Quick answer: This advertising disclosure explains how AsianPinay labels sponsored content, affiliate links and paid placements so readers always know what is paid. We follow recognised endorsement guidance, keep advertising separate from editorial, and never let payment shape our recommendations.
Key takeaways
- Purpose: to make every commercial relationship transparent.
- What we label: advertising, sponsored content and affiliate links.
- Standard: we follow the FTC endorsement guidance.
- Independence: editorial is decided by our team, never for sale.
- No hidden links: we don’t sell undisclosed or disguised paid links.
Why this disclosure exists
Transparency is the foundation of a publication readers can trust. This page sets out, in plain terms, every way commercial relationships appear on AsianPinay and how we label them, so you can always tell paid content from our independent coverage. It complements our fuller explanation of how we make money, and it applies across the whole site — beauty, culture, OFW life, travel and food alike.
Advertising
Display placements and campaigns booked through advertising are shown as advertising and are visually distinct from our editorial. Advertisers pay for placement and visibility only; they do not influence what our writers cover, and an advertising booking never earns a brand favourable editorial treatment elsewhere on the site. If a product we happen to feature independently is also an advertiser, that is a coincidence of relevance, not a reward for spending — and we would say the same about a product’s shortcomings whether or not the brand advertises with us. We also decline advertising that is misleading or unsuitable for a family lifestyle audience, because accepting it would undermine the very trust that makes any placement worthwhile.
Sponsored content
A sponsored story is produced with a brand and published with a clear “sponsored” label at the top, so it is never mistaken for our own coverage. The label stays visible regardless of how the article is shared or found, and the piece is written to be genuinely useful rather than merely promotional. We aim for a reader to understand within the first moments of arriving that the story is sponsored, without having to hunt for the disclosure. This applies equally to a one-off feature and to sponsored pieces published within a longer partnership: the length of the commercial relationship never softens how clearly it is labelled. A sponsored story a reader trusts because they know exactly what it is remains far more valuable than one that tries to pass as something it isn’t.
Affiliate links
Some articles contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We include affiliate links only where a product is relevant to our readers, and they never change our honest assessment of whether something is worth recommending. Where affiliate links appear, we say so on the page so there is no ambiguity. Crucially, the presence of a commission is never the reason we recommend something: if the best choice for a reader happens to carry no affiliate arrangement at all, that is still the one we will point to. We would rather earn less and keep your trust than tilt a recommendation towards whatever pays us most, because a recommendation you can’t trust is worth nothing to anyone.
Press releases and partnerships
Company-supplied press releases are labelled as announcements, and longer brand partnerships follow the same rules: every paid element is disclosed and kept separate from independent editorial, no matter how long the relationship lasts. A partnership can span many pieces over a year, but each sponsored item within it still carries its own clear label, and none of it earns the partner quieter treatment or softer scrutiny in our independent coverage. The length or value of a commercial relationship never changes how plainly we disclose it; if anything, a longer relationship makes consistent honesty matter more, because trust built over time is easily lost in a single unlabelled placement.
How we label paid content
Our labelling is designed to be noticed, not buried. In practice that means:
- Clear wording such as “sponsored”, “advertisement” or “contains affiliate links”.
- Labels placed where readers will see them, not hidden in small print.
- Consistent treatment across the site.
- Disclosure that survives sharing and syndication.
Our editorial independence
Independent coverage on AsianPinay is decided by our team in line with our editorial policy. Our coverage and recommendations are never for sale. If a commercial arrangement and our honest view ever conflicted, we would keep our honest view and decline the arrangement. This is the single most important commitment on this page, because it is what gives every other word we publish its value.
The standard we follow
Our labelling follows the FTC endorsement guidelines, which set out how paid and affiliate relationships should be disclosed. We treat these as a baseline, not a ceiling, and aim for disclosure that is genuinely clear to a reader rather than merely technically present. Where the honest choice is to say more than the minimum, we say more. A disclosure that technically exists but nobody notices does not really serve the reader, so we care less about ticking a box than about whether an ordinary person would understand, at a glance, that a piece is paid for or contains affiliate links. We would rather err on the side of over-disclosing than leave any room for a reader to feel misled after the fact.
Questions and corrections
If anything on the site is unclear, or you think a disclosure is missing or wrong, please tell us and we will fix it promptly. We would always rather over-explain a relationship than leave a reader guessing, and we welcome being held to the standards set out here. Reader feedback is one of the ways we keep this policy honest in practice rather than just on paper, so if something ever looks unclear to you, it probably deserves a second look from us too.
AsianPinay is an independent Filipina lifestyle publication with a named editorial team and published standards. Learn more via our about page, our team and editorial policy, and see the commercial side explained in how we make money. Reach us on our contact page or at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
What is this advertising disclosure?
It explains how AsianPinay labels advertising, sponsored content and affiliate links so readers always know what is paid.
How do you label sponsored content?
Every sponsored story carries a clear “sponsored” label at the top, distinct from editorial.
What are affiliate links?
Links where we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. We disclose them on the page and they never change our assessment.
Does advertising affect your reviews?
No. Our coverage and recommendations are never for sale; advertising is kept separate and labelled.
What standard do you follow?
We follow the FTC endorsement guidelines as a baseline for clear disclosure.
Do you sell links?
No. We don’t sell undisclosed or disguised paid links of any kind.
How do I report a missing disclosure?
Contact us via the contact page or [email protected] and we will review and correct it.
Does this policy apply to the whole site?
Yes. It applies across every section and to all contributors, whatever the topic.