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.

Family Day the NorthPine Way

On August 18, 2019, NorthPine Land, Inc. (NLI) will host #NLIFamilyFunDay, an event for families to bond like there is no tomorrow as it launches the new amenities at Kahaya Place, its sole townhouse community located in Dasmariñas City, Cavite. With the whole world observing Family Fun Month this August, the company dedicates this one special day to hold exciting activities that will uphold harmony and love among them.

Refreshing stroll outdoors, swimming in the pool, barbecue, a fun picnic, or just a quality time with everyone present and sharing stories and warm laughs, these are only few of the things that makes up a family-friendly  community.  In today’s fast-paced world where there seems to be oodles of factors that take up your time and attention, a neighborhood that fosters family-focused activities is what everyone needs.

Mober empowers drivers with program turning them into entrepreneurs

Filipino on-demand logistics provider Mober has begun rolling out its Driverpreneur program, an initiative that aims to empower its driver partners by turning them into entrepreneurs.

Through the program, individuals can rent a van from one of Mober’s partners that they can use to accept delivery requests made on the Mober app. The drivers pay a daily amount depending on the type of van they rented, and after the five-year program, the van will be under their ownership.

Free Bee partners with social app Kumu to reach overseas Filipino Gen Zs and millennials

In photo (L-R): Roland Ros, CEO and co-founder at Kumu; Albert Villa-Real, Chief Commercial Officer at PLDT Global; and Mary Anne Bundalian, Business Unit Head - Partnership & Advertising at PLDT Global.

PLDT Global Corporation’s mobile application Free Bee teams up with social content app Kumu to expand its reach to Filipino Gen Zs and millennials in the Philippines and overseas

OYO Hotels & Homes Appoints Mandar Vaidya as CEO for Southeast Asia and the Middle East

●          The move reiterates OYO’s commitment to two of its most important regions—Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

●          Mandar’s rich experience in management consulting, in particular service operations, will fuel OYO’s mission of creating quality spaces.

OYO Hotels & Homes, the world’s third largest and fastest-growing chain of leased and franchised hotels, homes and living spaces, today announced the appointment of Dr. Mandar Vaidya as chief executive officer for Southeast Asia and the Middle East effective August 1, 2019. This appointment comes in light of the company’s efforts to continue to invest in and attract world-class leadership as part of its focus on driving accelerated growth in two of its high-potential markets—Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

A seasoned professional with more than 15 years of experience, Dr. Vaidya will be responsible for driving business growth for OYO in these two regions, which include markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company has committed more than US$200 million in investment in Southeast Asia, which will help in fueling its aggressive expansion plans in the region over the next couple of years.

Transport and Logistics Expo Paves Entry of ART’s Shacman Trucks in PH Market

            Stakeholders of the transportation and logistics industries are set to gather at the World Trade Center from August 15-17, 2019 of the Transport and Logistics Philippines expo. The exhibit has been bringing together manufacturers, suppliers and buyers in both transportation and supply chain for seven years now to showcase the latest products and technologies in transport and logistics.

NorthPine Land Unveils New Milestones in Cavite

Halfway through its 2019 venture to make more dreams come to life, NorthPine Land, Inc. (NLI), one of the trusted property developers in the Philippines, proves once again that its real estate footprint in the South continues to expand and be known, with its newest accomplishments in its Cavite projects.

The Prime at Greenwoods Village is the company’s finest development which has already become a thriving community over the years.

Journey to different galaxies with the Jollibee’s Joly Space Adventure toys

This August, Jollikids can make fun galactic journeys to the farthest reaches of the universe as they play and prepare for blast off with their colorful spacecrafts from Jollibee’s latest set of Jolly Kiddie Meal toys, the Jolly Space Adventure!

With the newest set of connectible toys from the country’s leading fast-food chain, aspiring space explorers can imagine taking off for outer space to form their own galactic team with Jollibee and Friends riding their own spaceships.

Jollikids can patrol the ever-expanding universe with Jollibee as they move his spacecraft forward to watch the blasters move back and forth. They can also attach Hetty’s rocket and help her move onwards to see her glider launch its projectile!

Chefs from Visayas secure wins at Kitchen Hero Chefs’ Edition

Two chefs from Visayas are now qualified for the nationals of the Solane Kitchen Hero Chefs’ Edition, a nationwide cooking competition which aims to recognize a new generation of local talented chefs, after they won their respective regional competitions. 

Chef Mario Sembalante from Cebu City bested nine other contestants in the seventh regional leg of the said culinary competition with his winning dish, Cebu Surf and Turf — malunggay crusted Visayan deep-sea cod fish with a millet risotto crust and local ingredients such as Mango Wine from Argao and homemade fish chicharon with Cebu chorizo foam. On the other hand, Chef Jimmy Boy Basa was hailed as the winner of the Eastern Visayas leg thanks to his pickled turnips and beef strips with authentic coconut wine/Bahalina tuba. 

Ballet Manila launches "On Pointé" 24th Performance Season

Ballet Manila, the most solidly trained classical ballet company in the Philippines, has launched its 24th Performance Season with the theme "On Pointé" at S'Maison in Pasay City. During the launch, guests were given an impressive preview of the company's upcoming shows for the season, namely Snow White (September 7-8, 2019), Giselle (October 19-20, 2019), Sleeping Beauty (December 7-8, 2019), and Carmina Burana and La Traviata (February 29 and March 1, 2020). 

Shown on photo during the launch are Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde (third from the right) and co-artistic director Osias Barroso (third from left) with (L-R) Ballet Manila principal dancers Gerardo Francisco, Jasmine Pia Dames, Romeo Peralta, and Abigail Lynn Oliveiro.

All of Ballet Manila’s 24th performance season shows will be staged at the Aliw Theater, Pasay City. To buy tickets, visit any Ticketworld outlet, call 891 9999, or go to their website www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more information, visit https://balletmanila.com.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/BalletManilaOfficial/

AXA Philippines and Preferred Global Health partnership

AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country, recently inked a strategic partnership with Preferred Global Health, Ltd. (PGH), global patient organization based in Boston, USA . Through this agreement, AXA Philippines’ clients gain access to Preferred Consultation and Care, which includes expert advice for diagnosis verification and treatment plans from highly experienced Harvard-affiliated doctors from U.S. hospitals. When AXA Philippines clients seek treatment in the U.S., they will receive assistance from a personal care manager, who can help with doctor recommendations, appointment schedules, and more.

 Photo shows (center) AXA Philippines president and CEO Rahul Hora and PGH global director of care management services Andrew Sokolov with (left) AXA Philippines chief of retail proposition Alok Rungta and PGH Asia CEO Ramneet Walia.

Nokia 3.2 for only ₱6990, available exclusively on Shopee

Get the latest Nokia 3.2 for only ₱6990, available exclusively on Shopee

Score an additional 8% off with the Shopee Gadget Zone voucher

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partners with HMD Global to launch the brand-new Nokia 3.2 exclusively on Shopee for only ₱6,990 until August 14, 2019. Consumers can also use the GDGTZONE8 voucher to get an additional 8% off when buying the phone until September 30, 2019.

How to Cook like a pro

Learning how to cook is one of the most practical skills anyone can have. Cooking may be intimidating at first, especially if you are a beginner, but leading LPG solutions provider Solane believes that you can master it with consistent practice.

Chef Sau del Rosario, ambassador of Solane’s Kitchen Hero — a nationwide cooking competition which aims to recognize a new generation of local talented chefs — shares his secrets to acing your cooking skills in no time.

Read the recipe. Before you start cooking, be sure to read through the recipe. This will help you know which ingredients need to be chopped and prepped early on. Having everything prepared before cooking will speed up your cooking time and keep you from getting frazzled or confused.

Filinvest Alabang Inc. wins at BCI Asia Top 10 Awards

 Filinvest Alabang Inc. (FAI) was once again hailed as one of the top 10 developers in the Philippines by the prestigious BCI Asia Awards. A coveted award in the construction industry, BCI Awards is the pioneer and most reputable award-giving body in Southeast Asia, giving out awards annually to remarkable companies in construction and property development in Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. This is FAI’s second win following a similar recognition in 2016. The awards will continue to inspire FAI to raise the bar in the property development industry by Integrating the highest global standards in modern, ecological urban masterplanning and design.

FAI is a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation that focuses on residential and mixed-use urban developments in Metro Manila. One of its award-winning projects is the 244-hectare mega central business district- Filinvest City in Alabang.

Receiving the award were Senior Project Development Manager Sherilynne Santos (left) and Assistant Project Development Manager Bonna Crisostomo. To know more, visit https://filinvestcity.com/.

Getting Parcels Across the Globe Safely with LBC

A few months ago, Mrs. Victoria Santos, a Filipina nurse working in the UK instructed her family in Cebu to send important legal documents to her in London. The documents were delivered three weeks late as the courier company she trusted misplaced the shipment.  In another instance, Mr. David Paredes, a software engineer working in Canada left his iPad in Manila while on vacation last month. He asked his wife to send the iPad via courier to Canada as soon as possible because he needed it for work. When it was delivered, his iPad was severely damaged and broken.

These painful incidences pushed both Mrs. Santos and Mr. Paredes to go back to the basics- and rely on the one courier who built their name from the ground up on the strength of their expertise and hard work: LBC.