A few days before 2023...

This weekend Christmas will be celebrated and the weekend that follows will already be 2023. Have you any plans for the coming year? While this year is the year that I have somehow seen myself rise above my 2020 to 2021 drawbacks, still it is not enough to say that everything is okay. I am a positive person, but sometimes doubts loom over the horizon. And why not? The world is still suffering and life goes on. I am lucky I have means to get by. My salary may be more than enough compared to the last (from my previous employers), but this time I am more anxious and try harder because I am afraid to lose it. No one wants to be jobless and penniless with everything expensive, even our basic needs.

After COVID 19 sank our finances to the abyss, the wars and oil crises have made everything worse for everyone. There is not a country in the world who do not have citizens suffering. Blaming anyone or anything is pointless. We all have to pick ourselves up, each one of us, one by one. We can not pick up others when we are still trying to crawl back or even if we are able to stand up but  aren't strong enough to stand without any help. In short, we just have to do what's best for us. 

Here are some tips I have learned over the years. Coping with financial woes isn't easy but if you know how to do it better, you'll be fine somehow.

1. Have financial resolutions. All of us want to improve our finances. And what better way than to start with a financial resolution. What are the things that you want to get rid off and what are the things yo want to continue in terms of finances.

2. Set up Savings Goals and Implement it. No matter how much you want to save, if your Savings Goals is not set up, it will remain as just a plan that may or may not be implemented.

3. Use technology to help you with your plans to save money, and learn how to save and invest. I like to use a savings calculator if I need to calculate long term savings and stuff. Currently, I am using one that allows me to create a growth table of savings over time. How cool is that? The site I go to also has calculators for CDs, college savings, even retirement plans aside from savings goals that calculates annual interests.

4. Make use of your time online and offline wisely. If it's not making you have a better financial life, surely it will waste your money. 

5. Be generous, and kind. I always believe that givers will always receive more blessings at the right time. 

6. Never forget to be grateful and always pray. Prayers are not only in times of need but most of all, in times of abundance. 

These are just some of the lessons that 2020 taught me. I am passing them on as tips, should you want them. Worked well for me. Well, what do you think? Please drop a comment as I want to know what your thoughts are about these things I shared.

Till then, enjoy your holidays..

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Participating in a Charity Fundraising

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Argentina won the FIFA World Cup 2022. ⚽ Congratulations!

And finally it's over. Argentina won the FIFA World Cup 2022. ⚽

Congratulations!

Our Last Week of 2022 and Holiday at last!

We had quite a busy week last week. We had so many things accomplished in a very short span of time, plus the different activities that we also did in between, plus classes and assessments, and of course, capped the week with class parties and our staff get-together at Garbo at Melia Hotel.

Actually we've been busy since last week but Monday and Tuesday were really busy because of the Christmas concert last Wednesday. And Thursday was a regular school day with reports that needed to be accomplished but we still did a fun charity fundraising activity.  

The kids did that to my face.. And I had fun while they did. 

It was actually for a good cause so when they asked me, I could never refuse. 

I love the fact that our students think of others and what they can do for the community. As a teacher, it makes me proud of them and their tireless efforts. In the evening, the same kids organized their Winter Formal, and I was there as one of the chaperones.

                                               

It was fun watching them groove to the music and socialize as they should.  Then Friday, our last day in school for 2022, we had our class parties. I spent half the day with my homeroom, and my student, Joyce, gave me these handmade customized cakes. One is Chocolate and the other, Sponge Cake with their respective icing.

After the parties, we had our staff secret Santa and I gave mine these Ritter Sport Dark Chocolate collection.

But funny because someone gave me the same, and my secret Santa gave me these boxes of  Tea plus another box of Chocolate for me.. yey.. 

And to cap the school day, we went to Melia for some drinks and snacks sponsored by our CEO and Executive Principal. No pictures as we were busy chatting before bidding everyone farewell. A lot of them will go to other countries for the holiday, while others will visit other countries they have never been before. As for me and my household here, we're going to Bagan for Christmas. That will go to another blog post. In the meantime, I am busy reconnecting with family as I have more time now because it's already our school break. So I spend more time with my plants too. 

I have come to enjoy playing Grocery Cashier with my nephew who is actually in the Philippines while I am here in Myanmar, whenever we are on skype. I show him how it's done and he shows me how he plays it. What I like about this game is that it teaches kids to count money. And because we have a store back home, it also teaches patience while practicing to give change and make a sale.

Another one that we also like to play is Treze Coins which is also good for counting. But my nephew likes the Grocery Cashier better than Trese Coins. 

However, when I discovered Idle Money Tree and introduced it to him, he was ecstatic. He said he likes to make more money while taking care of the tree. This is actually fast paced compared to the two I have mentioned earlier. So my nephew perhaps likes the action.

I told him it is just a game and not really something to be serious about, but whenever the amount increases, I become excited too. I wish we can do this with my plants in my balcony garden, lol.

See the progress that I have made. Sunlight, water, fertilizer, harvest and research have increased. 

At first I didn't quite understand why my nephew liked it more, but eventually I did. 

See my latest progress?

Oh and the best thing about this game is that, even if you stop playing, it plays in the background and your money continues to grow. See how much my money grew???

I am still in the process of exploring other games on the games section of the Mortgage Calculator site. There are actually many more games to try. Oh well, it is just my third day of holiday. School doesn't start until January 5th.. So keep posted. I will share other games with you.

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HONOR 70 5G now available in Emerald Green color, still at PHP 26,990

Get the #BestVloggingPhone HONOR 70 5G in new Emerald Green color and snag a FREE HONOR Band 6 worth PHP 1,990 when you buy at HONOR kiosks and partner stores nationwide or online at Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

MANILA, Philippines - December 13, 2022 – Following the successful launch of #BestVloggingPhone HONOR 70 5G, the leading global smart devices provider announces the launch of its new Emerald Green color still priced at PHP 26,990, available starting December 13, 2022 at HONOR kiosks and partner stores nationwide or online at Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

 

First introduced in Crystal Silver and Midnight Black, HONOR 70 5G boasts a super dual-curved screen with warm, smooth lines and natural arcs that let it fit your hand perfectly while looking great.

 

HONOR 70 5G has the industry’s first 54MP IMX800 Super Sensing Main Camera, bringing users incredible enhancements in smartphone photography. It sports HONOR’s revolutionary Solo Cut Mode, an innovation enabling users to simultaneously produce a group video and a portrait vlog that spotlights a specific person.

 

The HONOR 70 5G Emerald Green is equipped with a 4800mAh large-capacity battery supported by high performance 66W HONOR SuperCharge allowing you to charge up to 60% in just 20 minutes. It can also maintain low power consumption while powering up high-rate games with its GPU Turbo X technology.

 

And for a limited time offer, buy your very own HONOR 70 5G Emerald Green starting on December 13 for PHP 26,990 and get a FREE HONOR Band 6 worth PHP 1,990 at any HONOR kiosk or partner stores near you and online at Shopee (https://bit.ly/H70GreenShopee), Lazada (https://bit.ly/H70GreenLazada), and TikTok (https://bit.ly/H70GreenTT).

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RP BLU BOYS START WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN

After months of gruelling preparations, RP Blu Boys begin their quest for World Cup glory as they tackle powerhouse TEAM USA on November 26 at the Rosedale Park, Auckland, New Zealand.

The Philippine’s Men’ National Softball, who qualified to the World via a strong runner up finish in the Asia Qualifiers, is bracketed in Group A with very strong teams such as Argentina, USA, Cuba, Czech Republic and host, New Zealand.

“Our RP Blu Boys’ confidence is on a high. They have been doing well in practice and in tune-up games and we hope to translate those to good performances in the upcoming games. It will be a tall order but we’re gunning for a win or 2 against the very strong teams in our bracket.”, said ASAPHIL President Jean Henri Lhuillier.”

“Our boys are ready. Preparations have went well and we are all eager to compete. We don’t want to make any promises except for giving our best every game, every inning and hopefully we sould pull off some upsest.”, said RP Blu Boys Head Coach, Jasper Cabrera.

The WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup is slated on November 26-December 4 in Auckland, New Zealand. Other participating countries comprising Bracket B are equally strong Teams, Japan, Canada, Venezuela, and Denmark.

Rex Education enhances learning resources in Philippine history and social sciences in partnership with PSSC, PNHS, and PHA

Signatories of the memorandum pose for a picture. From L-R: Miss Jeanne Marie F. Tordesillas, Chief Marketing Officer of Rex Education; Dr. Excelsa C. Tongson, Chairperson of Philippine Social Sciences Council; Don Timothy I. Buhain, Chief Executive Officer of Rex Education; Professor Emeritus Dr. Ma. Luisa T. Camagay, Representative from the Philippine Historical Association; Dr. Marcelino M. Macapinlac, Jr., Representative from the Philippine National Historical Society

Rex Education hosted a memorandum signing with the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC), the Philippine National Historical Society (PNHS), and the Philippine Historical Association (PHA) on September 6, 2022 to seal a fellowship program centered on Philippine history.

The main goal of the program is to develop a compendium on Philippine history that could serve as a reference material for writing and publishing future history-centered textbooks. A careful selection of fellows who are knowledgeable about specific periods in Philippine history would be conducted to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the compendium.

In line with REX’s pledge of providing relevant and timeless learning solutions, the program would ideally improve the content of learning materials in history and social studies.

“This fellowship program brings together the academe, civil society, and private sector toward the common goal of serving Filipino learners,” Don Timothy Buhain, Chief Executive Officer of Rex Education, said in his welcome remarks. “REX believes that looking back at where we all came from is important in enabling our learners, teachers, and communities.”

For every Filipino learner

PSSC stands as the project’s implementing agency alongside REX. PHA and PNHS, two local and professional historical associations, will collaborate with REX and PSSC to oversee the compendium’s development.

“This wonderful, novel project will benefit all learners. History is not only for the young; it is for learners of all ages,” PSSC Chairperson Dr. Excelsa Tongson shared.

Dr. Bernardita Churchill, president of PNHS and president emeritus of the PSA and MSA, also highlighted the importance of corroborating history in a country as diverse as the Philippines. “The plan is to enhance the study and teaching of Filipino culture, and create an inclusive history that will present the multiethnic history of the Filipino. A serious study of our history and culture would settle doubts and questions about our identity as a nation.”

A worthwhile endeavor for the future of education

REX’s goal for the program is to provide authoritative reference materials in the writing and publishing of history textbooks.

Dr. Marcelino Macapinlac Jr., a representative from PNHS and a professor for over three decades, believes that the references that will be produced by the fellowship will further capacitate authors and those in the academe as they enlighten learners about Philippine history.

The development of well-researched historical resources invites not only educators but also the youth to reflect on our national history and culture. Dr. Ma. Luisa Camagay, president of the PHA and professor emeritus, Department of History, UP Diliman, and Dr. Macapinlac noted that the current generation of learners has become more discerning of the sources they consume.

“I find that those who finish the K to 12 program are better prepared and more engaged [in the study of history],” said Dr. Macapinlac. He noted that the last national elections highlighted how his students are now more passionate and engaged, but the bigger challenge lies in maintaining that passion in the long run.

“I hope Filipinos will not consider history just as a classroom or University course, but it should be a lifetime interest—whether Philippine, Southeast Asian, or world history,” Dr. Camagay concluded.

To keep up with news about the program, be sure to follow Rex Education’s Facebook page.

World winning Laguna Liberica Coffee soon to be available at The Giving Café: UPLB!

Residents of Laguna along with tourists will soon get to taste Sta. Maria town’s Liberica Coffee that recently won the Silver award in Signature Coffee Award: Latte at the Global Coffee Championship in Korea. The global winning coffee of farmers from Santa Maria, Laguna will be available at The Giving Café (TGC) in UPLB that opened yesterday. The store is located at the UPLB’s Student Union’s Soda Fountain.

“The Giving Cafe, a Social Enterprise by Henry & Sons, aims to build a beautiful coffee future by helping coffee farmers through its advocacy arm, The Foundation for sustainable coffee excellence (FSCE),” shares Michael Harris Conlin, 2019 PH Barista Champion and President and CEO of Henry and Sons.

Proceeds of TGC: UPLB will support its adopted coffee community, Barangay Juan Santiago, Santa Maria in Laguna. Barangay Juan Santiago coffee farming community is home to 38 families with 85,000 Liberica and Excelsa trees, the largest concentration of Liberica and Excelsa in Laguna and possibly in the entire Calabarzon. The funds raised by TGC: UPLB will be used towards bio-dynamic farming practices, improving harvesting, processing, and the communities much needed coffee drying solutions.

Henry & Sons, in partnership with UPLB leadership, makes what's old new again by bringing back the Student Union's Soda Fountain cafeteria to life with mouthwatering home-cooked meals, ice cream, and coffee. Flank by TGC's iconic cozy antique furniture, lighting, and books, the space is designed to encourage students, faculty, and visitors to strengthen the community around them and encourage to indulge in giving.

The Giving Café, with over 80 food and beverage offerings, is a hybrid restaurant and coffee shop that aims to contribute to the betterment of the local coffee industry and be part of something beyond the business. A place for comfort, The Giving Café is designed to be a safe haven for people looking to indulge in coffee experiences served with both excellence and compassion. The Giving Cafe focuses on bridging the community around it with the farming communities it adopts.

Beyond the advocacy, The Giving Café also offers guests multi-sensory experiences highlighting Henry& Sons' F&B expertise. “We want to everyone to enjoy, eat well and indulge in giving by supporting laguna coffee farmers with every cup of coffee you purchase,” Conlin, adds.

TGC will also be featuring its popular Bloom Coffee collection, which is a unique line of coffees created by Henry & Sons to generate funds that will support the following purposes:

BEANS FOR THE LITTLE ONES – access to basic health necessities

BEANS WITHIN REACH – access to programs promoting traceability and accessibility

COFFEE FOR GREAT MINDS – access to education

CUP TO SEED – access to livelihood and harvest implements

THE GIVING WELL – access to clean and potable water.

For more information, visit www.henryandsons and www.thevault.ph.

MERALCO REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT HOTEL INDUSTRY

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has reaffirmed its commitment to support the recovery of local hotel operators as they bounce back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a webinar recently organized by Meralco, the power distributor, which has long been a partner of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA), pledged to continue providing stable and reliable electricity service, and energy solutions befitting to the needs of the industry moving forward.

The pandemic, at its peak in 2020, led to temporary closure of businesses and loss of income for the hospitality industry. Despite the challenges, the industry supported the government in its fight against the pandemic.

“For the past two years, our customers from the Hotel Industry were among the hardest hit with the sudden decline in occupancy. Their facilities were used for quarantine, requiring them to operate as quasi-hospitals and to strictly implement health and safety protocols while providing utmost care to travelers that had to be accommodated. During this time, Meralco initiated contract right-sizing to assist our customers with hopes of preventing further loss of business and employment,” said Meralco Vice President and Head of Enterprise and National Government Engr. Ma. Cecilia M. Domingo.

According to PHOA Executive Director Benito C. Bengzon Jr., Meralco played a vital role in helping PHOA members deliver on their commitments with energy-saving measures, such as contract rightsizing and temporary waiving of the Guaranteed Minimum Billing Demand (GMBD).

“PHOA sees Meralco as an institutional and vital industry partner. We hope to strengthen our relationship so that together we can continuously improve the delivery of services to our clientele,” Bengzon said.

Raffles and Fairmont Hotel Group, a member of the PHOA, similarly recognized the crucial role that Meralco plays in the recovery of the industry.

“Meralco is an essential partner in our business by providing for the electricity of the hotels. Customer satisfaction is one of our goals and we could have not attained it if power supply is unreliable,” said Raffles and Fairmont Hotel General Manager Aubrey Ada.

As local tourism takes off this year, Engr. Domingo said: “Meralco is more than happy to assist the hotels to ensure energy-readiness once again. Further, their aptitude for economic recovery through participation in the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) is laudable.”

ILP is a demand-side management program of the Department of Energy where large businesses are asked to temporarily de-load from the grid when the Luzon grid is placed under red alert.

Participation of companies is crucial to the success of ILP, since this may spare an estimate of 4,000 households and small businesses from power outages for every 1-megawatt of de-loaded power.

Among the companies in the hospitality industry within Meralco’s franchise that are enrolled under the ILP are Taal Vista, City of Dreams, Discovery Suites, Diamond Hotel, Sofitel Manila, and Raffles and Fairmont Hotel.#

Shopee brings joy to Filipino users and businesses during Shopee’s 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale

With mas mura deals and amazing prizes, Filipinos start preparing for the holidays and give local sellers a big boost in sales

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 14 November 2022 — Shopee recently concluded one of its biggest sales of the year, the 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale, by giving users a rewarding shopping experience and providing a platform for success for businesses of all kinds. Local sellers experienced a 4 times uplift in sales versus a regular day, while shoppers enjoyed a total of ₱62 Million in savings on 11 November alone as they start their Christmas shopping. 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines shared, “Our aim is to give a sense of joy through Shopee – for shoppers to have the most rewarding shopping experience, and for businesses to find success on our platform. The goal is for more Filipinos to experience the convenience of e-commerce so sellers and brands can connect to them whether through mas mura deals, livestreams or our exciting new initiatives, such as Shop to Win Gold.” 

Sales grew for local sellers and brand partners this 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale

• The 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale aimed to stimulate sales for local brands and businesses, and connect businesses to Shopee’s digital ecosystem on the platform. One local seller saw a 7 times uplift in sales during 11.11. Local shops that proved to be the favourites among users were Luckiss, Mumu and Willet. 

• Shopee Mall also saw an uptick in sales across the board as shoppers were enticed by exclusive deals. This is especially so for the essentials and personal care products category, with Uni-Care, Unilever Beauty and Cblue PH registering the top spikes in items sold on 11.11.

Holiday trends among shoppers in the Philippines focus on getting Mas Mura Deals 

• Along with the overall big savings, one Filipino user was also the most wais when it came to their early Christmas shopping, recording over ₱45,000 worth of savings in a  single checkout. 

• Home & Living, Health & Personal goods and Women’s Apparel were the leading categories as Filipinos improved their homes, replenished essentials and treated themselves to fashionable clothes.

• Women's shoes, dresses and face masks were the most-searched keywords, showing that users were already planning ahead for their holiday get-togethers. 

Big prizes, entertainment and convenient cashless payments drove even more users to the Shopee app   

• There were over 2.7 million entries for Shop to Win Gold as users got excited to get a chance to bring home gold bars, or claim a year’s supply of groceries or electricity. 

• Users were also treated to thousands of hours of livestreams with over 115 million viewers watching all over the country during the campaign to interact with and claim deals from their favorite local sellers and brands.   

• More Filipinos made the most of the convenience and perks of ShopeePay, with the platform seeing a 2.5 times uplift in shoppers who paid using ShopeePay for the first time and over 3 times more orders paid via ShopeePay compared to a regular day. 

Bring more joy to your Christmas shopping when you download the Shopee app from leading app stores and follow Shopee Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. 

Winners crowned at “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 singing competition

IT was an extremely tough singing competition but after the dusk of musical battle had settled, the Top 3 winners were announced at the conclusion of “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 Grand Finals, which was streamed live on October 31, 2022.

The grand finals of “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 was one of the most exciting yet toughest singing competitions around. But at the end of each spectacular performance of the grand finalists, only three emerged victorious.

For the “Ballad” (#HeartsAtHome) category, crooner Redemptor Nuestro emerged as the Grand Champion for that category, and bested other grand finalists Rachell Laylo and Easter Joy Parsacala, who wound up as First Runner Up and Second Runner Up, respectively.

Meanwhile, for the “Acoustic” (#FreshVibes) category, it was Izay Acoustic who took home the crown, while Jaworski Sison was declared First Runner Up, followed by Kirby Cruz won Second Runner Up honors.

Finally, Vic Robinson truly rocked it out and displayed true rock spirit, and was eventually crowned grand champion under the “Rock” (#EpicRock) category of “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2. Genriel Diaz took First Runner Up honors, while Anne Ferrer wound up as Second Runner Up.

All grand finalists did their best to impress the judges, where the criteria for judging was 35 percent for Voice Quality, 35 percent for Creativity, 20 percent for Stage Presence, and 10 percent for Online Votes.

Special awards were also handed out to some of the grand finalists. “Acoustic” category grand champion Izay Acoustic was also awarded as “Asus Incredible Performer,” while “Rock” category First Runner Up Genriel Diaz won the “Predator Conquering Performance of the Night” award. For the last special award, “Ballad” category First Runner Up Rachell Laylo was adjudged as winner of the “Aromase Aromazin’ Performer” award.

The “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 grand finals was also made special with the presence of VIP guests and representatives from the competition’s brand partners. Present were Taiwan Trade Center Manila Director Alex Lai, Christine Kuo, Manager, and Janine Tan, Senior Project Manager.

Also gracing the grand finals were James Huang, Country Product Manager of Asus, Sue Ong-Lim, General Manager of Acer, Jesse Tan, Vice President for Sales and Marketing at PC Express, who also represented Aromase, and Pola Vinoya, Publishing and Marketing Officer, and Aaron Calderon, Marketing Specialist, both from Ivory Music.

It was a night worth remembering, and many are still hoping for another season of “Your Song of Excellence,” which is slowly turning out to be one of the most anticipated singing competitions in the country.

“Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 happened because of its magnificent roster of partner brands, such as premier brands Aromase.Ph, Asus PH, Predator Gaming, and major brand partners Acer Philippines, Annie’s Way, FECA PH, Johnson Fitness, LUFTQI, Transcend Philippines, Zyxel, Dacian, and Tatung, with music partner Ivory Music.

Don’t forget to like and follow Taiwan Excellence page:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/TaiwanExcellence.ph

IG: @taiwanexcellence_ph

Filipinos turn to Shopee’s 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale as over 150M deals were up for grabs in the Philippines

Shopee welcomes the gift-giving season with exciting deals at its much-awaited 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale

MANILA, PHILIPPINES NOVEMBER 11, 2022 - With Christmas quickly approaching, Filipinos turned to Shopee for irresistible deals and exciting rewards during this year’s 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale. Local sellers and brands were eager to give shoppers much to look forward to as they offered over 150 million deals on the platform. 

Local shopping trends early into the 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale:

●      Filipinos jumped at exclusive mas mura deals for their favorite Mobile Gadgets, Home & Living, and Health & Personal essentials just in time for the holiday season.

●      In the first two hours, local sellers found success during the highly-anticipated sale with 15x uplift in items sold as compared to a regular day with one local seller completing almost 40,000 orders of face masks. 

●      Residents from Metro Manila, Cavite, and Bulacan were especially eager to take advantage of the best deals this 11.11.

Filipinos can look forward to even more exciting deals with the best value-for-money all throughout the 11.11 Mega Pamasko sale until November 13. For more details on the sale, visit Shopee’s Mega Pamasko Sale.

TCL Elevates a truly cinematic experience with 4K QLED 98-inch C735

[Manila, September 2022]: TCL Electronics, a leading consumer electronics brand, launched its new 98-inch TCL 4K QLED TV model C735 to Philippine customers. TCL went big in 2021 with its XL Collection of 85-inch Google TVs. The company upped the size ante again, introducing a new 98-inch this year. As a superior QLED 4K entertainment center, the 98-inch C735 is designed to deliver a comprehensive range of entertainment experiences with Google TV and exceptional video gaming performance.

“With the help of deep supply chain vertical integration, TCL has been committed to Quantum Dot Display Technology since 2014. With the exciting momentum driven over the years, now is the perfect time to introduce 2022 TCL QLED TVs to more consumers in different parts of the world,” said Shaoyong Zhang, CEO of TCL Electronics, “We are proud to say that our 2022 TV additions will reinforce TCL’s leading position in the global consumer electronics industry.”

TCL QLED 4K TV C735

Gaming fans are expecting more games that support 120 FPS this year, so the 98-inch C735 has taken a step further by applying 144Hz VRR, providing faster responsiveness, sharper imagery, and smoother gameplay. Whether users are competitive gamers who want to experience demanding high FPS games—or casual gamers, the 144Hz VRR displays can be a huge benefit, giving users an edge, especially in multiplayer games.

To provide users with a convenient game experience, C735 also has an exclusive game mode function. With Game Master, C735 optimizes the display in video game use. It allows all-in-one optimization, for example, turning on functions such as VRR/ALLM is done with one key.

In addition, through the TCL Game Bar, C735 offers users real-time display statistics, aiming aid, toolbox functions, as well as the quick setting dashboard that helps users achieve the ultimate gaming experience.

With Dolby Vision IQ, C735 enhances the demonstration of Dolby exclusive contents, by displaying a greater number of colors, increasing contrast, and boosting brightness levels.

Adding to the cinema experience, the 98-inch C735 supports Dolby Atmos, which places sounds within multi-dimensional space and puts the user in the middle of their favorite sport, TV, movie, or video game.

C735, with a screen size of 98 inches, also has a theatrical-level sound system. Its ONKYO sound system, and Dolby Atmos brings an exceptional immersive audio experience—letting the sound flow around in three dimensions.

C735 also supports both Motion Estimation and Motion Compensation (MEMC) as well as HDMI 2.1 to deliver the best possible smooth imagery and audio for both TV and multimedia. Enhanced with TCL’s proprietary software algorithm, these technologies ensure images are always smooth, even for sports and fast-moving action scenes.

With Google TV, it means that users will get hundreds and thousands of content options aggregated across streaming services.

Key features include:

144Hz VRR

Game Master

Dolby Vision IQ & Dolby Atmos

4K QLED

Google TV

MEMC

HDR10+

ONKYO Audio System

AIPQ Engine

DTS-HD

HDMI 2.1 eARC

Hands-free Voice Control

* Product Appearance, functionality, and availability may differ between countries/regions.

Shopee teams up with the Department of Health to push Booster Vaccination

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 -  In line with its continuous commitment to help every Filipino increase their protection against COVID-19, Shopee has partnered with the Department of Health (DOH) for the Bakunahang Bayan: PinasLakas Special Vaccination Days campaign from September 26-30, to facilitate the rapid mobilization of COVID-19 vaccination among all eligible populations.

 

As part of the campaign, a dedicated page will be accessible in-app to educate users on the benefits and importance of vaccination from September 26 to 30, 2022. Local government units (LGUs) across the country are likewise encouraged to include vaccination sites such as schools, malls, plazas, and places of worship where Filipinos can conveniently walk-in to get their COVID-19 booster shot on special vaccination days.

 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared, “It is a great privilege for us to partner with the DOH once again. Through this partnership, we aim to leverage our platform to provide Filipinos with access to accurate and important information about booster shots and COVID-19 vaccination. Through proper education and collaboration, we can work together to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines.”

 

This campaign is one of the multiple initiatives that Shopee has launched to support Filipinos in their pre to post vaccination journey. In 2021, Shopee launched the Resbakuna Vaccine Education Campaign, also in partnership with the DOH; the Fully Vaxxed package which incentivized users to complete their vaccination doses; and Vaccination Center Support, which provided food, health essentials, and air coolers to chosen vaccination centers in Makati, Taguig, and Quezon City.

 

Assistant Secretary Beverly Lorraine Ho, OIC-Undersecretary of the Department of Health shared “Every Filipino plays a vital role in achieving the wall of immunity and protecting every single member of our community, especially the most vulnerable. We are grateful to be partnering with Shopee once more to maximize their platform in effectively reaching, engaging, and educating even more Filipinos on the importance of getting their COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses.”

 

With the  aim of boosting 50 percent of the general population and fully vaccinating 90 percent of the target senior citizens, the Bakunahang Bayan: PinasLakas Special Vaccination Days campaign is expected to educate Filipinos of the benefits the COVID-19 vaccines provide. Through these initiatives, the DOH hopes to encourage even more of our kababayans to receive their booster shots, most especially our senior citizens and the vulnerable population.

 

From September 26-30, users can learn more about Bakunahang Bayan: PinasLakas Special Vaccination Days through the dedicated in-app page on the Shopee app.

 

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COMCO SEA promotes and appoints homegrown managers and award-winning talents to key deputy positions

Inter-regional integrated communications agency COMCO Southeast Asia has recently announced the promotion and appointment of its homegrown managers and award-winning talents to key deputy positions in the company. They are AC Recio, Harvey Llamosa, Queenie Resmundo and Patricia Raña.

Each promotion is nothing short of special because they are some of the people who have been with COMCO SEA from the beginning and graduated from the Camp COMCO Mentorship Program, the multi-awarded, intensive, and comprehensive talent incubation, industry linkage, and apprenticeship program of the Agency.

In photo are (from left): AC Recio, Harvey Llamosa, Queenie Resmundo and Patricia Raña, COMCO Southeast Asia’s homegrown managers and award-winning talents promoted to key deputy positions of the Agency.

After graduating from the Ateneo de Manila University, AC Recio began his career as a Digital and Multimedia Arts Associate at COMCO SEA. Today, Mr. Recio holds an important role in the Agency’s digital innovation as a Partner, Digital, Social and Content Administrator Pro Tempore, and Senior Digital and Multimedia Arts Manager. 

Mr. Recio is exceptionally skilled in all things digital and handled key digital accounts like Platinum Karaoke, Pioneer Insurance, Dragonpay, SureTayo, Unilab Foundation, Defensil Alcohol, and Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz Headlice Treatment Shampoo. He also leads the Agency’s overall corporate branding through the CODY STUDIO project. It comes as no surprise that Mr. Recio has won numerous Quill and Anvil Awards.  Some of the recognition and awards he received are for Pioneer Insurance’s “Move on Lang” songwriting competition, Lamoiyan Corporation’s “Si Kathy at and Kutostrophe” educational coloring book and “Kilusang Kontra Kuto (KKK)” campaigns, Defensil’s “Protection That Is Real – The Defensil Be Safe Now” campaign, and Unilab Foundation’s “Play Advocacy Week” initiative and tool kit. 

“It's a privilege to work with a team that cultivates and sustains the growth of their employees. To be on the receiving end of that support is truly a blessing that cannot be measured. I'm looking forward to making the most of this new role and to give back to COMCO for igniting that spark in me. I will do my best to keep that flame burning bright and to kindle that passion for meaningful storytelling through my work,” said Mr. Recio. 

Another homegrown talent given a strategic role in the organization is Harvey Llamosa who has been with COMCO SEA since the Agency launched in 2016. Mr. Llamosa’s first job when he graduated from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) was with COMCO SEA as an Executive Projects Associate and have been working closely with the company’s Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director Ferdinand L. Bondoy on various landmark executive and strategic initiatives. Today, Mr. Llamosa is not only the Senior Executive Initiatives and Communications Manager at COMCO SEA, but also a Partner and the Chief of Staff to the Group Chief Executive Director. 

Ongoing six years already, Mr. Llamosa has been pivotal to countless of the executive office’s major projects. Some of his best works are AirAsia’s “Red Talks” web series and “See the World” initiatives, M&M’s “Fun First Move” and “Screenbites” projects, SM Cinema’s “Reel to Real” campaign, WWF’s “Earth Hour” and “#AyokoNgPlastik” movements, World Vision’s “Social Innovation Challenge” and “One Voice for Children” campaigns and the global award-winning campaign of COMCO SEA, the “Write to Ignite Blogging Project”. At present, Harvey is handling the accounts of Lenovo, RHEA Generics, and Theo & Philo chocolates, alongside his lead role in COMCO SEA's Corporate MARCOMAX (Marketing, Communications, Advocacy and Excellence) initiative. For his outstanding works, Mr. Llamosa has been recognized in MarCom Awards in USA, Marketing PR Awards in Singapore, PR Awards Asia in Hong Kong, and Quill and Anvil Awards in the Philippines, to name a few. 

“I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to be part of COMCO Southeast Asia, with them I was able to learn from the experts of the industry and create wonderful and meaningful campaigns. With this new role, I will do my best to continue giving valuable contributions to what we consider as our life’s work,” said Mr. Llamosa.

Mr. Llamosa and Mr. Recio were both pioneers and members of the 1st Cycle of the Camp COMCO Mentorship Program. As proof of the Camp’s success, the 2nd Cycle no doubt produced another homegrown talent, Queenie Resmundo. 

Ms. Resmundo graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She started as a Production and Administration Associate and is now promoted to Public Relations and Communications Administrator Pro Tempore and Brand Communications Manager. She is also a lead in stakeholder relationship management through COMCO SEA’s MEXINAC (Media, Experts, Influencers, Activators and Communities) program.  

Throughout her work journey, Ms. Resmundo managed accounts such as Electrolux, United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), Angkas, Oakley, Reef, Eastern Communications. Her latest clients include Takeda, Philusa Corporation, and JobStreet. Ms. Resmundo has won awards from the Quill Awards, Anvil Awards, Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, Stevie International Business Awards, Marketing Events Awards, and ASEAN PR Excellence Awards. Some of her award-winning projects include Eastern Communications’ 140th Anniversary campaign, “Eastern Link VIP Club”, “First Connections are the Strongest: Connecting Filipino People Amid the Pandemic”, “Eastern Home: Connecting Filipinos in the Social Distancing Era for Innovation in Consumer Products & Services”, JobStreet’s “The Future Workforce: JobStreet’s Find the Job You Love” and the “#TogetherAhead: JobStreet’s Response to the COVID19 Impact” campaigns. 

“It's not every day that a company invests in its people to help them learn and expand their skills, and I have always been grateful to COMCO for believing in me since I started and allowing me to grow. I am excited to contribute to the company's continued success and looking forward to sharing more meaningful stories with the team,” said Ms. Resmundo. 

Finally, there is Patricia Raña, a graduate from the University of the East, the 9th Cycle of Camp COMCO, and now one of the Agency’s most trusted Corporate Services Unit members. She has been promoted to Special Assistant to the Comptroller and Senior Corporate Services Officer. 

Ms. Raña joined COMCO SEA in 2018 as a Finance and Administration Associate and has always been the best in handling the Agency's business processes, finance and administration matters. Moreover, she supports the growth of COMCO SEA’s corporate culture and team camaraderie through her work in the Agency Culture and Team Development (ACTDEV) special project. 

“I want to express my gratitude to COMCO Southeast Asia as I truly value their support and encouragement. I'm grateful for the opportunity to advance my skills and grow with our company and I look forward to the new challenges and opportunities this new role provides and continue to work hard for the team,” said Ms. Raña. 

The COMCO SEA team could not be more proud of these immensely talented people. Promotions may be common occurrences in the workplace, but not every day one sees a team member be so dedicated and grow together with their company. 

“Harvey, AC, Queenie, and Pat all started as Camp COMCO apprentices at COMCO SEA. Now, they are experts and full-fledge deputies in their respective fields. They’ve grown so much in just a short span of time, so the word ‘proud’ is definitely an understatement of how I feel towards their progress. There’s still a lot in store to make their careers flourish, and I am excited for what they will make of themselves next,” said Corporate Services Director and Comptroller, Ms. Joan Maslang. 

"As a hands-on leader of COMCO Southeast Asia, I have had the great pleasure of training and working with our most valued apprentices and witnessing them turn into rock stars of the industry! And for them to obtain the positions and recognitions they have now as well as grow in their craft and in their life as a whole, is my greatest honor, the best award I have ever received. To Harvey, AC, Queen, and Pat, I want you to know that your success, your growth, have always been part of our vision and you will always have our back as you continue in your journey. Never stop making us proud and being inspirations to our next in line in #ourCOMCOsquadron and in championing our brand of #MeaningfulStorytelling,” said Mr. Bondoy. 

To know more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

Top local merchants sell 6x more items at Shopee's 9.9 Super Shopping Day

Local businesses benefited as shoppers flocked to the e-commerce platform to score mas mura deals on essential items for as low as ₱1 and ₱49 last 9.9

MANILA, 12 SEPTEMBER 2022 - The leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan continues to create memorable shopping experiences at 9.9 Super Shopping Day. Boosted by increased shopper traffic and support from Shopee's platform tools, top local sellers sold 6 times more items on 9 September than on an average day. These seller offerings in turn created more value for customers, who snapped up the best promotions and mas mura prices on items ranging from their daily essentials to the latest gadgets. 

Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day brings more benefits to Filipinos by providing buyers with convenient shopping experiences at the best deals, while helping sellers grow their businesses. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines shared, “We are committed to benefit online shoppers, by bringing them more joy, value, and excitement every 9.9. This drives us to use our platform to deliver the best value for money with our Mas Mura sa Shopee* offers, and to explore other equally fulfilling possibilities that serve the evolving needs of customers and businesses alike, especially as we gear towards another meaningful year-end shopping season.”

Shoppers secured daily essentials at better deals

Shopee worked with sellers to curate a wide assortment of ₱1 and ₱49 deals, helping users get their money’s worth when they shopped their everyday essentials in Home & Living, Health & Personal Care, and Women's Apparel during 9.9. Filipinos were keen to maximize the available deals in acquiring their daily necessities, with one shopper saving as much as ₱200,000 for essential back-to-school items like a new laptop, laptop accessories, and desk accessories. 

Businesses achieved more traffic and a big boost to their sales

Local sellers took advantage of 9.9 to grow their businesses, with one top local merchant from Valenzuela City selling over 400,000 packs of face masks on 9 September alone. Another fashion accessories seller used Shopee Live to engage with their followers, gaining 80,000 views during their 9.9 livestream. Meanwhile, leading brands Uni-Care, Unilever Beauty, and Maybelline also saw a boost in orders as shoppers looked to Shopee for their go-to branded parenting essentials, personal care products, and beauty must-haves.

Shopee’s in-app features brought more value and entertainment to all users

Shoppers were treated to plentiful days of fun from August 26, leading up to a star-studded TV special on September 9. Countless users tuned in to Shopee livestreams 87 million times and engaged with in-app games for over 16 million total plays throughout the 9.9 period. 

ShopeePay brought users more convenience and rewards

Filipinos continued to enjoy seamless, value-for-money payments as they took advantage of ShopeePay's ₱1 Load & Data promos, with purchases tripling on 9.9 compared to a regular day. Local shoppers also used ShopeePay to pay off their wish list items on mobile phone accessories, skincare products, and kitchenware sets while payment transactions with various billers doubled during the super shopping day.

To stay updated on the latest mas mura deals and promos, download the Shopee app from leading app stores and follow Shopee Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. 

Jollibee cited by Ad Age as one of hottest brands in America

Homegrown Restaurant Chain Jollibee has been named as one of America’s Top 20 Hottest Brands in 2022 by Ad Age.

NEW YORK, USA. 2 August 2022 – Global media company, Ad Age, has named Jollibee one of America’s Top 20 hottest brands in 2022.

In an article titled “Jollibee Draws Endless Lines as U.S. Demand Surges—Fans Rally ‘It’s Our Turn’ on Social Media,” Ad Age shares that Jollibee offers a “unique combination of flavors” compared to its rivals.

“Last year, Jollibee’s entrance into the notorious chicken sandwich wars helped cement the brand’s place among competitors. As new stores with endless lines appear throughout the U.S., fans have been spreading the rallying cry, “It’s our turn!” on social media in hopes of getting the chain to come to their own town,” wrote Yadira Gonzalez of Ad Age.

“To be named as among America’s Top 20 Hottest Brands is a great honor,” said Maribeth dela Cruz, Jollibee Group’s President for Philippine Brands (Jollibee, Chowking, and Red Ribbon) in North America. “Everywhere we open, we are greeted with incredible warmth and enthusiasm from the local community. We dedicate this recognition to them and our people who continue to live our mission of bringing the joy of eating to everyone.”

Ad Age highlights 20 brands, people, and services from various categories creating a buzz among consumers. Together with Jollibee, on Ad Age’s list are other brands from the beauty and skincare, beverages, and sports and apparel categories. Its editorial committee discusses and decides on which brands would be fit for the list.

Now with 83 locations across North America and over 1,500 restaurants worldwide, Jollibee is on a mission to continue growing its presence in the U.S. and Canada, with plans to grow to 500 stores in the next five to seven years.

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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, India, and Australia.

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 L.P., 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

This is your final call to catch the Great Samsung TV Sale!

Don’t miss these fantastic prices on Samsung’s 4K Smart TVs

Our TV habits have evolved from regular channel surfing to streaming platforms, playing games, and browsing social media with a click of the remote thanks to smart feature upgrades But not all smart TVs are built the same. Samsung’s best-in-class TVs up the ante with its superior picture and audio quality, and stylish form factor.

Upgrade your home theater system with Samsung at the Great Samsung TV Sale, and don’t miss the best deals from the Global #1 TV and Soundbar brand. Until September 30, snag up to 40% off on the 4K Crystal UHD Smart TV and over 30% off on premium soundbars. It’s Samsung’s biggest TV event of the year, which means it’s the best time to upgrade your home entertainment system.

Here’s how you and your family can enjoy TV time when you upgrade to a Samsung TV and Soundbar today:

Enhanced visuals for all media

Your favorite movies and series get a boost with more lifelike color, thanks to Samsung’s Dynamic Crystal Color feature. Get a different level of picture quality with one billion shades of color, delivering every subtlety and detail in whatever you’re watching. The TV’s 4K picture takes realism to the next level – don’t be surprised if you or your kids reach out towards the screen on your next movie night.

Play like a pro

Access your favorite content with just a click of a button with Samsung’s improved Smart Hub. With artificial intelligence, Smart Hub learns your preferences so you and your family spend less time searching and more time bonding over streamed movies, shows, and other content you enjoy. Gaming with Samsung’s BU8000 Crystal UHD TV is also now more enjoyable with enhanced game motion features.

Seamless addition to your home’s aesthetic

With Samsung TV, you don’t need to sacrifice form for function. The Crystal UHD TVs are sleeker and slimmer than ever to blend in beautifully when wall mounted or displayed on a TV console. Whether placed in the living room, the family room, or the bedroom, the Crystal UHD TV will complement any space.

Cinema-quality sound

Complete your viewing experience with the best sound with Samsung’s Q-Soundbar. It is built with Dolby Atmos technology for cinema-quality audio, and when paired with a Samsung TV, the Q-Symphony feature allows audio to be played from both TV and Soundbar speakers for better sound quality and immersion.

Get that much-deserved home theater upgrade at the Great Samsung TV Sale from now until September 30.

Visit www.samsung.com/ph for more details on the products and the promo.