iPhone 11, Now Within Your Reach with Home Credit’s 0% Interest Promo

No More Breaking the Bank: Experience iPhone 11 with Home Credit’s 0% Interest Promo - Extended by popular demand, you can enjoy this incredible deal until September 30!

As we continue to embrace the digital lifestyle, we rely more than ever on our gadgets, especially smartphones. From the moment we wake up, these devices are our constant companions that enable us to stay updated on relevant happenings, connect with our loved ones and colleagues, work through our everyday tasks, relax and unwind in our downtime, and many more.

Because of this, choosing the right smartphone is crucial to ensure that your go-to gadget companion can keep up with your day-to-day needs. With an array of options that boast powerful features and capabilities, selecting a smartphone can be a challenge but, of course, it pays to opt for trusted brands like Apple.

For years, Apple has delivered numerous quality devices built with outstanding cameras, seamless performance, and other cutting-edge specs that empower your lifestyle, particularly its iPhone line. However, how can you get such incredible devices without breaking the bank?

Experience iPhone 11 with Home Credit!

Fortunately, owning an iPhone is now within reach, thanks to the leading consumer finance company, Home Credit. With its limited-period offer, you can now get the iPhone 11’s 128GB or 64GB variant in 6-, 9-, or 12-month installment plans with 0% interest, allowing you to choose the one that best fits your budget.

If you are curious about how the iPhone 11 will perform in your everyday needs, here are the specs and features of this remarkable device, which you can easily get your hands on with Home Credit’s amazing deal extended by popular demand until September 30.

Features effortless performance to support daily activities

Equipped with a powerful A13 Bionic chip, the iPhone 11 is a powerhouse that makes multitasking seem effortless every day. Thanks to this processor, you can seamlessly switch between apps, play graphically demanding games, and stream videos without lag. It ensures you stay ahead of the curve as it is built to handle the demands of modern life.

The iOS 13 operating system complements this chip for a remarkable user experience. Aside from that, it also boasts longer battery life, making your daily moves unstoppable. It has a 3110mAh battery capacity, providing at least 65 hours of music playback or 17 hours of video viewing to give you enough power for your daily activities.

Showcases a powerful dual-camera system to capture life’s best moments

In addition to its outstanding features, the iPhone 11's camera system is like a magical lens that turns moments into memories. Packed with 12MP Ultra-Wide and Wide cameras, you can easily shoot gorgeous portraits and landscape photos to document every OOTD, occasion, celebration, or even simple achievement in your life. Its cameras also support a 4K feature to allow you to record crystal-clear videos.

Exhibits incredible display, design for leveled-up usage

To deliver an incredible experience whenever you are using the device, the iPhone 11 features a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display exhibiting a 1792x828 resolution for better viewing. Its screen is accompanied by a water-resistant design rated IP68 to ensure protection from accidental spills or water immersions up to two meters for 30 minutes. This makes sure that the iPhone 11 can last for a long time. This design is available in six eye-catching colors: Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, and White.

What are you waiting for? Do not let this chance slip your fingers! Purchase the iPhone 11 now via Home Credit and experience a powerful device that can easily conquer your day-to-day demands!

To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are also encouraged to download the My Home Credit App on Google Play to learn more about the latest promos and see what’s new in the Marketplace.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

10 Things You Can Expect at the Philippine Book Festival

We are happy to share that the 2nd leg of the Philippine Book Festival is happening on August 18-20, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center, Davao City. 

This exciting event is the largest traveling book festival in the Philippines where you can meet your favorite authors, join a workshop, explore an exhibit, and shop Filipino books. It is definitely more than just a book fair, it's actually a complete book experience that every bookworm shouldn't miss. 

Here are 10 things you can expect at the Philippine Book Festival

1. MEET AND GREET - Connect with your favorite writers and creators. Attend book readings and book signing events. 

2. DISCOVER NEW TITLES, EXPLORE RARE BOOKS AND OTHER CURATED BOOK COLLECTION - Explore new and diverse titles across all genres. With hundreds of publishers participating, you'll be sure to find something that suits your taste. You can also explore and view rare books from the National Library of the Philippines. 

3. ATTEND TALKS AND WORKSHOPS - We offer a range of workshops that cover various topics such as decolonizing reading, Filipino publishing, cross-media adaptation, and much more. 

4. READ AT THE BOOK NOOK - Enjoy the special place where you can do your favorite thing to do. The organizers will prepare a special place for you to browse and read books for free! Talk about bringing a mini library to the event. :)  

5. ENJOY LIVE PERFORMANCES - Enjoy live performances by actors and storytellers who will entertain and captivate you with their tales. 

6. PARTICIPATE IN WRITING WORKSHOPS - If you are an inspiring writer, here is your chance to learn from experts and start honing your craft. 

7. ENGAGE IN LITERARY DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES - If you enjoy books and literature, the event provides ample opportunities to engage in lively debates and discussions with fellow book lovers. 

8. EXPLORE DIGITAL PUBLISHING AND E-BOOKS - Discover the latest technology in digital publishing and explore the world of e-books. 

9. BOND WITH YOUR FAMILY - You can expect programs for the whole family. Join in on storytelling sessions, create your own family book, and enjoy special tours. 

10. SHOP FILIPINO BOOKS AND MERCHANDISE - Find exclusive deals on Pinoy tiles and curate your own home library.  

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The best part? The entrance is free. 

For more details, you may visit National Book Development Board's FB page for more details. 

Philippine Veterans Bank Gears Up for the 1st Historic Victory Day Bike Ride in Baguio Honoring WWII Veterans

Baguio City will witness a momentous event that blends history and sportsmanship. The inaugural Victory Day Ride spearheaded by the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) slated on September 3, 2023, will take cycling enthusiasts and history aficionados on a journey to honor the sacrifices of World War II veterans and raise awareness about Baguio Victory Day.

Mike Villa-Real, PVB first vice president for marketing and communications, said “the enactment of R.A. 11216 in 2018, marks September 3rd of each year as a special working holiday, marking Yamashita’s surrender and Victory Day in the Philippines. This day in 1945 is clearly a significant historical event marking the success and along with it, the toil and sacrifices, of the soldiers of both the United States and the Philippines. However, it is not as well-known as the “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) commemorated April 9 each year.”

Organized in partnership with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), City Government of Baguio, Wartime Heritage Guild Philippines (WHG), Without Limits, Salgado PR, this ride aims to foster a deeper understanding of the city's significant role during WWII while encouraging active participation in the sport of cyclists of all ages and backgrounds.

Inspired by the annual Ride for Valor that retraces the infamous Death March, the Victory Day Bike Ride takes a different route, focusing on the historical sites and landmarks associated with Baguio City's role in World War II. Cyclists and participants will embark on a 44.5 kilometer route that meanders through the city's picturesque landscapes and historical spots, providing a unique opportunity to relive the past and honor the heroes who fought valiantly for freedom.

While the Ride for Valor primarily focuses on the Death March, the Victory Day Bike Ride aims to balance the narrative by shedding light on the broader scope of World War II history in the Philippines. The Victory Day Bike Ride seeks to increase awareness about Baguio City's role during the war. The event intends to give due recognition to the countless Filipino and American soldiers who fought for the country’s liberation.

The Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) invites sports and cycling enthusiasts to join the Ride for Victory Day, a bike-for-a-cause event that aims to raise funds for the maintenance of the country’s historical markers and other World War 2 heritage sites.

The ride is open to fully vaccinated cyclists and all types of bikes with brakes. Villa-Real said participants may ride at their own pace, and will also implement a "No Helmet, No Ride" policy to ensure the safety of the participants.

Villa-Real also said a mechanic will be available to help those who encounter mechanical difficulties, while roving marshals will be present to keep track of the riders' progress. Support vehicles are allowed, but riders should only ride in the vehicle if they choose to drop out of the event.

The non-competitive bike ride will have 5 pitstops: Start at Baguio City Hall, First Stop, Camp Allen, Second Stop, USAFIP-NL Marker, Third Stop, Sablan View Deck, Fourth Stop, Fort Del Pilr (Philippine Military Academy), Fifth and Final Stop, US Embassy in Camp John Hay.

The registration fee for the Ride for Victory Day is P600, which includes an official event shirt, a race bib and passport, a loot bag, a post-ride meal, and a commemorative medal.

Interested individuals may register online at https://bit.ly/victorydayride-regform while groups may email rideforvalor@gmail.com until September 1. 

PVB is a private, commercial bank owned by World War 2 veterans and their families. With its new Charter signed into law, the Bank's ownership now includes Post War Veterans and AFP Retirees.

For more information about the event, follow Victory Day Ride on Facebook.

A Home that Cares: Home Credit Extends HMO Coverage to Domestic Partners to Strengthen Inclusivity Efforts

As Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) continues to foster inclusivity and support diverse families in the workplace, the leading consumer finance company now includes domestic partners as dependent in its medical benefits program for eligible employees.

Home Credit Philippines Chief People Officer Alpha Omega Aquino noted that this new policy is aligned with the company’s commitment to prioritizing the well-being of its employees.

“With this initiative, we hope to create an environment where every employee feels supported and valued. We want to help promote a caring and nurturing work culture that feels like home to empower our employees further,” said Aquino.

With this new policy, qualified employees can now extend their HMO coverage to their domestic partners if they meet certain criteria. The employee and domestic partner should be both single and never married and not related by blood, whether legitimate or illegitimate. The partner must also be of legal age and not more than 65 years old.

If eligible, the employee can enroll the partner by submitting the following requirements for the medical benefits program: barangay certification of co-habitation, the partner’s Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) certified copy of birth certificate, and PSA certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR).

“By extending our medical benefits program to domestic partners, we aim to enable our employees to build strong and healthy families, regardless of marital status. The coverage will encompass inpatient and even outpatient services, including checkups, laboratory tests, rehab, therapy, emergency care, dental, mental health care, and pre-existing conditions,” Aquino added.

As a strong advocate of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), this initiative complements the Same-Sex Partner HMO Coverage that Home Credit started to offer its employees in 2021 to provide medical benefits to LGBTQIA+ partners. Currently, the company already has several employees enjoying this benefit.

“At Home Credit, we believe that our employees are our greatest asset. We remain committed to fostering a workplace that promotes DEI, allowing us to embrace different perspectives and backgrounds to make every employee feel welcome and appreciated. We will continue enhancing our programs for our employees as we believe our success will not be possible without them,” Aquino remarked.

As a testament to Home Credit’s commitment to upholding DEI practice, the company recently received another Gold Stevie® for the Innovative Achievement for Diversity and Inclusion category during the tenth annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards last June.

To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are also encouraged to download the My Home Credit App on Google Play to learn more about the latest promos and see what’s new in the Marketplace.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Camella Celebrates 15 Formidable Years in Bacolod City

There is a reason why charming is the adjective often used to describe this verdant land. A place where the brightness of colorful masks is eclipsed only by the smiles of the people wearing them, where food is a party in every bite, and where clean and green is not a slogan but a way of life. It is no surprise that Bacolod has been ranked in the past as one of the Best Places to Live in the Philippines and is part of the list of Next Wave Cities.

Camella has been part of the city’s growth since 2008. Celebrating its quindecennial anniversary, Camella remains deeply ensconced in the heart of Bacolod City – providing the strategically located residential developments for the Negrense within its communities and vertical development.

Camella Bacolod North: Close to the Heart of the City

The property’s main entrance gate opens up to the Cordova-Buri Road. All it takes is one step and the throbbing city is laid out before one’s eyes. Camella Bacolod North is near the City Hall where major establishments are clustered. Also nearby are schools such as the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, and Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod, as well as hospitals, and churches. BPO hubs are within the vicinity. For leisurely pursuits, major malls are close by, including Vista Mall.

Its north entrance gate opens to the Bata circumferential road, enjoying additional access to the fastest routes in and out of Bacolod. The gate is situated close to the North Terminal where one can take public transport going to Silay, Talisay, and other key cities in Negros Occidental.

Camella Bacolod South: A Statement of Privilege

Camella Bacolod South is especially designed to emulate the Mediterranean feel in a master planned community. The development spans 44 hectares of prime development envisioned to be one of the important urban centers in Bacolod City.

With modern conveniences that complement an upbeat lifestyle, Camella Bacolod South is a statement of privilege, a graciousness of home and family inspired by the benevolent nature of the Negrenses. Mixing functionality with charm, model homes vary to suit the homeowners’ style preferences and resources.

Olvera by Vista Land: A Place of Distinction and a Prime Investment

This five-tower village takes full advantage of the dynamism and charm of Bacolod City. Perched on one-hectare property where the bustle of a booming city meets the gentle elegance the people of Bacolod is known for, Olvera has much to offer those looking for either ready-to-move-in homes or ready-to-run business places.

This mid-rise community comes replete with modern conveniences necessary to live the upbeat lifestyle the Negrenses have always aspired for.

The developments of Camella perfectly complement the urban lifestyle of modern Bacolod City. It offers a safe haven for starting families, young professionals, and empty-nesters. Designed with contemporary architecture and master planned to maximize open spaces, the projects aim to create communities that encourage neighborly interactions while still ensuring privacy.

It has been an amazing 15 years in Bacolod,” said Henny Elman, Marketing Head for Visayas. “It's been exciting to not merely stand as a witness but to contribute to the growth of the city into an urban hub by offering quality homes and vertical residences to a population that is evolving and taking its rightful place in the emerging modern economy. We look forward not only to the next 15 years but far beyond it.”

Learn about the Camella properties in Bacolod. Visit www.camella.com.ph and follow @CamellaOfficiial on social media.

Rex Education’s ‘Bawat Paaralan Edukampyon Continuum’ recognized at UNODC Conference as an exemplary school-community-family program for strengthening drug-abuse prevention

During the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Conference recently, at Novotel Manila, Quezon City, Rex Education bared its ‘Bawat Paaralan Edukampyon (BPE) Continuum’ for strengthening drug-abuse prevention.

UNODC’s Conference gathered organizations, policymakers, and prevention implementers for discussions on addressing drug-related problems in the country. Under the theme “Prevention Digest: Strengthening the prevention strategy and family-based initiatives in the Philippines”, UNODC encouraged individuals and groups to share drug-abuse prevention responses that are health-centered and based on family intervention. The agenda tackled the healthcare system, evidence-based programs, and Philippine experiences in family-centered interventions.

During the 3rd day of the event, REX was among the government and non-government organizations who shared their experiences with prevention programming, as well as the impact and influence of these initiatives.

Taking a whole school approach to reform initiatives

BPE officially launched during the January 2021 Annual Educators' Congress, where 400 private and public schools expressed interest and intent in pilot implementing the framework.

In March 2021, pilot implementation for BPE began with 13 schools completing one implementation cycle. These schools were Marantha Christian Academy, St. Edward School, Canossa Academy Calamba, Ednas School, Cherished Moments School, Colegio de Santa Rita de San Carlos, Inc., Cabulay High School, San Andres Elementary School, Divisoria High School, Rosario National High School, Sagana National High School, Patul National High School, and Sinili Integrated School.

REX gave life to the portmanteau ‘Edukampyon’, a combination of the words edukasyon (education) and kampyon (champion) to mean champions of education. The BPE program is grounded in the Edukampyon advocacy: To engage duty-bearers and build their capacities for respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the right to quality education.

Pursuant to BEDP 2030, REX advocates a whole-school approach that entails the collaboration of all members in a school community. The whole school approach recognizes that the informal curriculum is just as valuable as the formal one, highlighting the importance of providing learners with inclusive and safe environments beyond the classroom. This framework is meant to advance agendas on global education and reform initiatives such as health awareness, eradication of violence, and drug abuse prevention.

The whole school approach also comes into play in promoting the six facets of the Filipino whole learner. REX has identified various indicators that should ensure a Filipino learner is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged, and values-oriented. Across these indicators, there is a common theme that encourages school culture and leadership to promote learners' physical and mental health, implement policies relevant to civic participation, and equip students with the essential competencies for lifelong learning. Families and communities are recognized as a major part of this advocacy, as the success of a child's education largely relies on the effective collaboration of stakeholders advocating for every learner's well-being.

Bawat Paaralan Edukampyon in support of UNODC standards

Based on the standards of UNODC, drug abuse prevention is a significant motivator for children, young adults, and adults to contribute positively in their families, schools, workplaces, and communities. Drug-abuse prevention at the school level focuses on the health and safety of children and youth, in a bid to encourage self-actualization that can lead to the realization of their full potential, prompting them to become productive members of society.

UNODC has found that developing a student's personal and social skills can prevent drug use and alcohol abuse. For children aged 10 and below, programs centered on improving resistance skills and self-control have been shown to reduce general problem behaviors in and out of the classroom. Several other factors can also influence the discouragement of substance abuse, such as students' academic performance, commitment to school, and social opportunities.

To achieve these benchmarks, REX designed BPE as a three-tier implementation framework that will allow schools to conduct systematic assessments of their progress in the UNODC's domains. BPE encourages schools to work with their stakeholders, students, parents, and community members in the planning and implementation of activities and interventions that are relevant to UNODC's standards.

Bawat Paaralan Edukampyon is an exemplary school-community-family program for drug abuse prevention

The BPE's pilot implementation allowed learners to learn about drug abuse prevention through the collaborative efforts of their teachers, administrators, parents, and other stakeholders. In particular, parents reported feeling more engaged and knowledgeable of their children's school activities and priorities after participating in the BPE process.

The participating schools showed significant levels of involvement and support, having developed an appreciation for the BPE framework. REX intends to leverage this support in fine-tuning effective BPE advocacies, communications, and education initiatives for more schools across the nation.

In doing so, REX was able to complement UNODC's standards on drug-use prevention. Placing value in the partnership, emphasizing the importance of effective parenting, and delivering evidence-based prevention strategies proved to be the pillars that drove the success of BPE's initial launch. REX is committed to pushing BPE at a wider scale, in a bid to ensure children and youth become invulnerable and more resilient to drug use.

Earth Hour 2023 unites more than 60 NGOs, NGAs and LGUs to give the biggest hour for Earth

The celebration of Earth Hour 2023 in the Philippines was a success, with iconic landmarks, local governments, and businesses across the country participating in the switch-off.

Earth Hour is an annual event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF-Philippines) that encourages people to turn off their lights for an hour as a symbol of their commitment to the planet. This global movement aims to raise awareness about climate change and the need for urgent action to mitigate its impacts. The event also seeks to highlight the value of nature as climate’s secret ally and the halting of biodiversity loss as one of the organization’s critical advocacies

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) measured a total nationwide drop in electricity grid load of 62.68 megawatts (MW) during Earth Hour. Luzon saw the most significant drop with 33.28 MW, while Visayas and Mindanao saw load drops of 20.5 MW and 8.9 MW, respectively. To put this into perspective, a small household can consume around 150 to 250 kilowatts in a month, making the energy saved during Earth Hour equivalent to 250 to 418 small households not consuming electricity for a whole month.

“We see how much Filipinos care about the planet because of their consistent annual participation in Earth Hour. Each person’s contribution adds up to the bigger goal of reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels,” Earth Hour Philippines National Director Atty. Angela Consuelo Ibay said.

“Now that Filipinos have taken the first step of switching off their lights, it’s time to keep going by going beyond the hour. We need more people to support environmental efforts whether it is in reducing plastic waste, promoting renewable energy, and eating and living sustainably,” she added.

Atty. Ibay explained that switching off the lights for one hour is just a small act for one person, but when millions of people do it, it adds up to significant savings in terms of energy usage. She said that the switch-off is simply the first step to becoming more aware of our individual roles in protecting the environment.

This year’s Earth Hour was held on March 25 at the Quezon City Memorial Circle and was attended by an estimated 1,200 people, according to the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety. The event was marked by a series of activities, including a sustainability fair, a symbolic run for the Earth, and musical entertainment by local artists.

"It only takes 60 minutes to do good for our future, 60 minutes to take notice and commit to saving Mother Nature, to be united and take action because together nothing is impossible,” the President said in a video statement. "Let's switch off and give Mother Nature 60 minutes to breathe," he added.

In the previous year’s Earth Hour celebration, the total load drop measured was 65.32 MW for the entire country with the largest savings of 35.26 MW from Luzon, followed by 15.3 MW for Mindanao, and 14.76 MW for Visayas.

Since the first Earth Hour in 2007 in Australia, millions of people participate every year in Earth Hour from various sectors, groups, and parts of the world, making it an authentic movement of humanity for the environment. The Philippines joined the global movement in 2008. The yearly global switching off of lights is observed from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, where over 190 countries around the world joined in as part of this one-of-a-kind global grassroots movement for nature.

Earth Hour 2023 is co-presented by Quezon City Government, together with our Official Communications and PR Partner, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises; media partners The Philippine Star, GMA, Radyo Veritas, and Globaltronics; promotional partners Creator and Influencer Council of the Philippines, Leo Burnett, and GCash; marketing partners Salad Stop, Coca-Cola, SSI Group, Inc., Epson Philippines, Sun Life Foundation, Booths & Partners, Ayala Malls, and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls; and community partners Save the Children, Oxfam Pilipinas, World Vision, United Nations Development Programme, International Organization for Migration, Association of Young Environmental Journalists, The Asia Foundation, De La Salle University and Philippine Scouts.

The following government offices support this event: the Department of Energy, Climate Change Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Provinces of the Philippines, Department of Agriculture, Court of Appeals, Department of Health, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Parks Development Committee, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Governance, Laguna Lake Development Authority.

The success of the Earth Hour event in the Philippines serves as an inspiration to other countries in the region and around the world. It shows that by working together, we can make a difference in our planet's future.

Eastern Communications and partners champion women empowerment in the digital age

Premier telecommunications company Eastern Communications continues to demonstrate its dedication to empowering women professionals and leaders in the digital age as it celebrates National Women's Month with the help of its partner associations.

With the strong message to #EvolveEveryday and advocating for fair treatment and equity in the workplace, Eastern Communications collaborates with the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), and the Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP) to support women.

In time for the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023, these initiatives aim to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and take action to drive gender equity and equality in the workplace.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Report 2021, the Philippines ranked 17th among 156 nations in closing gender inequality. Women and girls around the world also are not able to maximize their potential as economic, social, and sustainable development change agents remain untapped, said United Nations (UN). Through a line-up of events, the telco strives to create a better world and is committed to doing more to support and empower women.

Embracing Equity and a Gender-equal World

In collaboration with AICI, Eastern Communications promotes the narrative to #EmbraceEquity to cultivate an affirming, inclusive, and equitable standard of living for women. The forum involved Dr. Lewena Bayer, CEO of Civility Experts Inc., who shared how diverse workplaces have become more innovative and how it achieves a greater success when it comes to problem solving and collaboration.

The #EmbraceEquity event tackled the need to empower female professionals and celebrate how their achievements have evolved their respective industries and communities.

“My expert opinion is that while we recognize ‘gender’ as a hot topic and that there are inequities related to gender, we should encourage all people to promote equity - fairness, for all people. I believe it is damaging to focus on labels and categories of people such as categories of gender or age or race,” said Dr. Bayer.

Women Rising

Equality between women and men in the workplace has seen some promising developments, but according to Dr. Bayer, we are only one-third of the way to gender equity, and closing the gender gaps still requires collective effort.

To help address these gaps in different industries, Eastern Communications supports the ECCP as a partner in its event entitled "Women Rising: Bridging the Gender Gap and Promoting Inclusive Growth." The forum aims to help raise awareness and gather more support for women in business. It likewise seeks to promote gender equity and to create, accept, and adopt policies and norms that enable women, especially in the workplace.

Ensuring efforts to understand how women from the healthcare and information management sector can thrive, Eastern Communications also partners with HIMAP as it mounts the “International Women’s Month Celebration: Recognition of Empowered and Inspiring Women in the HIMS Industry” event. This initiative will highlight trailblazing women in healthcare and empower all women to create and lead the change in the health sector.

The battle for gender equality is far from over, but Eastern believes that through its initiatives and the efforts of fellow organizations and enterprises, women will be able to advance as agents of change.

To learn more about Eastern Communications’ events and initiatives, visit eastern.com.ph or follow @easterncommph on Facebook. 

BPI supports artists and art lovers anew in Art Fair Philippines 2023

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is back at Art Fair Philippines 2023 with more support for artists and art lovers alike.

BPI, a staunch advocate of Philippine Arts, supports visual artists through partnerships and art lovers through the provision of greater access to artworks in art events such as Art Fair Philippines, which is coming back face-to-face from a three-year hiatus.

“As we appreciate the value of artists and their works, we also see the significance of collecting and keeping great artworks, which is why we at BPI continue to provide our support as well to art lovers who, time and time again, visit Art Fair Philippines and acquire valuable artworks,” said Jenelyn Z. Lacerna, the Group Head of BPI Unsecured Lending and Cards, Product and Sales.

Art Fair Philippines 2023, which is happening on February 17-19 at The Link in Ayala Center in Makati City, will feature over 60 exhibitors from the Philippines and overseas as the art exhibition celebrates its 10th year. It is co-presented by BPI and Ayala Land, among other corporate supporters.

To promote art appreciation and further boost the local art scene, BPI offers complimentary access to cardholders of BPI Visa Signature, Platinum Rewards Mastercard, Amore Platinum Cashback, and Gold Mastercard.

“At BPI, we consider keepers of valuable art works as art investors, as the works they acquire become part of their investment portfolio,” Lacerna said.

BPI has been the caretaker of more than 1,000 artworks by many prominent Filipino artists, such as Fernando Amorsolo, Jose Joya, and Ben Cabrera. Most of these art pieces are the country’s finest expressions of Philippine culture and are reflective of BPI’s inherent values.

“The kind of support BPI gives to art lovers provides them greater access to exclusive events such as Art Fair Philippines, which continues to showcase the country’s vibrant local art scene and helps Filipino visual artists generate support and reach a wider audience,” Lacerna added.

BPI affirms its commitment to recognize and nurture the country’s artistry and talent through its participation in events like this.

One of the many galleries featured in the art fair is Art Cube, which provides a platform for talented young artists to showcase their works before an extensive roster of art collections. The gallery, which will be located on the 5th Level, Booth No. 5, will feature the works of father-and-son Renato and Guerrero Habulan, showing a glimpse of ordinary people: iconic images of the masses, their dignity amid hardship, and as an inspiration. Renato, a post-war and contemporary painter, is one of the most influential and award-winning watercolor artists in the country. Guererro, a recipient of the Thirteen Artists Awards of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, combines different figurative styles and approaches—from hyperrealism to pop surrealism to the “ready-made” images of silk screen printing.

Also featured in this year’s edition of the art fair includes Celine Lee, who has been recognized for her work, including the Juror’s Choice Award of Merit at the Philippine Art Awards in 2020. She has a diverse portfolio that includes paintings, sculptures, embroidery pieces, and multimedia works that show her innovative use of different materials and media.

Art lovers can also check out the works of Winna Go, a finalist in multiple competitions in 2018, such as the LRT Art Competition, Shell National Student Art Competition, Metrobank Art and Design Excellence Competition, and Regional Winner for Philippine Art Awards. In most of her works, she gathers inspiration from the history of the Chinese diaspora, the richness of the Chinese and Filipino culture, her identity and positionality in society, and the beauty of nature.

“We invite the art enthusiasts out there to come and join us at the Art Fair Philippines and discover the country’s artistry and talent. Check out the many participating galleries that showcase Filipino artistry at its best,” Lacerna added.

For more information, please visit the Art Fair Philippines website and follow Art Fair Philippines on Instagram (@artfairph) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/artfairph).

Yanthy Releases Debut Singles and Launches Album Christmas Hymns for Him

Homeschooled music prodigy, Yanthy, has just released 10 new singles via Distrokid that will be part of his debut album titled Christmas Hymns for Him, scheduled for launch on the First Sunday of Advent.

The album Christmas Hymns for Him is Yanthy’s Grade 8 homeschool project for school year 2022-2023. He made his own musical arrangements of some of the oldest Christmas songs ever made and performed them on the piano. He recorded all ten singles in his album from home. He was also the one who did the sound engineering of these singles with the help and guidance of his dad.

To enable Yanthy to achieve all these, his parents got him music coaches and teachers who taught and guided Yanthy while working on his project. Among them was Hanzel Estrella, a composer, singer, musical arranger, voice coach and former Madrigal Singer from the UP College of Music. Yanthy had online lessons on music theory and making musical arrangements with him.

Yanthy released his first four singles last October before his 14th birthday. His debut single Silent Night was released on October 6. This was followed by O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, O Come, All Ye Faithful, and Away in a Manger.

Then, he released 6 more singles to complete his album in November. All of Yanthy’s singles are now live and available for listening in at least 20 music platforms worldwide including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. His album was produced by his parents.

“God has blessed Yanthy with an amazing gift in music! I’m so grateful that we were able to discover it while he was still young and that Yanthy chose to use his giftedness to serve God and His Church,” said Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag, Yanthy’s mom who homeschools him and who suggested this project to Yanthy late in September this year.

“We hope that through the songs included in Yanthy’s album, people would be reminded that we celebrate Christmas because of Jesus, the King of Kings, who came to save us,” she continues.

The album will be launched at Mary, Mother of Good Counsel on November 27 at the end of the 8:30 AM Mass.

You may read more about this amazing boy from the award-winning e-book titled YANTHY: God’s Little Pianist, which won in the Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards. This book was authored by his mom, who is a multi-awarded author and blogger.  

You may also follow Yanthy on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/musicianyanthy) and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@YanthysMusic). Click here to go to Yanthy’s official YouTube Artist Channel.

About Yanthy

YANTHY taught himself to play the piano when he was only 5 years old. He later had formal piano lessons after his parents observed that he was determined to learn the instrument. He has been homeschooled since birth. He started serving as a church pianist for daily evening Masses and Sunday afternoon Masses at Mary, Mother of Good Counsel Parish in Paranaque at 7 years old. He continues to serve as a pianist in their parish now that children are again allowed to go back to church.

COMCO Mundo continues to make waves in Southeast Asia and the Middle East and Africa

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises (COMCO Mundo) is concluding the year 2022 with key milestones as it continues to make waves in the Southeast Asia and the Middle East and Africa markets.

COMCO Mundo, which recently unveiled its newest global headquarters in the Philippines’ Makati Central Business District, is the parent and umbrella organization that houses trailblazing enterprises and ventures such as COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA), COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA), SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program, COMCO Alumni Society, and TARO Digital AOX.

With affiliate network presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, COMCO Southeast Asia continues its thrust of meaningful storytelling as it bagged various industry recognitions garnering a total of 140 awards from prestigious local, regional, and international award-giving bodies since its inception in 2016. The most recent wins and citations were from Marketing Interactive Asia’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, PRCA APAC Awards, Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, CIPR Global Excellence Awards, The Gold Standard Awards, Asia-Pacific Tambuli Awards, Stevie Awards, and IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Quill Awards.

The Agency also continued to strengthen its client portfolio for its 6th year, winning major accounts such as APL GO, ASEANA City, AXA, European Union, Frit-Oh, Kone, Lalamove, MR. DIY, PHILUSA Corporation together with its wide range of brands (Rhea Generics, Cleene Alcohol, and Cotton, Cleene Clio, Babyflo Baby Care, and Love My Honey), Phinma Education, Remy Martin, Skechers, and Uratex; and renewing clients Eastern Communications, Lamoiyan Corporation, Jobstreet, LENOVO, Sunlife Asia Service Center, Takeda, Teleperformance, World Vision, and WWF. From 2021 to 2022, COMCO SEA grew its team by 61% and has a retention of 62%. Of its homegrown talents who started as apprentices and associates, 44% have been promoted to supervisory and management positions.

In the MEA region, COMCO Middle East & Africa continues to reap success on its first year handling notable brands from various industries including Belcanto and Eden at Dubai Opera, Central Park Towers, Electric Pawn Shop, Global Educational Supplies & Solutions 2022, Hyde Hotel’s Katsuya and Hudson Tavern, Nolte Küchen, Holiday Inn Science Park, Issei at Radisson Damac Hills, Last Seen Live, Maison D’Vie, The Vault Real Estate, Tres Marias Coffee and Yas Plaza Hotels. The game-changing agency is also responsible for Empire Movies’ hottest premiers for the year including Bullet Train, Brahmastra, The Woman King, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, and Where the Crawdads Sing. It was also declared as the official PR agency of the Middle East Film and Comic Con 2023 and Najah Abu Dhabi and Dubai 2022.

In addition, COMCO MEA, together with COMCO SEA, recently conducted property roadshows for Philippine property firm RLC Residences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as among the group’s first of many synergy initiatives. The teams will continue to showcase its strength in cross-regional PR through its new client, EZRA COUTURE, a trailblazing UAE-based fashion house that has dressed royals and celebrities like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Shakira, Nicole Scherzinger, Paris Hilton, Sonam Kapoor, Pia Wurtzbach and Heart Evangelista.

COMCO Mundo Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy bagged the Gold Award for the PR Champion of the Year (Agency) at the PR Awards 2022 in Asia Pacific of Marketing Interactive Asia. He was also recently elected to the Regional Board of PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) based in Singapore, the only Filipino to be elected in the position. He was also appointed anew to be part of the London-based CIPR’s (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) International Committee and the Lead for Online Events, representing not only the Philippines but also Southeast Asia and the rest of Asia-Pacific. In the Philippines, Mr. Bondoy is also a Board Trustee of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines serving as Corporate Secretary and Chair of Digital and Public Relations Committee and Youth and Student Programs.

Meanwhile, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program, the groundbreaking and proprietary talent incubation initiative, industry linkage course, and apprenticeship platform of COMCO, is also opening its 19th Cycle in the last quarter of the year. For over 6 years, Camp COMCO has already produced 100 graduates from 18 cycles and received multiple recognition for its contribution to the industry.

As part of its thanksgiving to all of its partners and supporters, COMCO Mundo also successfully conducted the early "Holiday Movie Night with COMCOmigos” attended by more than 250 media, bloggers, clients, industry colleagues, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program alumni, and COMCO Mundo League staff. The activity was supported by APLGO, Eastern Communications, Jobstreet, LENOVO, Mediplast, MR.DIY, Philusa Corporation (Albatross, Cleene, and Mediplast), Starkaffea, and Teleperformance. COMCO also successfully held the virtual "Game Night with COMCOmigos”, another Christmas Thanksgiving Event this time with media, bloggers, content creators, and online communities from the provinces across the Philippines.

“Amid threats and challenges to businesses, we in COMCO Mundo League continue to thrive as we are driven by our goal to share stories that connect, ideas that transform, and campaigns that make a difference through our unique brand of Meaningful Storytelling. The year 2022 is the time where we cultivated the seeds of our 10-year master plan and we are looking forward to a more exciting new year as we continuously unfold the next phase of our ventures. Thank you so much to our COMCOmigos, our friends in our various publics for their unwavering support to COMCO all these years,” said Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy.

To know more about COMCO Mundo, visit comcomundo.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comcomundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo, and @comco_mundo on Instagram.

Super Christmas Sale for Car Accessories!

PartsPro is holding its very first in-person Christmas Clearance Sale at Met Live Mall in Pasay City on December 4, 2022.

Expect amazing deals and discounted items from so many brands! Items are priced for clearance, with as much as 80% off!! It’s the perfect place to do your holiday shopping for yourself, or if you have friends and family who love cars and car accessories.

Deals will be available from AutoClinic, Gyro Fuzion, AutoPerformance, GW2 Trading, Trading Corp., NMCI Trading Corp., Waido Marketing, Eneos, Rota, Autoplus, Imprint Customs, Riken, Aisin, Amsoil, Partshub, Chemical Guys, and PartsPro themselves will be there selling super sale items from 11am to 10pm.

Here's a sneak peek at what's on sale this December 4. 

• Blaupunkt Amplifiers and Speakers
• Suzuki Jimny Accessories
• Halogen and Miniature Bulbs 

Make sure to check back from time to time since we will be updating the list. :) 

Also, PartsPro is sponsoring a one-of-a-kind InterClub meet, with Grupo Toyota, Civic Club, Mazdatech, WRX/STI Club, 86/BRZ Club, Montero Sport Ph, Kicks Club, Navarra Nation, TACP, Altis Club and Legends of the 90s. Look out for the Drive-Thru Car Show wherein clubs will have their best cars rolling through the Show & Go. 

This will be live-streamed on PartsPro's Facebook page.

It's an all-day event for the whole family. There is a great selection of food and drink options in the mall, and one of the largest kiddie play areas. 

So, make it a family Sunday outing at the PartsPro Christmas Clearance Sale and see you there! 

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

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.

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

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 and Living, and Health and 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. 

Content creators David Guison, Nins Po unlock success, new goals with Lazada's LazAffiliates

In making things work against all odds and seizing every opportunity to turn them into success, Filipinos take deep pride in being resourceful or “madiskarte”.

Lazada's newly launched LazAffiliate app provides access to features that enable content creators to easily identify trending products that resonate with their audience, so they can focus on generating engaging content to grow a community while also earning commissions. LazAffiliate partners can also track generated orders and earnings through the app.

"Lazada continuously works towards opening up more opportunities in the digital ecosystem and encouraging creativity. With the new LazAffiliate app and revamped program, our goal is to enable existing and aspiring content creators to generate income while creating more personalized and meaningful content to connect with their audiences,” says Ricardo Ortuoste, Head of User Growth at Lazada Philippines.

 

Successfully monetizing their creativity and social reach through the LazAffiliate program, which now offers increased commissions for LazAffiliate partners, are content creators Nins Po, also known as “Mommy Nins”, and David Guison.

 

Mommy Nins, a makeup artist turned mom-influencer, has been a LazAffiliate since 2019.  She shares that LazAffiliate allows her to build a brighter future for her child. At the same time, it lets her help small brands thrive by recommending their products to her followers. According to Mommy Nins, the LazAffiliate program is an easy way to earn some side income.

“I get a lot of questions from moms, asking if I earn from the simple affiliate links ko sa bio. I tell them yes, and I also teach them how to become a LazAffiliate as well. Lalo na ngayon na may app na, it’s so much easier,” Mommy Nins says, adding that her very first Lazada Affiliate link created in 2019 continues to bring in commissions for her today. “Even if you’re a full-time mom, it’s made simpler now kaya easy to earn more with LazAffiliate.”

Meanwhile, David, a lifestyle and fashion influencer, credits the program for reigniting his passion for content creation, while helping him make extra income. “I can definitely say that it really helped me bring back the fire in content creating,” David says. “And now it’s made even simpler, especially with the new LazAffiliate app. This is a huge motivation for me, and I’m sure it will be for other content creators as well.”

Anyone can participate in the LazAffiliate program and kickstart their affiliate journey with Lazada. Simply select from thousands of brands and MSMEs offering a wide and trendy assortment, and generate unique Lazada affiliate links to include in your content posts sharing #LazadaFinds with friends, family, and followers on your favorite social platforms. A portion of every successful purchase made using the links you promote is then granted as commission.

The LazAffiliate app was launched in the Philippines this October at Kondwi Makati, Manila. Close to 200 guests were taken back to the 90s and early-2000s, as everyone dressed up in their best 90s- and Y2K-inspired fits and enjoyed the era’s defining music. Aside from David and Mommy Nins, the event was attended by some of the most prominent content creators including Laureen Uy, Camille Co, Bella Racelis, Marj Maroket, and Janina Vela. Lazada Philippines CEO, Carlos Barrera, officially opened the first-ever LazAffiliate in-person event, which was followed by an exciting party with KatDJ spinning tracks to hype the crowd. The event also served as Lazada’s expression of gratitude to its loyal affiliates and an opportunity to meet newer members of the growing LazAffiliates community.

The LazAffiliate app is currently available for android users. It will be available for IOS in November 2022.

Sign up now on lzd.co/LAZAFFSIGNUP and become a LazAffiliate today! For more information, visit lzd.co/LAZAFFPROGRAM, or click on the LazAffiliates icon found in the Lazada app Account section.

 #AddToCartAddToLife by shopping on #LazadaPH at https://www.lazada.com.ph/.