Exciting new features are in store for a one-of-a-kind shopping experience on Lazada this 9.9!

Lazada Goes Big with its 9.9 Big Discovery Sale by Offering Bills Payment, Opening New Collection Points and Introduce First Ever E-commerce Exclusive Helicopter Tours in the Philippines

Exciting new features and amazing deals await you this September 9

Shopee Offers Sitewide Free Shipping ₱0 Minimum Spend for 9.9 Super Shopping Day

• On September 9, users can look forward to 24 rounds of Flash Deals with discounts up to 90% off

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, celebrates 9.9 Super Shopping Day by offering All Day Sitewide Free Shipping ₱0 minimum spend on September 9. In addition, consumers can look forward to flash deals up to 90% off, 100% cashback and discount vouchers, and amazing prizes to take home from Shopee’s ₱1 Game.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are thrilled with the overwhelming support from all our users since the launch of our annual 9.9 Super Shopping Day. This year, Filipinos can expect even more exciting offers, including no minimum spend Free Shipping, hourly flash deals, and vouchers released throughout September 9. We hope to have everyone join us in celebrating 9.9 Super Shopping Day.”

Ever Bilena goes to Davao for the EB Beauty Fiesta

 Ever Bilena, the country’s leading cosmetics retail company, and its brands EB Advance, Careline, and Blackwater recently held its first ever EB Beauty Fiesta in Davao. The attendees, who consisted mostly of local influencers, got to try, swatch, and review the newest products from the various Ever Bilena brands. 

Photo shows (L-R) Blackwater brand manager Ivan Banez, EB Advance brand manager Creole David with winners Michael Ferdinand Tan for Ginoong Blackwater, Pau Ruta for Binibining EB Advance, Julia Elle Macadangdang for Binibining Careline, and Joana Yulo for Binibining Ever Bilena, Ever Bilena marketing manager Olive Padilla, Careline brand manager Miya Inomata, and Ever Bilena brand manager Elin Katipunan.      

OPPO Set to Unveil the All-New A Series Made for Pure Entertainment

The A9 2020 and A5 2020 is packed with entertainment features

for the pop-culture obsessed Filipinos

OPPO is excited to announce the upcoming Philippine launch of the upgraded A Series this September, with the reveal of the A9 2020 and A5 2020. OPPO’s latest offering under the already highly successful series feature high-level photography, audio and gaming capabilities, long-lasting battery, and stunning design. Overall, the new OPPO A Series will provide a unique value to a wide range of users - especially to the modern and multi-hyphenated Filipino millennials of today.

OPPO has been active in overseas markets for the past ten years, including the Philippines, and the OPPO A Series has been well-loved locally and globally. Recently, Canalys reported that OPPO is now the leading smartphone brand in the country in terms of market share at 28% in Q2 of 2019.

RCBC leads the way to open banking in the country

Imagine being able to secure loans with some of the lowest interest rates in the banking industry. Or conveniently transferring funds from one bank account to another, or perhaps, experiencing the best possible customer banking service around.

To get all these and other “perks”, most financial institutions would require one to become their preferred client. But in today’s digital technology and in the global banking industry, getting access to all these benefits is simply a matter of banking customers securely sharing their data with other financial institutions. This is the beauty of open banking.

PLDT Group bags 15 international awards for improved network, brand programs, and execs

PLDT and its subsidiaries Smart Communications (Smart) and PLDT Global took home a total of 15 citations at the recently concluded CMO Asia Awards. The award-giving body is a global network of executives specifically dedicated to high-level knowledge exchange, thought leadership and personal relationship building among senior corporate marketing leaders and brand decision-makers.

PLDT Home was lauded with the Telecom and Branding Leadership Awards under the Best Broadband Service Provider and Market Leadership categories, respectively. The brand aims to humanize technology to keep families connected in a meaningful way through bundled, unlimited, or volume-based package options – from basic to the most comprehensive coverage for home connectivity, productivity, and entertainment.

PLDT’s wireless subsidiary Smart was also awarded with a Telecom Leadership Award, under the Best LTE Provider category, for Smart LTE. As part of PLDT’s massive digital transformation program, Smart fulfilled its commitment to provide over 90% of the population access to its most advanced LTE network by end-2018. This aims to support the country’s growing digital economy, as well as provide the best customer experience for the increasingly digital Filipino lifestyle of its 66.8 million subscriber base to-date.

Smart’s other winning bids include Campaign of the Year for Smart Free YouTube Everyday, Best Innovative Partnership Strategy for its YouTube collaboration, Best Strategic PR Campaign for Smart Music Live, Most Innovative HR Practice for Smart Super ID, and Asia’s Best Brand Award for its consolidated CMO recognitions.

Executives from the PLDT Group were likewise recognized under various individual leadership categories. PLDT-Smart Public Affairs Group Head and official company spokesperson Ramon R. Isberto was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Relations, while PLDT SVP and Head for Consumer Market Development Oscar Enrico A. Reyes bagged the award for Excellence in Business Leadership. Carlo Ople, VP and Deputy Head of Public Affairs for PLDT-Smart, also won the award for Digital Marketer of the Year.

Cristiano Ronaldo to join exclusive Shopee Live stream on August 28

• Shopee enhances the Shopee Live experience for 9.9 Super Shopping Day

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, enhances the live streaming experience for its 9.9 Super Shopping Day. This comes after the tremendous popularity of Shopee Live, Shopee’s new live streaming feature which was introduced earlier this year. In the lead up to September 9, users in all markets can enjoy an upsized Shopee Live calendar, featuring an exclusive stream with Shopee’s newest brand ambassador, Cristiano Ronaldo on August 28.

Western Union money transfers worldwide now available for pick-up at BDO

Receiving money from almost anywhere in the world has gotten more convenient for Filipinos as global money transfer firm Western Union and BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) have expanded their remittance collaboration, which involves the offering of Cash Pick-up of Western Union money transfers at more than 1,100 BDO branches nationwide.

Western Union and BDO initially launched a credit to account service in 2015 allowing remitters to send money straight to BDO accounts from over 70 countries via www.westernunion.com and through Western Union agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. With the expanded collaboration, customers who do not have a BDO account yet may conveniently claim Western Union remittances at BDO and its rural bank subsidiary – BDO Network Bank, which has over 130 branches in countryside Mindanao and the Visayas, and now, continuously expanding across Luzon.

BDO’s presence inside SM Supermalls allows customers to claim Western Union remittances more conveniently as the branches are open up to 7PM including weekends and selected holidays.This serves as a one-top-shop for customers as they may claim remittances and purchase their basic needs, in just one go.

Popeyes Philippines is now in Alabang

Southerners can now get a taste of the famous American fried chicken as Popeyes Philippines opens its second branch at the ground floor of Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa. Diners are in for a treat as Popeyes offers its signature offeri]ngs—the original honey biscuits, Cajun fries, and the mouthwatering Popeyes fried chicken that’s packed with distinct Cajun-inspired flavors from Louisiana, USA. There’s also something new on the menu such as the hazelnut and white chocolate biscuits, which can be paired with your fried chicken or as a dessert, and Popeyes Spaghetti, their exclusive addition to the menu in the Philippines. 

Present during the opening were (L-R): Popeyes Philippines chief operating officer Rami Chahwan, and Kuya J Group COO Gretz Rivera, chairman Lowell Yu, president Winglip Chang, and CFO Francis Reyes.

Meralco Good News

MERALCO RATES DOWN FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT MONTH. 

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced on its monthly infomercial, Meralco Advisory, a Php 0.42 per kilowatt hour (kWh) reduction in power rates this month. The downward adjustment this month equates to Php 84 in total savings for a typical household consuming 200 kWh and represents a total net decrease of almost P1.00 per kWh since May 2019. 

Meralco Public Information Office Head Joe Zaldarriaga (in photo) explained that the overall rate reduction is primarily due to lower charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), brought about by improved supply conditions in the Luzon grid. Also featured on Meralco Advisory was a testament of Meralco’s continued commitment for rural electrification and its renewable energy advocacy with the recent inauguration of Meralco’s latest solar microgrid system in Cagbalete Island, Quezon. This microgrid facility, composed of solar panels, battery storage, and generator set, will provide electricity to 600 households and businesses by the end of the year. Watch this month’s Meralco Advisory here - https://youtu.be/MZ4H5rC_N_Q.

Global telco players gear up for 15th Asian Carriers Conference

As the most anticipated telecommunications event in the Asian region, the Asian Carriers Conference (ACC) has taken a significant role in redefining and evolving the landscape of the industry, especially for the carrier and wholesale business.  For the last 15 years, more than 1,000 industry leaders and delegates from over 200 companies worldwide have made ACC a celebration of the industry’s future through networking, collaborating and learning with the rest of the global telecommunications and technology communities.

To be held at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa in Cebu from September 3 to 6, this year’s ACC bears the theme “Stronger Partnerships for Shared Success,” emphasizing the industry’s need to establish greater collaboration and synergy in the face of increasing technological disruption, declining margins, and fast-changing customer preferences.

SMB, TNT and Blackwater Elite to compete in Terrific 12 East Asia Super League

SMB, TNT and Blackwater Elite to compete in Terrific 12 East Asia Super League (EASL) in Macao this September.

Now that San Miguel Beer has taken home the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Trophy from TNT, the two Finals protagonists will rekindle their rivalry in a foreign tournament in Macao come September. They will be joined by Blackwater Elite in a 12-team competition that will also include ball clubs from China, Japan and South Korea.

Dubbed The Terrific 12, the FIBA-recognized basketball tournament features three clubs from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), four from the B.LEAGUE (Japan), two from the Korean Basketball League (KBL) and three from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). It will be held at the Tap Seac Multisports Pavilion in Macao from September 17-22, 2019.

DMCI Homes’ ‘Voices of Home’ chorale serenades child welfare center community

Employees of Quadruple A developer DMCI Homes recently took time off from their busy schedule to perform before the child residents of the CRIBS Foundation, Inc. shelter in Antipolo City.

The employees, who are members of DMCI Homes corporate chorale “Voices of Home,” sang for the 28 kids of the foundation's "New Beginnings” Program, which is a facility for young female survivors of sexual abuse, aged 7-17 years old.

Part of the activity was the turnover of boxes of food items, clothing, hygiene products, books, and school supplies accumulated during a month-long company-wide drive organized by DMCI Homes.