Meralco Group bags 22 wins at the 19th Philippine Quill Awards

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) emerged as one of the top companies at the recently concluded 19th Philippine Quill Awards after the power distributor bagged 22 wins and the Company of the Year 1st Runner-up award.

Recognized for its internal and external communication programs, the Meralco Group won eight (8) Excellence Awards and 14 Merit Awards for various programs and initiatives on pandemic response centered on health and safety, customer-centricity, service excellence and stakeholder engagement.

“We have always been committed in creating communication plans and programs that help empower our customers and the public, most especially since the pandemic continues to pose challenges in our way of life. These said challenges invigorate us to strive harder because we firmly understand how crucial stable and reliable electricity service is in enabling work-from-home and online distance learning arrangements and in getting our responsibilities done,” said Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga.

“To be recognized as one of the top companies in communications is truly an honor and it pushes us to develop and implement more programs that will benefit our customers, our communities, and our country,” he added.

Among Meralco’s campaigns that received highest awards include those that ensured customers, stakeholders, and employees were protected, healthy and equipped with helpful information against the COVID-19 pandemic. “#AyokoMagViral: A Meralco internal campaign against COVID-19” under the Internal Communication category and “Safety First: Empowering Enterprises to Fight an Invisible Enemy” under the Safety Communication category received Excellence Awards on Communication Management.

Meralco’s initiative to make customer payment process more convenient via the “Fitting the Bill: Meralco makes paying bills easier with the Customer Account Number”, and its relentless efforts to ensure its external stakeholders remain safe and informed despite the pandemic through the “Meralco Power Up Live: Empowering Business Customers Amidst the Pandemic” both won Excellence Awards in the Customer Relations category.

Also recognized with an Excellence Award under the Customer Relations category was the “Safeguard the Economy at All Costs by Waiving Energy Demand Charge” program, which demonstrated Meralco’s efforts to support its business customers amid the global health crisis.

The Company’s push towards sustainable transportation through “Electric Motorcycle Deployment for Meralco Business Center Field Representatives” campaign likewise earned an Excellence Award in the Change Communication category.

Meralco PowerGen Corporation subsidiary Atimonan One Energy, Inc. (A1E), meaenwhile, received two (2) Excellence Awards under the Corporate Social Responsibility category. “Kaisa sa Kabuhayan: Aplaya Sardines Enterprise with Atimonan Fisherfolks” and “Kaisa sa Kalusugan radio health program” are both pandemic response programs that benefitted A1E’s host communities in Quezon province.

One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the company’s social development arm, bagged four (4) Merit awards for “Household Electrification Program: Powering-Up Communities Amidst the Pandemic”, “Meralco One for Trees: Helping Farmers Survive the Pandemic through Sustainable Reforestation”, COVIDCOMMS 2021: Farmers to Frontliners and Marginalized (F2FM) Project: Invigorating the Livelihood of Farmers”, and “Stronger Together-The 2020 MVP Academic Achievement Awards Virtual Ceremony”.

Other Meralco’s initiatives that received Merit citations were the following campaigns: “Unwavering Service and Malasakit amid the Pandemic and May-June 2021 Power Shortage”, “Providing Consumers the Power During Summer”, “Meralco Corporate Partners Viber Community – Engagement When Connectivity is a Must”, “Ensuring our Stakeholders are Informed Despite Social Distancing: Quarterly Operating and Financial Media Briefings”, “Putting Things in Perspective: Meralco Communicates the Upward Trend of Power Rates 2021”, “Meralco’s 2020 Corporate Reports (Power On, Live Life and Give Hope)”, “Biyaheng Meralco: A Virtual Townhall with our CEO”, “Customer Experience Index (CXI): The Case of Meralco Business Centers”, “COVIDCOMMS2021: Meralco’s Facebook Page Keeping the Lights On in the New Normal”, and “MVP: The Man and His Art – A Visual Inventory of Filipino Artistry Gracing the Halls of Philippines’ Major Companies”.

Organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines, the Philippine Quill Awards is considered the country’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication – emphasizing the excellent use of communication in achieving goals and in making a difference in society.

IABC President Belle Tiongco lauded Meralco on its performance, saying: “For as long as I have been involved with the Quills, Meralco has always been a beacon of communications excellence. Meralco is a communicator that prioritizes its role as a mover, a force for good, in Philippine society. That’s a mindset, I believe, that organizations should emulate so that communications can really be a platform for national development. Mabuhay Meralco, for your performance in this year’s Quills.”

This year’s awardees came from a crop of more than 800 entries - the highest in Quill history, according to the IABC, an association of top business, industrial and organization communicators, and professionals that supports the highest professional standards and practice of exceptional quality and innovation in organization and business communication.

PCPPI reinforces food safety system and culture across all plants

Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI)—the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country—is bolstering the company’s food safety culture. It benefits its people and the customers in the long term, following the launch of its food safety education campaign.

PCPPI plants implemented the Talas ng Kaalaman on Food Safety program. It is to strengthen the knowledge of its employees on the standard food safety procedures. The goal is to improve its operations responsibly and sustainably.

“PCPPI is committed to meeting the highest food safety and quality standards. This is the reason we continuously implement programs and workshops that would improve the skills of our people. We ensure that they too become ambassadors of our food safety culture,” said Frederick D. Ong, PCPPI President and CEO.

The information campaign was executed through Facebook, bulletin board posts, and email blasts. It provided comprehensive information about food safety culture. It informed how to fight food fraud, product protection, good manufacturing practices, and allergen management. It also highlighted some of the cleaning practices. These include the pest control process, proper waste disposal, and locker sanitation and maintenance.

Throughout the program, PCPPI conducted random ambush interviews with employees. This is to measure their grasp of the food safety system. It recognized the departments with the cleanest space and well-informed personnel on the importance of food safety.

Aside from this, PCPPI completed the Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) for its Metro Operations Services, Pampanga, Rosario, STRO, Davao, and Bacolod plant. The FSSC is a globally accepted standard. It recognizes companies’ processes that are at par with global standards— from employee selection to production and warehousing. Its goal is to evaluate the systems in place to ensure food safety.

PCPPI also assures that their products are safe for consumption as all PCPPI plants have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) License to Operate. All PCPPI products also have its valid certificate of product registration.

The company also recently completed other third-party food safety and social welfare audits. Some of which are the McDonald's Safe Water System (SWS) and Supplier Quality Management System (SQMS) for the PCPPI San Fernando plant.

PCPPI manufactures and sells well-known brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton, and Premier.

Start a dream game stream with the new Galaxy A Series

In the past, aspiring game streamers had to spend thousands of pesos for a state-of-the-art smartphone, along with other equipment, just to play and gain an online audience. Those who couldn’t invest in high-powered devices had to deal with laggy streams, a low-quality camera, and a screen that didn’t bring out the vibrance of the game.

Thankfully, with a few hacks here and there, it’s possible to have a dream game stream. Here are a few:

Find a niche

The first step to starting a dream stream is to figure out what game to play. Some may recommend popular titles but what’s more important is for the player to select the game he or she is interested in. It doesn’t matter if it’s a niche game that not everyone knows. The goal is to grow a community that enjoys the game as much as the player does. Who knows? This might build curiosity from those who haven’t heard of the title. The important thing for gamers to remember is that a title that they genuinely like makes streams more engaging since viewers also look for their personality and their reactions to what’s happening.

Stick to a schedule

Consistency is key and this applies to streaming, too. Viewers need to know what the schedule is so they know when to return. According to Twitch, an interactive live streaming service, the best time to stream is between midnight to 9 a.m. or on weekends. Once players establish a schedule, viewers can build a habit and become solid fans.

Engage with the community

Streaming is a community where gamers and followers know each other. It’s important to engage with viewers to make them feel welcome. Reply to comments or chat with them while streaming. It’s also advisable to watch other gamers to make new friends and even pick up tips for the next stream.

Have the right device

It’s easy to think that a dream game stream needs a lot of fancy equipment and while it’ll help, a good device is enough for beginners. Consider a smartphone with a powerful processor and 5G connectivity so there won’t be any lags, and a long battery life so there’s no need to charge frequently. A screen that brings out all the colors of the game makes viewing more enticing.

Aspiring streamers can begin their dream live stream and seamlessly play games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang with the new Samsung Galaxy A33, A53, and A73 5G.

The Galaxy A53 and A33 5G are powered by Exynos 1280 processor, while the Galaxy A73 5G is powered by Snapdragon 778G 5G processor. All of these new handsets have 5G connectivity, which improves performance and makes them run faster and smoother. These devices have long-lasting 5,000mAh batteries that allow gamers to stream their game all day.

The 6.7-inch 120Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus Infinity-O Display on the Galaxy A73 5G provides stunning images for game streamers to enjoy an immersive visual experience. Meanwhile, the 6.5-inch 120Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-O display on the Galaxy A53 5G and the 6.4-inch 90Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U display on the Galaxy A33 5G both provide a silky smooth gaming experience.

The A Series has the capability to create high-quality content. The 64MPprimary lens on the Galaxy A53 5G and the 48MPprimary lens on the Galaxy A33 5G make them excellent for capturing high-definition game streams. When it comes to video, the superior VDIS technology on the Galaxy A73 5G captures smooth movies ideal for live streaming and showcasing victory moments to fans. The Galaxy A73 5G also includes a 108MP wide-angle camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) that captures clear and sharp photos even in low light.

The Galaxy A53 5G is now available in Samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores and Authorized Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com and MemoXpress Online at the following prices:

● Galaxy A53 5G (8+256GB) - PHP 25,490 SRP

● Galaxy A53 5G (8+128GB) - PHP 23,490 SRP

● Galaxy A53 5G (6+128GB) - PHP 22,990 SRP (Online Exclusive)

Gamers who want a more affordable gaming phone can check the Galaxy A33 5G, which is also available at the following price points:

● Galaxy A33 5G (8+256GB) - PHP 21, 990 SRP

● Galaxy A33 5G (8+128GB) - PHP 19,990 SRP

● Galaxy A33 5G (6+128GB) - PHP 18,990 SRP (Online Exclusive)

● Galaxy A33 5G (8+128GB) in Awesome White - PHP 19,990 SRP (Online Exclusive)

● Galaxy A33 5G (8+256GB) in Awesome White - PHP 21,990 SRP (Online Exclusive)

Both the Galaxy A53 5G and A33 5G will come in Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue, and Awesome Peach variants.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy A73 5G comes in Awesome Gray, Awesome White, and Awesome Mint, and is now available at the following prices:

● Galaxy A73 5G (8+256GB) - PHP 29, 990 SRP

● Galaxy A73 5G (8+128GB) - PHP 27,990 SRP

● Galaxy A73 5G (6+128GB) - PHP 26,990 SRP (Online Exclusive)

Watch out for more exclusive Mobile Legends offers soon! Visit the official Samsung Philippines Facebook page to learn more.

To know more about the new Galaxy A Series, visit samsung.com/ph.

Safe Samsung Shopping

Health and safety protocols are strictly followed in Samsung Experience Stores to keep consumers and employees safe. Adhering to the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Samsung has implemented the mandatory use of face masks, and performs frequent sanitation in all stores.

Samsung Experience Stores also has unique QR health declaration codes to promote a safe and contactless contact tracing process. Product demonstrations are done side-by-side instead of face-to-face while keeping the required safe distance of one (1) meter to make sure everyone is socially distanced.

To find the nearest Samsung Experience Store, visit samsung.com/ph/samsung-experience-store/locations.

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About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

Transition smartly and level up your face-to-face classes with Rex Education’s Schoology

The education landscape has been forever changed by the pandemic. As we continue to champion education and believe that it evolves and transforms lives, we can expect more and better changes in the future.

Being in the now new normal, going back completely to the way we were does not encourage evolution nor transformation. We have explored so much, stretched our capabilities, challenged old norms, and persevered and persisted. We are moving forward. We take with us the learnings, technology, and innovation of the significant last 2 years and integrate them into an evolved version of an education continuity template, our shield, for the 21st century.

With schools getting ready to transition back to face-to-face classes, Rex Education reminds educators that there are many tools and best practices from their distance learning setup that can help them level up students’ learning experiences inside and outside the classroom. Schoology is one useful and impactful tool.

Schoology is one of the very first learning management systems (LMS) made available to teachers and students to continue their teaching and learning from home when schools were forced to close temporarily in 2020. Because of the demand for LMS during that period, REX expanded the reach of Schoology and the wealth of resources available on the platform. Thousands of teachers and students are now using Schoology as part of their online and distance teaching and learning modalities.

“When we introduced Schoology to the Philippines in 2015, we had an idea in mind that the digital classroom is the classroom of the future. That’s why when the pandemic broke out, we were ready. Schoology created an avenue for seamless learning, without compromising our learners, and playing to the advantage of our learners being digital natives. Today, the digital classroom is the classroom of the now normal.” said Rex Education CEO, Don Timothy Buhain.

Schoology is the digital classroom of today

Returning to face-to-face classes does not mean leaving behind the best practices we have learned from online and distance learning. Schoology was originally designed to augment and enhance the traditional learning setup, not completely replace it, making it the perfect platform to provide 21st-century learning experiences needed to transition students in the now new normal.

Technology cannot be an add-on; it’s a necessity. Flexible learning is not a privilege or an advantage; it’s also a necessity. Certainly, future-proofing our classrooms, although it cannot be perfected, is a reality.

To date, the transition is ongoing and many schools are in different stages in their choice of learning modalities that will fit their learners’ needs. Some may still be designing or experimenting, and some others are already strengthening what they have. Having a trusted partner grounded in sustainability, flexibility, and technology is key in making the transition as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Backed by more than 70 years of expertise, Rex Education and with Schoology could be every school’s ideal partner for the 21st-century classroom.

Schoology makes synchronization seamless. Since many schools have been employing a hybrid learning setup where students go to school in schedules or batches, using Schoology as the primary LMS for each class ensures that all students—both on-site and off-site—are on the same page.

In addition, assessment is made easier with the automated test scoring and consolidation of results through Schoology’s Grade Book. Analytics are readily available for teachers so they may adjust their materials based on the class performance, while parents are able to monitor their children's progress throughout the quarter and the academic year.

Moreover, classroom management and communication are centralized in the platform. Students, teachers, and parents can also monitor the student workload through Workload Planning, and they can be reminded of deadlines using the platform’s Calendar function.

Schoology can be accessed via browser on PC and laptops, or on mobile phones and tablets via the app. As an all-in-one learning platform, it comes packed with features like Personalized Courses, Calendar, Messages, Dropbox, Online Tests, Integrated Apps, Groups, and Grade Book.

“Our partnership with Schoology is just one of REX’s many efforts to fulfill our promise that we go where the learner goes. Our learners’ needs and circumstances are always changing, always evolving; and it is our duty as Edukampyons to be on the cutting-edge of educational innovation so our products and services are always relevant to the 21st-century learner,” revealed Buhain.

Stay updated with Rex Education’s latest releases. Be part of the REX Basic Education Community by registering here. For more information about REX’s Basic Education programs, Schoology and Rex Academy, visit rex.com.ph or contact cicsupport@rex.com.ph.

Mr. Cool to Offer Dealership Package for Only PHP 6,050

The challenges brought about by the pandemic have pushed many businesses around the world to innovate new ways and means to capture their market. While eCommerce continues to prosper in various countries where COVID-19 is getting manageable such as the Philippines, this has paved the way for some other start-up businesses to get recognized and establish a brand that caters to the new needs in this new normal.

With health and safety remaining a top priority amongst households and businesses, the local brand Mr. Cool of Mr. Zolutions, Inc. continues to grow with the expansion of its brand not only in the Philippines but also abroad, specifically in the United States of America. Since its introduction in the market in 2018, Mr. Cool Aromas has been showcasing a strong presence in the market with its in-demand products including car aromas and disinfectants.

Seizing Every Opportunity

“We want our products to be a part of every vehicle not only here in the Philippines, but also abroad. We believe that through this Dealership Package, we will be to help aspiring business minded Filipinos to start their journey with us while we keep to strengthen our presence in the market, and continuously providing our customers with quality products that will keep them safe and happy anytime, anywhere,” Mr. Zolutions, Inc.’s Founder and CEO Mr. Vinson Perea said.

With over half a million bottles already sold in the market since 2018, Mr. Cool is set to achieve

its vision of being a major brand offering unique, relevant, value for money, and high-quality products that have great benefits and satisfaction to customers. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines, Mr. Cool's products are currently available through different physical stores such as Unimart, FamiliyMart, Rapide Auto Service Experts, Total, Petron, and Shell, as well as in popular online channels among Filipinos, Shopee and Lazada.

Mr. Cool also partnered with public and private organizations to provide additional safety and quality scents to their daily operations. These include the Cities of Manila and San Juan, Honda Philippines, and NLEX.

Set to Grow Bigger

“We believe that our products have a great potential to capture the international market, hence this year, we are bullish that we will be able to establish our presence in the US, while our footprint in the Philippines expands through various distributorship programs,” shared Ms. Ma Concepcion Tejada, Founder, and COO of Mr. Zolutions, Inc.

To grow with its customers who have been the brand's greatest ally since its launch, Mr. Cool now offers its Distributor’s Package, which serve as an entry level to start earning through well loved Mr. Cool products. For only PHP6,050, aspiring entrepreneurs can own Mr. Cool’s Dealership Package, which includes top-selling premium items from Mr. Cool and Mr. Fresh Helmet Freshener. Aside from that, training, product knowledge, and salesmanship will also be provided to those who will avail of this package. Marketing collaterals such as testers and tarpaulin are also included to further boost its new partners to establish the brand.

Mr. Cool of Mr. Zolutions, Inc offices at #54 J. Perez St., Project 4, Quezon City, with a production facility in Cupang, Antipolo City, Philippines. To know about Mr. Cool’s Dealership Package, you may contact them at 0917-3181-715. You may also visit their Social Media Channels https://www.facebook.com/THESPAINYOURCAR/ and

https://instagram.com/mr.coolphils?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= . Also we have international, you can visit here at: can visit here at: https://instagram.com/mrcoolinternational?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= and https://www.facebook.com/mrcoolinternational/photos/a.118614580867079/1186145475337 49/?type=3&mibextid=kXE2uo

Shopee, Shopee Xpress partner with Whisper and World Vision to empower young women to #Share The Confidence

MANILA, JULY 28, 2022 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, recently launched the #ShareTheConfidence campaign in partnership with Whisper and World Vision, to educate Filipinos on the importance of menstrual hygiene management. This initiative is part of Shopee Bayanihan, the company's umbrella CSR arm that seeks to provide support for communities in need through partnerships with various humanitarian organizations. 

As part of the campaign, Whisper pledged to match and donate sanitary products for every Whisper product sold on Shopee from May 28 to June 30. Almost 130,000 young women from World Vision’s partner communities all over the Philippines benefitted from the initiative and received sanitary products through the delivery efforts of Shopee Xpress, Shopee’s logistics arm. Apart from raising awareness on proper menstrual hygiene management, the #ShareTheConfidence campaign also aimed to break the stigma around menstrual health and address the issue of period poverty in the Philippines. 

Last July 22, Shopee and its partners culminated the #ShareTheConfidence campaign with an on-site event in Laurel, Batangas to turn over Whisper sanitary pads to over 85,000 beneficiaries within the area. 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared “Everything we do at Shopee goes back to our main mission of serving the underserved through our technology. We are humbled to partner with Whisper and World Vision to empower Filipinas in need. We look forward to maximizing our platform to deliver even more meaningful initiatives that will benefit communities all over the Philippines.”

With Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee furthers its objective to make e-commerce for everyone by helping communities benefit from the power of digital transformation wherever they are in the Philippines. 

Local Brand Makes Sabon Refilling Possible

There is a global call from environment advocates to urge multinational companies and leading brands of consumer goods to lessen use of plastics in their product packaging by refilling. It is yet to happen.

However, a local brand called SABON EXPRESS, has joined the global reuse and refill revolution to spur a transition to a plastic-free future. Its founder and Chairman, Mellany Zambrano, believes it is time to shift consumer behavior and habits when it comes to buying household products.

SABON EXPRESS, an innovative consumer goods brand and franchisable store chain, is paving the way for locally manufactured liquid soaps and detergents to have strong foothold in the market with its first-of-its-kind mechanized and automated ‘sabon’ refilling stations that allow consumers to have a refill of highly essential and consumable household products like dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, fabric conditioner, liquid hand soap, car shampoo, reusing their own bottles and containers – in a hygienic way.

SABON EXPRESS dubbed as The Refill Authority, is trailblazing a more appropriate way of sabon refilling – one that does not require the ‘tindera” to use “tabo” or dipper to fetch products from the drum to manually refill bottles, which is a current practice of most local sabon refilling stores in the country. Said manual process potentially contaminates products and makes refilling messy and unhygienic. Sabon Express recently launched its liquid soap dispensing unit at the ZeroWaste Bazaar in Uptown Mall BGC Taguig last July 18-21 – as the first and only automated and hygienic sabon refilling station in the country.

The Zero Waste Bazaar is in celebration of Plastic-Free July, a collaborative event of Ecowaste Coalition of the Philippines, Greenpeace Philippines, Mother Earth Foundation, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Health Care Without Harm together with Break Free from Plastic, Oceana Philippines International, and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls. It showcased a photo exhibit and bazaar featuring art and eco-friendly stores to make plastic-free Pilipinas a reality.

SABON EXPRESS strongly advocates for “a world with less plastic” by promoting the reuse of plastic containers for household products via its conceptual and innovative hygienic ‘sabon’ refill dispensing unit in all its stores which comes in both manual and automated machines – a game changer in the local ‘sabon’ refilling industry.

With a vision to serve the country’s increasingly demanding market at scale, Sabon Express is committed to continuous research and development and is being assisted by the Department of Science and Technology’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) for further product development, technical advancement and good manufacturing technology and processes.

“At Sabon Express, we are always looking for ways to innovate in order to serve our consumers better and to help save the environment in our own little way because our business is advocacy-driven”, says Mellany Zambrano.

Open for franchise, distribution and reselling

Among the signature products of Sabon Express are the Deesh dishwashing liquid, Lanza fabric conditioner, Hush hand soap, Savonex multipurpose cleaner, SoFresh washing machine tub cleaner, Glim glass cleaner, Switch liquid detergent, Vorox toilet care, and CarZ car care.

Sabon Express ALL-IN franchise+ package is worth P388,000 which includes Sabon refill dispensing machine, store fabrication and installation, display racks and counter table, store signages, P50,000 worth of initial product inventory, product marketing/sales training, and more.

For franchise, distribution and reselling inquiries, call Sabon Express hotlines: 0919-0967602/0970-5614670/0965-6912553 or visit their office at 1023 10thFloor, City & Land Mega Plaza, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City.

AD ASIA EVENTS AND OKADA MANILA SEALED A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE 6TH WORLD TRAVEL EXPO MANILA 2022

AD ASIA CONVENTIONS & EXHIBITIONS INTERNATIONAL CORP. (AD ASIA EVENTS) partnered with TIGER RESORT, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (OKADA MANILA) on its 6th year installation of the much awaited travel event, THE WORLD TRAVEL EXPO.

AD ASIA EVENTS, the organizer of the said expo has chosen the CRYSTAL CORRIDOR of OKADA MANILA to be this year’s official venue occupying 5,758sqm space consisting of 200 booths on display.

WORLD TRAVEL EXPO, is an annual event for both local and international tourism industry in the country, bringing together various tourism organizations and hospitality industry players to become the one-stop shop of travel enthusiasts for all their needs. And on its comeback to physical event, has becoming BIGGER and more INFLUENTIAL, started with its new home, OKADA MANILA, touted as Manila’s grand icon and the biggest integrated resort in the Philippines to date. It is a premier entertainment and gaming destination.

Okada Manila has been recognized as a Forbes five-star integrated resort by Forbes Travel Guide for three straight years (2019 to 2022), known for its top-tier facilities and exemplary service that personifies the unique blend of Japanese hospitality and Filipino warmth. From the luxurious hotel rooms to an exciting array of dining options, a premium Retail Boulevard, the largest and most exciting gaming floors, Okada Manila is one of the key drivers in Philippine tourism industry. Okada Manila is also home to the world’s largest multi-color musical and dancing fountain and the one-of-a-kind indoor night club and beach club, the magnificent Cove Manila.

Moreover, OKADA MANILA will offer wide range of amenities to the WTE2022 Sponsors, exhibitors and guests such as free parking, excellent Wi-Fi connection, and shuttle service to main pick-up points, providing a more convenient transportation as they visit the expo.

Likewise, the WORLD TRAVEL EXPO will prepare a better line up of amazing travel promos, deals, and packages that will help the visitors of the event achieve their best vacation without all the hassle!

The expo will run on October 21 -23, 2022 from 11am to 9pm. Evening visitors will get to witness the Fountain’s hourly shows beginning at 6 pm daily, which will be an additional attraction to the event.

Check out WORLD TRAVEL EXPO through its Facebook page: htt..m/worldtravelexpoph for more details

L-R: Mr. Carlo Baldonido, Senior Manager for Destination Marketing & Partnership- Okada Manila;  Ms. Miles Caballero, Managing Director - Ad Asia Events; Ms. Wendy Ni- VP of Strategic Marketing - Okada  Manila ; Mr. Alvaro Ramos - AVP of Retail Okada Manila

Shopee Apprentice Program Upskills Young Emergent Leaders

MANILA, JUNE 30, 2022 - By 2030, the digital economy is projected to generate up to PHP 5 trillion (USD 101.3 billion) in economic value in the Philippines. With e-commerce set to become a key pillar of the economy in the near future, there lies an opportunity to develop emerging tech talents to support this rapid growth. Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, recognizes the need to upskill young Filipino talents and mold them to become tech leaders of tomorrow through its Shopee Apprentice Program. 

Open to top university students, the Shopee Apprentice Program aims to develop future leaders in the tech industry by equipping them with critical skills such as problem solving, effective communication, and adapting to a fast-paced working environment. Throughout the duration of the internship, Apprentices are immersed in Shopee’s collaborative work culture. They are given the chance to gain firsthand experience working on impactful large-scale projects in the e-commerce and digital finance industry. Apart from the exposure and valuable work experience, Apprentices can also expect to receive guidance and mentorship from Shopee’s top leaders as their internship journey progresses. Upon completion of the program, successful Apprentices have the option to join an accelerated track for the Global Leaders Program, Shopee’s 2-year flagship graduate program for young professionals. 

This year’s batch of Apprentices is a diverse mix of top students from prestigious local and international universities. To mark the beginning of their internship journey, the Apprentices were welcomed with an on-site event held at the Shopee office. The gathering allowed them to get to know one another, and hear the advice and testimonials from Apprentice Program alumni and mentors. Through their sharing, they were able to get an idea of what is in store for them and what to expect, as they embark on their rigorous internship journey. 

Karen Perez, Head of People at Shopee Philippines, shared “The Shopee Apprentice Program is a testament to our commitment to developing leaders of tomorrow. We look forward to maximizing our platform to provide even more opportunities to hone the skills of young tech talents,  even at the career preparation stage.”

The impending growth of the local tech industry emphasizes the need to develop and prepare young tech talent. To support this growth, Shopee is always on the lookout for young Filipinos interested in becoming drivers of growth in the tech industry. Learn more about how you can become an apprentice today and a leader tomorrow, by visiting: https://careers.shopee.ph/apprenticeprogram/.

Jollibee Group and Yoshinoya International hold partnership ceremony

The Jollibee Group and Yoshinoya International hailed its partnership in a ceremony that culminated in a beef bowl toast led by Jollibee Group President & CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong (front row, 3rd from left), Asia Yoshinoya CEO Tetsuya Naruse (front row, 4th from left), Jollibee Group President for Philippine Business Joseph Tanbuntiong (front row, 2ndfrom left), and Jollibee Group Chief Real Estate and Design Officer William Tan Untiong (back row, 3rd from left).

 The Jollibee Group welcomed Yoshinoya International executives in a Partnership Ceremony on June 25 to celebrate their collaboration that will bring the authentic Yoshinoya Japan beef bowl experience to the Philippines.

Yoshinoya, Japan’s world-famous Beef Bowl Chain, is the first foray into Japanese food by the Jollibee Group. Jollibee Foods Corporation formed a joint venture with Yoshinoya International Philippines Inc. (“Yoshinoya International”) to operate the Yoshinoya stores in the country, with plans to expand to 50 stores in the long term.

The Yoshinoya International executives who attended the private ceremony were Tetsuya Naruse, CEO of Asia Yoshinoya International Sdn Bhd (“Asia Yoshinoya”); Shigekazu Miyata, President of Yoshinoya International; and Shigeo Kurokawa, Director of Yoshinoya International.

Asia Yoshinoya CEO Tetsuya Naruse hailed its partnership with the Jollibee Group during the partnership ceremony. “In the history of Yoshinoya, I can say that we have never encountered a company such as yours. I’ve met the best partners that we could work with and I’m really looking forward to this partnership.”

"We would like to thank Yoshinoya International for partnering with Jollibee Group. Together, under Yoshinoya Jollibee Foods Inc., we will grow and expand Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and we will work hard to make it the No. 1 Japanese restaurant in the country," said Joseph Tanbuntiong, President for Philippine Business of the Jollibee Group.

In a disclosure released in February 2021, the Jollibee Group said it aims to be the leading market developer of foreign restaurant brands in the country, as these foreign franchised brands are expected to contribute to the sustainable growth of its domestic business.  Jollibee Group continues to see the success of brands like Burger King, Panda Express, and PHO24 and will apply the same success drivers in expanding Yoshinoya.

Partnership for success

Like the humble beginnings of the Jollibee Group, Yoshinoya started as a family-run shop located at Nihonbashi Fish Market in Tokyo. Today, Yoshinoya has more than 2,000 global locations.

“Our dreams to make it big one day in our respective markets have driven Yoshinoya and the Jollibee Group to continuously work hard and always strive for excellence,” said Tanbuntiong. “With similar values and a true love for great tasting food, we see a strong foundation for success in this partnership.”

“I met Jollibee Group Founder and Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong, and after our conversation, I concluded that there is no other company that we would like to do this partnership with. And although some years have passed since then, we have reached this moment today and it’s all thanks to all your efforts,” added Naruse.

“Part of who we are in Yoshinoya Holdings is being ‘For the People,’ which means reaching as many people as possible with our tasty and value-for-money food—this is also what the Jollibee Group is all about. I look forward to working well together and I commit that we in Yoshinoya will give our full support to the Jollibee Group,” he added.

Now ready to serve the same superior tasting and authentic Japanese Beef Bowls, Yoshinoya is set for its grand opening slated this July.

# # #

About Jollibee Group

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. It operates in 34 countries, with over 6,200 stores globally with branches in the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People's Republic of China, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Panama, Malaysia, South Korea, and India.

Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); six franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, PHO24, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines; Dunkin' and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee and PHO24;and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand.

Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 90% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that ultimately owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. It also has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. Jollibee Group also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' most admired company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. In 2020, Gallup awarded the Jollibee Group with the Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the first Philippine-based company to receive the distinction.

Jollibee Group has grown brands that bring delightful dining experiences to its customers worldwide, thus spreading the joy of eating to everyone.

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

Travelling in 2022

June 30 was our first International travel within the norms of complying Covid 19 precautionary requirements. It's tough wearing a mask from June 30 to July 3. Well after July 3, people around us do not wear masks so we had to stop wearing too. We're all vaccinated. Sometimes it's scary but knowing the protocols were strict upon entry to this country we're in, I guess it won't be Covid19 that'll kill us but something else.. hahahaha..

Kidding aside, we know people here don't see covid19 as a threat but something else. And everything has divine reasons and purposes... 

In Sha Allah... 

Oh, and sunscreen is very important...

Fitness—and wellness—the perfect gift for the man of the house

We have always tried to think of many things to give the man of the house—Father, Daddy, Dada, Papa, Tatay—that one perfect gift every time there’s a special occasion, whether it’s his birthday, Father’s Day, wedding anniversary or Christmas. Mostly, these are functional items like clothes, leather goods such as a wallet, belt or footwear, and in this age of digitalization, digital devices, if the budget fits.

But how about taking the gift-giving thing up a notch, something that the man of the house can truly appreciate? Like fitness, for example. He can’t eat or use it just like traditional gifts, but he can certainly reap tons of benefits from it.

Our Dads are the ones who usually tire themselves out just to be able to work and provide for the family and as such, may be prone to certain ailments because of lack of exercise, an activity that will help fortify his body in the most natural way. And this is where Kwun Tong, Taiwan-based Johnson Fitness comes to the fore.

Taiwan Excellence Award winner Johnson Fitness is certainly not your ordinary line of commercial and home fitness equipment. Yes, they resemble the most common of fitness apparatus in the market, but what Johnson Fitness promises is to make exercise to achieve fitness in body and mind more fun, hassle-free and totally enjoyable for that complete workout experience at home or at the gym.

The Johnson Fitness line include various fitness and wellness brands such as the Matrix, Horizon and Vision, all state-of-the-art training equipment composed mainly of treadmills, elliptical machines, exercise bikes, and other strength and functional training systems like climbmills (for the commercial equipment category).

The Johnson Fitness treadmills, for example, are true sights to behold, definitely a must-have for home or small neighborhood gyms or robust training centers. The treadmills come with built-in Bluetooth speakers to make running totally enjoyable, whether playing music, movies and TV series even without headphones.

They also come with clear and precise workout feedback information that includes distance, calories, time, speed, heart rate and incline, and also allows connection via Bluetooth to heart rate monitors and popular fitness apps. For Dads who want to track the progress of their exercise regimen, these features really do come in handy.

Or if Dad has his personalized entertainment fare, the Johnson Fitness treadmills come with a smart device holder to keep smartphones, tablets, even water bottles, and more in good view and easy to reach.

Best of all, when not in use at home, the Johnson Fitness treadmill deck folds vertically to save space when not in use.

Selecting gifts for a loved one like Dad on important dates used to be nerve-wracking, but not anymore. Thanks to Johnson Fitness, and the decision-making just got easier.

https://fb.watch/dXqiZ7x-5Z/

Shopee expands hubs in Visayas to deliver a better shopping experience to Filipinos

Cebuano shoppers can now enjoy faster delivery and better deals. Hear about the highlights of their e-commerce journey with Shopee.

MANILA, JUNE 7, 2022 - For many Filipinos, online shopping has become an integral part of their daily lives, as they continue to enjoy the numerous benefits of e-commerce. Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, recently launched a slew of initiatives with the aim of bringing a fun and seamless online shopping experience to even more Filipinos across the country. Part of Shopee’s efforts includes the continued expansion of its Shopee Xpress hubs across the Visayas region. By establishing more hubs in Cebu City, Bogo, Moalboal, and other areas in Visayas, Shopee has expanded its serviceable areas, allowing Visayan shoppers to  enjoy a wider product assortment, as well as faster and cheaper delivery. 

Through this expansion, Shopee was also able to introduce Visayas Barato Deals—special offers, shipping discounts, and more promos exclusively for Bisaya shoppers, in line with the launch of its 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale. “We have always believed in the transformative power of technology to connect buyers and sellers within the community, no matter where they are. By expanding our serviceable areas within the Visayas region, we aim to give our Visayan shoppers a seamless online shopping experience at Shopee, as we go through every step of this exciting e-commerce journey together,” shared Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines.  

In line with these efforts to improve the overall online shopping experience for Filipinos across the country, four Cebuano shoppers shared about the benefits they’ve enjoyed throughout their e-commerce journey with Shopee.

A rewarding shopping experience that offers great value for money

Grashelle, 35, became an online shopper  when she found out she was pregnant. As an expectant mother, online shopping made things more convenient, and with Shopee, she was able to get the best deals. “Cebuanos like myself generally look for products that offer the best value for money. With its lower shipping fees, cheaper prices, and wide variety of products, Shopee has become my e-commerce platform of choice. Compared to when I first started shopping on Shopee, I noticed that shipping in Cebu has gotten faster, and that makes everything even more convenient.”

Online shopping made easy and fun

With his tight schedule as a physical therapist, Vincent, 27, needed an easier way to shop, and that’s when he discovered Shopee. “Once I got the hang of using the Shopee app, everything else followed. Apart from shopping, I got hooked on the games, especially Shopee Bubble and Shopee Candy. Shopee not only gives me a convenient way to shop, it’s also a fun in-app experience with all the games, flash deals, and more.”

Patricia, 26, started shopping online in  2017 after hearing about all its benefits from her friends, and she has been a Shopee user ever since. From pet care needs to fashion finds, she always has a great time shopping on Shopee. “My favorite part about Shopee is the excitement you get when you’re waiting for your parcel. I check the status of my order every day  because I love the feeling of anticipation when waiting for my Shopee parcel to arrive. It’s also fun to window shop online, and add items to my cart that I can’t wait to check out.”

Bigger discounts and better deals on Double Day sales

As an enthusiast of custom PC building, Ernest, 19, purchases all his PC parts and tech needs on Shopee. Since most of his orders are electronics, he often shops during the Double Day sales so he can get bigger discounts and exclusive vouchers. “With the upcoming 7.7 Mid-Year Sale, I’m looking forward to the lower shipping fees in Visayas, since it used to be more expensive in Cebu. I’ve always been a big Shopee fan and with my experience through the years, I’ve been able to find everything I need and save more with Shopee’s deals and offers.” 

Don’t miss exclusive shipping discounts, 10% off vouchers, ₱66 and ₱77 deals, and more at Shopee’s 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale!

Global Women Empowerment Summit 2021’s Manila Leg to take Place on June 4 to 6, 2022

With its aim to empower women from all over the world to discuss and solve women's issues in a non-political way, as well as to honor women champions, showcase women's skills, and motivate more women of any race and color to win all challenges in life and become an inspiration to mankind, the Global Women Empowerment Summit (GWES) 2021’s Manila leg is set to take place on June 4 to 6, 2022 at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

The event is set to showcase “The Best of the Philippines” through a series of forum and activities including immersive pocket events highlighted by the presence of Her Royal Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Khalifa Al Khalifa of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, who will be the Royal Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker.

Honorable Pasay City Mayor Ms. Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano will open the event joined by Marriott Hotel Manila’s General Manager Mr. Bruce Winton, and GWES Overall Chairperson and CEO Ms. Love Charmaine Uychoco.

The Global Women Empowerment Summit 2021 was officially appointed to Afro Asian World Events, the MICE Division of Afro Asian Travel and Tours, Inc., a leading DMC in the Philippines. They will be the Philippine Ground Handler and Business Event Management Company for the 2021 edition of the Global Women Empowerment Summit. This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines, Informatics, Ralphs Wine, Le Charm Suites, and Distelleria Limtuaco.

For the latest news, updates, and other information, you find Global Women Empowerment Summit's official Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/globalwomenempowermentsummit.

Surviving The Trip

Since coming home last year, I have lived on our farm because it felt safer for me. I was "Praning 100%". I was always afraid to go out. When I do, I would almost always stay in our car. To me, it felt like the safest place I could be when I am in the city with my family. This year however, I have slowly walked in and through the grocery and other stores, but still with double masks and a hygiene kit in hand. Then a few days ago, my sister and I flew to Manila and returned home two days after. I survived the trip. I wasn't scared that much anymore. Before the trip, we had our RTPCR tests and coming home too. On this trip we rode a bus, taxi, airplane and boy, people can be very scary with their habits, but we survived. Thank God!

Almost all of the countries in the world have opened up for tourism but there are still risks and people still worry about their health and security especially that Covid 19 isn't totally gone. It was a hard hit for the economy as lots of businesses closed and declared bankruptcy. During the lockdowns, many lost their jobs and some became homeless. Others opted to live in their cars to save on rent and amortization. While some sold their extra cars and vehicles, others started buying new or used cars just to make sure they can survive. While there are some help from NGOs and the government, it still is everyone's desire to be able to stand on our own. That gives us dignity despite the circumstances.

Moving forward, we are now at a phase where everything is slowly going better than 2020. Businesses have started opening again, and the jobless now found jobs. With this new happenings, and with Covid 19 still waiving hello everywhere we go, it is a good idea to have your own ride to anywhere you want or need to go. And with this in mind, CarPaymentCalculator.net can help a lot in everything related to buying cars, especially if we are not buying them cash. The site has  instantly appearing calculation results, the ability to calculate car price that fits a monthly payment or loan payment amounts, plus printable amortization schedules, and many other features like figuring your MPG, exploring the cost of underwater trade ins, and saving money on biweekly payments. I am sure when we talk about payments, you'd like many option to choose from that will suit your needs and capacity based perhaps on your income or resources. I know I do. There are other features that you just have to check out to find out more.

Now, if buying a car isn't your thing, you can just visit the site and play arcade games online. That's actually what kept me sane while waiting. The queue at the airline checkin as well as the taxi queue drove me nuts plus the heat. Playing games online made me calm until we had our turn.

From 30% off on Dyson products to 56% off discounts at OPPO, here’s the ultimate guide to the most exciting brand deals that await at Shopee’s 5.5 Brands Festival!

Enjoy bigger savings when you shop your favorite brands on Shopee this May 5, with 50% off brand bundles, 10% off daily discounts, free shipping with ₱0 min. spend, and sitewide free shipping w/ ₱199 min. spend.

MANILA, MAY 2, 2022 - Your favorite brands are about to treat you with incredible discounts at the Shopee 5.5 Brands Festival! This May 5, shop to your heart's content from a wide selection of brand items, so you can upgrade your gadgets, stock up on essentials, and acquire trendy fashion pieces – all at the best value for money.

Don’t know where to start? Luckily for you, we’ve compiled some of the most sought-after deals that you can add to cart as early as now: 

Self-Care Staples

Pamper yourself with skincare essentials, supplements, and more with up to 50% off from Unilever, P&G Beauty, Colgate-Palmolive.

Pantry Essentials

Stock up on goodies for the whole family and save money on groceries with up to 20% from Nestlé Store, up to 50% from Equal Philippines, and up to 16% off from Quaker.

Fashion Finds

Stay on-trend wherever you go with these eye-catching clothes, accessories, and more with up to 80% off on Metrosunnies, up to 70% off on PUMA, and up to 90% off from Silver Kingdom.

Home & Living Bargains

Check out home appliances and kitchen essentials to spruce up your home and enjoy deals up to 60% off from Chef Classics, up to 75% off from Deerma, and up to 30% from Dyson.

Parenting Must-Haves

Score the best deals on diapers, vitamins, and milk formula from mom-approved brands with up to 25% from Pampers, up to 32% from Abbott Philippines, up to 50% from GSK, and up to 65% off from Philips Avent.

Gadget Steals

Reward yourself for working hard with these brand new mobile phones and gadgets from trusted tech brands with up to 56% off from OPPO, a Shopee-exclusive launch of the new realme 9 Pro+ Free Fire Edition, up to 15% off from Infinix, and up to 90% off from Zeus.ph.

Grab these limited ₱1 deals you can’t miss out on

Enjoy deals as low as ₱1 for a limited time only! Look fresh and summer-ready with these All-Match Hair Ties. Don’t forget to stock up on Non-Slip Socks that are wardrobe basics. Achieve that summer look by grabbing this Keratin Hair Therapy Chocolate Mask to help you achieve that smooth, silky hair. Lastly, accessorize your vehicle with Reflective Safety Warning Stickers that are water-resistant and highly-reflective, keeping you safe wherever you go. 

Make sure to also cash in your ShopeePay so that you can treat yourself with your ultimate comfort food and satisfy your cravings for only ₱1. Score the best deals from our merchants like Bonchon’s Strawberry Oreo Bingsu, Potato Corner's Adobo Regular Fries, and Gong Cha’s BTS x Built NY Tumbler. On top of these, you can also look forward to more offers from Puregold, National Book Store, and more! Don’t forget to check out these exciting piso deals at https://shopee.ph/m/shopeepay-near-me via Shopee App.

Find The Perfect Brand Bundle For You 

Shopee is making it easier and more rewarding for users to stock up on their favorite brand products with 50% off bundles, so now’s your chance to try that new skincare set and replenish your supply of home essentials!

Visit the 5.5 Brands Festival page to learn more. 

Win Up To ₱1,000,000 with ShopeePay Milyonaryo

Continue the excitement with ShopeePay! Join the ShopeePay Milyonaryo promo from May 1-4 and get a chance to win ₱1,000,000 by sending money for free with ShopeePay —enjoy instant transfers to any bank, e-wallet or Shopee user with no hidden fees. To qualify, simply go to your Shopee App, register via ShopeePay Milyonaryo, and start sending money. If you're a new user, you will also receive a P200 bonus when you register here and send at least P50 to any bank, e-wallet, or Shopee user for the first time on May 5. On top of the convenient send money feature, you can also look forward to more offers when you use ShopeePay for your load and bills payment needs. Get up to 50% off on load across all networks and up to 100% cashback on your monthly bills from over 60 billers. Activate ShopeePay now for a more rewarding experience. 

Get the chance to win ₱25,000 with #MrandMsShopeeMall

Shopee is giving users even more rewards to look forward to this 5.5 Brands Festival! With the #MrandMsShopeeMall raffle, users get the chance to be one of the two lucky winners of ₱25,000 cash and be featured on Shopee Philippines' Facebook page. To join, simply post a video of yourself striking a winning pose to Facebook or Instagram Stories using the #MrAndMsShopeeMall filter. Check the full mechanics here: https://shp.ee/5c2qmrz. Entries will be accepted until May 7, 2022, so act fast!

EXPECT ESPORTS TO CLICK FURTHER IN THE PHILIPPINES

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the year 2021 was sort of a banner year for the Philippines regarding its participation in various electronic sports (Esports) events, either locally or internationally, where Pinoy players have dominated the majority of these competitions.

No wonder, with the lucrative money prizes and distinctions that await esports athletes, the esports market in the country grew further. And since smartphones continue to become the ubiquitous gadget for Filipinos, coupled with improving mobile internet connectivity, expect esports to continue to attract youngsters to the esports arena.

One such esports team is “Virgin Souls.”

“Our team was named ‘Virgin Souls’ because we have a business called ‘Virgin Soles,’ which is a sneaker cleaning product. We loved the name ‘Virgin Souls’ because we wanted to show the other teams our ‘clean and smooth moves,’” explains Ingrid, team manager of Virgin Souls, whose members include Jetson Ignacio, Kharl Tan, Kristofer Calderon, Joshua Albino, Steven Buenaventura, Mark Cabigting, and Coach, Laurence Ruiz.

Initially, recruitment requirements for team members were not really that high because it was what she called a “passion project.” However, after a few months, they started to become strict when they added Banting, one of the country’s top tanks, to the team, a child prodigy since he was only 16 years old. They made some changes to the requirements for inclusion to the team, such as high points, that recruits have to go through the process in choosing players. “What we did was we held tryouts and recruits were made to answer certain interview questions to gauge their attitude, and then we interviewed them. And we didn’t set any age requirement as long as they are dexterous enough to play the game.”

She explained the choice of Goyo, who is 22, as the team captain, who was chosen because of his maturity to lead the team, someone the other team members can refer to as their “kuya.”

Why esports?

It was her little brother’s dream, says Ingrid, to be part of a pro team, and it was hers and her partner’s passion since he is a co-owner of the TNC Pro Team so she decided to form an amateur one. “For a professional team, the pressure is much higher, same with the costs, but the prizes are bigger. With an amateur team, the risks are also high. It’s really about investing time, resources because the competition field is much bigger and the chances of winning are smaller.”

Challenges abound

The first challenge they faced, according to Ingrid, was the recruitment, which is more skills-based. On the first stage, she said, it’s all about skills, and then after that the interview for their attitude, though that can’t be gauged immediately. By the time they went to boot camp, that’s where they saw who they really were. “Because they’re young, we saw their immaturity, their difficulty in dealing with other people, and the pandemic somewhat affected their social skills. We had to adjust things while they were at boot camp, and taught them how to go along with other people,” she said.

But what she was glad about was that the majority of the players have supportive parents who wanted to support their child’s dream, although they had difficulty with some, like that of Haru, one of the players, who had a super strict guardian. “That was understandable so we had to explain that their children are safe with us, so we put in place protocols like regular Covid-19 testing every month.”

For one of the team members, he said it was difficult to be away from his family, his child, but he needs to do it to fulfill his dreams and to prove himself that he feels the need to be better. His sentiments were echoed by the other team members, who all shared that what they’re doing is for the fulfillment of their dreams, and of course the bonding time with teammates is necessary to fight homesickness.

Ingrid is also proud that their team members, mostly students, still managed to excel in school despite their busy schedule in training. It all boils down to time management, she said, because she doesn’t want the players to neglect their studies since education is still important. “They’re not different from traditional sports athletes where they have to maintain good grades because we don’t want people to think that esports is a hindrance to their studies.”

Legislative action

The idea of identifying esports players as “athletes” much like in traditional sports, was the reason why Ingrid joined the party list CLICK, or Computer Literacy, Innovation, Connectivity and Knowledge, since one of their major platforms is on esports, where they want to help the kids gain recognition as athletes, for esports to be respected. “We believe CLICK can help us and other teams achieve that level of respect, that they will help the esports scene. They’re the only partylist that devotes time to support esports, and have future projects related to its development. It’s nice to know that there’s a group such as CLICK as a partner of the esports community.”

The future of esports with CLICK’s help

With CLICK’s help, Ingrid believes that esports will become a viable option for kids who want to pursue an esports career. As of now, she said, those venturing into esports are still very few, and fewer parents believe in it. “With the help of CLICK, I think they will be able to help us shape the future generation who are more open to go into esports, especially parents. Once CLICK is elected into Congress, they can come up with laws for its further development and support during competitions, especially regarding travel requirements. With the help of CLICK, we hope they can make parents understand that esports is not just a game and it’s not just a waste of time. I think CLICK can help us change that perspective.”

It is all about making the right CLICK through technology. The esports community have chosen CLICK as their partylist of choice. So, be ready to choose CLICK, No. 40 on the ballot.

To know more about “CLICK,” visit https://www.clickpartylist.ph, of follow CLICK Party-list on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CLICKpartylist), Twitter (https://twitter.com/ClickPartylist), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/clickpartylist/), YouTube (https://bit.ly/CLICKPARTYLIST), Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/partylist-click-4b0016227/) or TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@clickpartylist).

Experience mightier performance with realme’s narzo 50A Prime and GT 2 Pro launching exclusively on Shopee

realme’s newest smartphones designed to boost performance launch exclusively on Shopee this March 25

MANILA, 24 MAR 2022 - realme and Shopee are partnering to release exciting new smartphones in the Philippines with the narzo 50A Prime and GT 2 Pro, both launching exclusively on realme’s Official Store Global on Shopee this March 25.

The narzo 50A Prime is the thinnest gaming smartphone in the narzo series and one of the slimmest in the market. Due to its Kevlar Speed Texture Design and 8.1mm ultra-thin build, this smartphone makes it easy and comfortable to hold. With its Unisoc T612 Processor and massive 5000mAh battery and 18W quick charge capability, it ensures its users all-day connectivity and maximum performance. Its 6.6-inch FHD display and peak brightness of 600nits allow you to play your favorite mobile games without missing any detail, even under direct sunlight. More than its gaming capabilities, the narzo 50A Prime also comes with a 50MP Triple Camera for capturing clear and crisp images. realme narzo 50A Prime comes in Black and Blue colorways and will retail at P7,290 for the 4+64GB variant and P7,990 for its 4+128GB variant.

The GT 2 Pro is the most premium flagship smartphone ever by realme. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, this smartphone is equipped with a powerful processor and loads of storage space. Its 65W SuperDart charging support quickly charges your drained realme GT 2 Pro to 100% in just 33 minutes. Its 6.7-inch, 2K AMOLED display powered by LTPO 2.0 with QHD resolution is capable of a dynamic refresh rate that ranges from 1Hz to 120Hz for greater responsiveness and efficient performance, saving energy by up to 50%. This device sports a collection of cameras, with its 50MP main and ultrawide cameras, a 3MP "microscope" camera, and a 32MP selfie camera, giving you all the tools you need to take the perfect shot. realme GT 2 Pro is priced at P34,990 and will come in two colors;  Paper White, and Steel Black. 

This March 25, enjoy realme and Shopee’s early bird prices up to 14% off on the realme narzo 50A Prime and up to 17% off on the realme GT 2 Pro! Users can also look forward to realme’s Flash Sales on March 27, 30, and April 4 from 12-3AM, 10-1PM, and 4-11:59PM with deals up to 20% off. Don’t miss out on realme’s must-have deals on their latest smartphones and other mobile devices exclusively on their official store on Shopee!

Shop now at https://shopee.ph/realmeglobal.ph

Download the Shopee app for free on the App Store or Google Play Store

Will you vote for Dr. Jose Montemayor for President?

I only learned about him after his statement went viral. And I agree with him, in all areas, in all aspects of our lives, even as ordinary citizens of the Philippines.

Dr. Jose Montemayor is far better than all others simply because he is respectful enough not to say negative things towards someone who isn't around, while all others crucified and buried the absentee alive. Kudos.. 

However, for me to decide to vote for him, I need to get to know more about him, his platform and his goals and dreams for our beloved country.

PDP Laban Endorsement: BBM for 2022

Below are two Press Releases that I have read today:

NEWS: Presidential candidate Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. has gained the endorsement of PDP Laban wing under Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.In Resolution No. 26, Series of 2022 its National Executive Committee, the PDP Laban Cusi Wing formally indorsed Senator Marcos who has been leading in all the presidential surveys with consistent ratings of 50 to 60 percent, with less than 50 days to go before the May 9, 2022 polls.The Resolution noted that Senator Marcos “is the candidate whose platform is most aligned with the development program of President Rodrigo Duterte.” 

The Resolution also said  Senator Marcos “received the most endorsements from several local councils of PDP Laban.”

Maraming salamat po.

**********************

National Executive Committee endorses the candidacy of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for President of the Republic of the Philippines in the forthcoming 2022 National Elections,” the resolution ended.

Cusi, PDP-Laban Secretary General Melvin Matibag, erstwhile presidential bet Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and 11 other officials were indicated as signatories of the resolution.

*********************

Nagsabaysabay ng press release 😀

For BBM's camp, this is actually good. Despite all the negativity that his opponents threw at him for not attending debates, even that organized by COMELEC. Understandably, BBM has his valid reasons that no one should question just as the others also had their valid reasons for not attending the SMNI organized debate. 

As Jethol C. Paanod explained, “For one, we attend debates hoping our side will be heard. So why would BBM attend a debate where panelists have already judged him and therefore would not even consider to hear his side? Why would he dignify those who have already passed judgment on him with his presence?  BBM attends debates and interviews where he’s treated fairly and with respect. That’s enough since topics of discussion and debate are the same anyway.”

Personally, I think giving BBM a chance to lead the country is far better than choosing a leader who will outrightly hand the country to the NPA terrorists without a fight and without question. They were the very reason why Martial Law was declared in 1972. We cannot afford to have another puppet president for the glory of the said terrorist group.