAVE, INVEST, and PROSPER,” Regino concluded.