COMCO Southeast Asia’s Leader Ferdinand Bondoy elected to UK-based Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) International Committee

 

COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director, Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy, has been elected to the International Committee of the United Kingdom (UK) based Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) composed of PR leaders from across the world – Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.

Mr. Bondoy is the only committee member based in the Southeast Asian region and he brings in diversity and representation in the globally renowned professional body for public relations practitioners. He will also be the lead for online events of CIPR International.

Founded in the United Kingdom, the CIPR is the world’s only Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners, with nearly 10,000 members across the globe. As pioneers in the industry, the CIPR champions its expertise in public relations through standards and skill guidance to accelerate development among PR practitioners.

Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi Modem now more affordable, perfect for every Filipino family!

Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi is now available at more affordable prices, becoming more accessible to millions of Filipinos in need of reliable connection for work and school amid the continuing pandemic.

Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi will be available at the Globe Online Shop at an exclusive price from P999 to P499 starting January 21, and in all Globe stores and retailers nationwide at the same price starting February 1, along with Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi LTE-Advanced at from P1,999 to P999.

The offering will surely benefit households across the country, especially students still studying at home as face-to-face classes remain prohibited due to the fresh surge in COVID-19 cases.  Whether for modular or online learning, Pinoy students will find a reliable partner in Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi.

Airbnb announces relief program supporting Filipino guests impacted by COVID-19

Airbnb has launched a US$20 million Guest COVID Support Program

Airbnb has announced a new way it will support guests as they navigate the unexpected impact of a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, via the launch of its Guest COVID Support Program.

The company is introducing the Program to provide relief to guests no longer able to proceed with their previously booked reservations due to unexpected travel disruptions caused by government mandates — such as border closures or mandatory extended quarantine requirements.

For guests in these situations who are unable to obtain full refunds under their Hosts’ cancellation policies, Airbnb will provide relief in the form of a travel coupon for 50 percent of the cost of the unrefunded portion of the reservation. The company is funding this program with $20 million USD initially to help defray these financial impacts to guests, and ensure guests know that it is listening to their concerns.

6 tips to keep you protected in your day-to-day life

Being able to defend yourself in any scenario may increase your self-esteem and provide a much-needed sense of security.

Even in today’s modern world, we’re still constantly surrounded by dangers and threats to our safety – these can happen to anyone and usually when we least expect it. While we tend to focus on the more obvious or larger-scale threats to our safety, we must not forget the day-to-day dangers that we must continue protecting ourselves from. Being able to protect yourself from looming dangers in any situation can be both a confidence booster and a welcome reassurance to your overall well-being.

AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, suggests these six tips you can practice to help you protect yourself better daily.

Blockbusters for P50: UPSTREAM PH now on Gcash

Want to upgrade your home viewing experience? You can now watch top films, series and live events through your mobile wallet.

Video-on-demand platform UPSTREAM is now available on GCash through GLife, which gives you access to lifestyle services, from food delivery and retail to transport and entertainment. Just click on GLife on your GCash dashboard, search for UPSTREAM PH, and be transported to a whole new streaming experience wherever you are.

“UPSTREAM PH has a full line-up of content where there’s something for everyone, from movies to series to live events. And the good thing is, you can enjoy watching in the comfort of your own home, with just one ticket payment for the whole family. With our partnership with GCash, choosing what you want, paying for it and watching it can be conveniently done on Upstream PH inside GLife,” said UPSTREAM PH CEO Dondon Monteverde.

Local Products Fuel Business Growth and Empower Communities

Winners of Shopee Celebrates Local campaign share how locally-made products impact the lives of other Filipinos

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues to support local sellers through the #TatakPinoy: Shopee Celebrates Local campaign. During the campaign, Shopee held a contest where users voted for their favorite among 12 Filipino sellers. Uniq.mnl, Chelssydresstaytay, and Mighty Clean emerged as the top three winners, where they not only exemplified excellence in their businesses but also supported the community by providing job opportunities amidst difficult times.

Sharing their success to empower others

Sisters Ira and Ireen Cruz have been in the garment industry for five years, but when the pandemic hit in March 2020, their business was greatly affected. Instead of cutting their losses and ceasing operations, the siblings decided to try selling online through Shopee. Their business flourished and they have been consistently hitting their sales targets. The shop’s significant growth also led to more employment opportunities for skilled Filipinos specializing in garments, a point of pride for the entrepreneurs.

Ira Cruz, Owner of Uniq.mnl, said, “It was such an honor to be part of the ‘Shopee Celebrates Local’ campaign. We are happy to be able to provide job opportunities to our community. It is the most rewarding experience of all and we are truly blessed with loyal staff. Since we started, we have grown the team from a handful to now over 50 staff members. We hope to pay it forward and be able to offer more jobs to help improve the livelihood of the people around us.”

Double up on savings as realme joins Lazada, Shopee 2.2 sale with discounts up to P8,500 off

Get lucky with discounts on your favorite realme smartphones and TechLife devices, available for as much as 55% OFF on Lazada and Shopee starting February 2!

The month of February truly holds great promise and tremendous luck for all of us as we officially ring in the Chinese New Year. With the Year of the Water Tiger just around the corner, realme, the PH’s no. 1 smartphone brand for three consecutive quarters in 2021 (based on Canalys and IDC sell-in data Q1-Q3 2021) is giving everyone another reason to celebrate as it joins the upcoming 2.2 sale on Lazada and Shopee.

Starting February 2, 12MN, the realme Squad can get lucky and double up on savings with discounts of up to P8,500 OFF on realme’s best-selling smartphones, audio, wearable, and home products, via the realme Official Store on both e-commerce platforms.

This campaign is in line with the brand’s vision of making the best tech lifestyle experience within the reach of every Filipino. With sale opportunities and partnerships such as this, realme upholds its commitment of providing quality tech products at affordable prices, coupled with the convenience of online shopping.

Creating a positive learning environment: Globe encourages parents and teachers to collaborate for students’ upskilling

Teachers are often seen as a source of inspiration, courage, and hope when it comes to students’ education. But it is often forgotten that parents also play a critical role in the holistic development of a child’s schooling.

In the second part of the “Exploring Parental Engagement Practice in the School” session of the 4th Professional Development Series for Teachers on Parental Engagement, it discussed how both teachers and parents need to work hand-in-hand in identifying the areas for growth, as well as the strengths they need to reinforce in their students.

The webinar was presented by Globe, through its Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) program, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP).

Start the year with good health and proper nutrition with ready to drink bundles with Abbott's Ensure Ready to Drink

 

Time to start the year right.  It has been a roller coaster ride for all of us for the past 2 years with the ongoing pandemic.  All the more reason for us to take care of our bodies, keeping healthy and making sure to get the proper nutrition our body needs to get the best immunity against diseases. The best New Year's Resolution for you this 2022.

As we go through our everyday chores, going to work, being exposed to all uncertainties, we all need a wall we can lean on.. to Ensure that life goes on, whatever obstacles we face.

As my everyday partner, Ensure Gold keeps me healthy and strong with adult nutritional supplement and provide complete nutrition for use as a meal supplement.  Ensure Gold now has HMB, a natural nutrient that the body produces less with age.  This is perfect for us working adults and working professionals to keep us on top of our feet.

Shopee Launches Brand Spotlight Campaign to Help Brands Increase Presence and Deepen Customer Engagement

With the new Brand Spotlight campaign, brands can unlock more growth opportunities in e-commerce

The future of e-commerce is looking bright. With the global industry expected to grow by $10.87 trillion dollars by 2025^[1], online platforms are in a unique position to help businesses gain more traction and drive conversion. Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues to innovate its offerings to support the  growth of brand partners with Brand Spotlight - a daily campaign that features exclusive deals and product offerings from  Filipinos’ favorite brands. Starting January 17, users can look forward to unique daily offers from their favorite Shopee Mall brands, such as new product launches, bundle deals, and other exciting promos that are available only on Shopee.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We want to empower our brand partners with more ways to capture and engage customers. As more consumers want to shop directly from official brand stores on Shopee Mall,  we want to provide a focused platform that can help brands unlock more growth opportunities.”

Pru Life UK opens general agency offices in Pangasinan, Cavite, and Mandaluyong City

Astra Life Insurance Agency Inc.

From left to right: Pru Life UK Vice President and Sector Head Blesila Garcia, Assistant Unit Manager Fortunato Galang Jr., District Manager Teresita Robles, Unit Manager Moreen Abarquez, Branch Manager Ryanier Angeles, Agent Paul Vincent Castillo, Unit Manager Sherrie Pearl Gamboa, and Unit Manager Ray Justin Reyes

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK expands its footprint in Pangasinan, Cavite, and Mandaluyong City with the opening of three new general agency (GA) offices in the country.

Diamond Trillion Life Insurance Agency Inc., headed by General Agency Leader Laneza Molina under Diamond 7, opened its doors for Pru Life UK customers at JT Commercial Building, 95 Brgy Roxas Blvd., San Carlos City in Pangasinan.

Francisco Jr. and Family Life Insurance Agency Inc., headed by General Agency Leader Farrah del Monico under B-Empire Life Insurance Services, opened its office at 2nd floor, Unit 8, J12 Property Leasing, Lot 2515-A-4&5, Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy Anabu Ii-D, Imus City in Cavite.

Reckitt partners with the Office of the Vice President in support of their Vaccine Express program

Reckitt recently donated Php 1,242,480 worth Lysol protection kits to the Office of the Vice President during the recent Vaccine Express deployment held in Malolos, Bulacan, with no-less than Vice President Leni Robredo and Reckitt executives in attendance. Through the Vaccine Express program, the OVP is able help speed up the inoculation efforts of its various LGUs partners.

Reckitt has been actively donating Lysol protection kits—containing Lysol antibacterial hand soap, multipurpose surface wipes and hand sanitizers—as the company believes that protection is still one of the best defenses against the COVID-19 virus and that people should never let their guard down. Washing of hands and disinfecting surfaces should still play a vital role in ensuring one’s health and safety.

Xiaomi opens its first Exclusive Service Center in the Philippines

Global technology leader Xiaomi recently inaugurated its first exclusive service center in the Philippines as part of its commitment to ramp up its after-sales program in the country.

Located at the ground floor, Serendra Wing of Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, the Xiaomi Exclusive Service Center aims to provide its customers VIP treatment and a seamless experience, starting from the purchase of the products and up to the time after-sales support for the gadgets are needed.

“The unwavering support of Xiaomi fans has been a crucial factor in our growth this year and we want to make sure we continue to deliver the best possible experience for them when it comes to their needs. The opening of this new exclusive center signals the start of more innovation when it comes to our customer service that we are aiming to bring to more Xiaomi fans nationwide,” shared Joel Salera, Xiaomi Philippines Service Manager.

This year, Xiaomi expanded its aftersales touchpoints, growing from 10 service centers last year to opening 20 more sites nationwide; plus appointing 10 additional authorized service centers to support Xiaomi TV products. Furthermore, the Xiaomi Contact Center was established earlier this year to service customers in the Philippines and the Americas.

Shopee is The Most Tweeted E-Commerce Brand in the Philippines this 2021

With its string of successful campaigns and relatable social media content, Shopee is the most tweeted e-commerce brand in the country according to Twitter for 2021.

The leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan took the second spot overall in Twitter’s ten most tweeted brands list in the Philippines, which was released as part of the latter’s “Best of Tweets 2021” awards announced on December 14, 2021. The annual rundown aims to celebrate and recognize outstanding brands for their groundbreaking campaigns and engaging digital content.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are pleased to be recognized as one of the most talked-about brands in the country by Twitter. As we welcome a new year, Shopee will push for excellence and increase engagement satisfaction not only in-app but on other platforms as well. This coming 2022, we will continue to improve our services to better tend to the needs of our consumers, sellers, and brand partners.”

MetroMart brings holiday happiness with the ₱1 Million Christmas Prizes

Get a chance to win 1 year of FREE groceries, and more

The holiday spirit is now a million times more merry and bright with the MetroMart ₱1 Million Christmas Prizes. Over a million pesos worth of groceries, gadgets, and store credits can be won by customers through online grocery orders from supermarkets and specialty stores on MetroMart.

Customers must enter the promo code “MMRAFFLE” upon checkout to join the e-raffle. Every completed order with the minimum spend requirement from all specialty stores and supermarkets on the MetroMart app and website entitles a customer to get e-raffle entries. You can avail 1 e-raffle entry for a minimum purchase of ₱2,500. Get 3 e-raffle entries for a minimum purchase of ₱4,000, and 5 e-raffle entries for minimum purchase of ₱6,000.

The Minor Prizes include 50 MetroMart store credits worth ₱2,000 each, 1 Black and Decker Cordless Vacuum worth ₱9,835 from True Value, 20 Holiday Gift Packs worth ₱1,000 each from Fly Ace Corporation, 5 Holiday Grocery Packs worth ₱5,000 each from P&G, 3 winners of Samsung Galaxy S21+, 2 winners of Apple Macbook Air with M1 chip, and 5 winners of iPhone12 Pro.

Environmental win: GCash hits 1 million virtual trees planted in GForest

The Philippines’ leading digital mobile wallet company GCash announced it has virtually planted 1 million trees through GForest, the environmental sustainability feature on the GCash app. As of December 19, 2021, a total of 1,060,000 trees have been planted virtually by GForest users.

The virtual trees are planted by GCash users via the GForest on the app, and GCash in turn plants the real trees on their behalf.  Since GForest’s launch in 2019, it now has 9 million users.  The users can earn green energy points by using the various cashless services of GCash, such as Send Money, Pay Bills, or Bank Transfer on the app – digital financial services that also lessen their carbon footprint, in addition to planting trees. GForest users can also collect green energy every time they walk if they enable GCash to access their health app or fitness tracker. These green energy points can be used to plant virtual trees. As of November 2021, more than 133 million digital, paperless transactions have been made in GCash to earn green energy points for GForest users. This is in line with the mission of GCash to support environmental sustainability by keeping individual carbon footprint low and helping fight climate change.

“With the impacts of climate change, GCash capitalizes on technology in contributing and raising awareness to environmental conservation and sustainability. We hope that through GForest, we are able to empower more Filipinos to help in protecting the environment,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash. 

Millennial Resorts Achieve the First and Prestigious EDGE Certification for Resort Hospitality in the Philippines

Edge-certified Millennial Resorts' Crusoe Cabins at CaSoBe

Millennial Resorts achieved the very first EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) Certification for a resort hospitality project in the country, with its Crusoe Cabins at CaSoBe in Calatagan, Batangas. The EDGE Certification was awarded by Philippine Green Building Initiative, Inc. (PGBI) which recognized Crusoe Cabins for its eco-efficient design that result in reduction of 34% in energy, 57% in water and 65% in embodied energy in materials compared to local base case.

“We are truly proud of this recognition of Millennial Resorts as the first recipient of the highly-coveted EDGE Certification for a resort project in the Philippines. We share this honor with our relentless team who make it possible for us to put into action Landco’s long-term commitment to social, economic and environmental sustainability in premium property developments for more than 30 years across the country,” said Erickson Y. Manzano, President and CEO of both Landco Pacific Corporation and Millennial Resorts Corporation (MRC).

“Being eco-conscious is ingrained in both Landco and MRC’s DNAs. We do it, first and foremost, because it is the right thing to do.  Millennial Resorts’ EDGE Certification complements our over-all sustainability program at our latest Leisure Tourism Estates in Batangas – 15-hectare CaSoBe and 24-hectare Club Laiya, both of which are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Registered and incorporate water recycling, permeable pedestrian tree-lined walkways, and scenic bike lanes around the beachside properties to further reduce our carbon footprints,” he added.  

Drink your water and get up to P500 cashback from Wilkins Distilled and PayMaya!

Staying hydrated with your trusted Wilkins Distilled water is now made even more sulit as you can get up to P500 cashback via PayMaya. 

Just look for the specially-marked label on the product whenever you purchase a 7L Wilkins Distilled bottle, and you will receive instant prizes of P5, P50, or P500 cashback vouchers via PayMaya until January 31, 2022.