Toy Kingdom and SM Supermalls invite Filipino families to discover the Wonder of Play

At SM Mall of Asia today, a play and retail pop-up titled “Wonder of Play” was opened by SM Supermalls and Toy Kingdom. The pop-up featured four activity zones made especially for families. The Wonder of Play pop-up will feature beloved tales and characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars as part of Disney's 100th anniversary celebrations.

Families in the Philippines can look forward to four themed activity zones that strive to inspire new and creative playtime ideas. Visitors to the Wonder of Play pop-up are encouraged to unlock special moments together, every day through play. 

• Dress up like your favourite Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters! Kids may try on and pose with costumes inspired by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse; Disney Princess heroines; characters from Cars and Marvel Super Heroes. 
• Get groovy with your dancing shoes at the Mickey & Friends Music Jam backdrop where children and  grown-ups alike will be able to take a fabulous photo for keepsake. 
• Hit the ‘open road’ in the Pixar-themed zone. Inspired by Lightning McQueen’s journey in Cars, kids can  hop on a bike or scooter to ‘travel’ around the zone. 
• ‘Hang out’ with Spidey & His Amazing friends in the Marvel-themed zone. Families are invited to play  with action figures of Marvel Super Heroes and imagine their own epic adventures. 

The Wonder of Play pop-up features a wide range of brand-new products, including:

• Mattel's Disney Princess and Frozen dolls
• Hasbro's Spidey & His Amazing Friends action figures
• Lego Star Wars and Disney toys
• Costumes for plays inspired by Disney and Marvel
• Bicycles, ride-ons and seriously including many fan-most loved characters

Families and innovators, all things considered, can likewise get their hands on an assortment of cool design finds for youngsters, including clothing, packs, shoes and different frill.

Disney fans will also have the chance to meet someone special from Disney's Sleeping Beauty on April 28 & 29 in SM Mall of Asia and on May 1 & 2 at SM Seaside City Cebu. Meet and greet sessions are on a first-come-first served basis, with no purchase required. For the schedule and more details, visit toykingdom.com.ph or  www.smsupermalls.com. 

Discover the Wonder of Play with SM Supermalls and Toy Kingdom: 

Retail and play zones will be open on the following dates: 

•     SM Mall of Asia: April 16 to May 7, 2023 

Meet and greet will only be available on the following dates: 

•     SM Mall of Asia: April 28 & 29 

•     SM Seaside City Cebu: May 1 & 2 

For more info, visit toykingdom.com.ph or follow https://www.facebook.com/toykingdomph on Facebook, https://www.instagram.com/ToyKingdomPH/ on Instagram and https://www.tiktok.com/@toykingdomph on Tiktok. You may also visit SM Mall of Asia and SM Seaside Cebu official Facebook accounts.

EdgePoint and Globe collaborate to improve connection so that Filipinos can benefit from improved mobile and broadband speeds in strategic national locations

“We are very pleased to partner with Globe to support its expansion plans across the Philippines by providing a network of suitable sites to meet their needs. The team will work closely with our counterparts in Globe throughout the whole process right from identifying the right locations to undergoing the complete build process. With our regional experience and in-depth local knowledge, we are confident we will be able to take over Globe’s expansion requirements, allowing them to focus on other areas of the business. This latest partnership with Globe is in line with EdgePoint’s aim to become a leading independent towerco in the Philippines, where we will continue to apply the vast combined experience of our leadership team and industry partners to fortify our growth trajectory. Both companies are aligned in our goals to deploy next generation connectivity solutions in the country, and I look forward to us growing together dynamically through this partnership as well as other collaborations in the future.” ~Alexander Kiel, Chief Executive Officer of EdgePoint Philippines

To focus on fulfilling telecommunications sector potential by increasing build to suit and co-locations across the country.

EdgePoint Infrastructure ("EdgePoint"), a top ASEAN-based independent telecommunications infrastructure provider, has announced its most recent expansion in the nation through a new alliance with Globe Telecom, Inc. (Globe), a major provider of digital solutions in the Philippines.

By adding both tower and co-location sites, the cooperation will see the two leading companies in the sector working to improve the nation's telecommunications sector. Globe's partner towerco for colocation and build-to-suit is EdgePoint.

“Globe is focused on bringing fast, seamless connectivity to the people and ultimately being a key contributor to the country’s digital ambitions. We ended 2022 with 5G connectivity in 70 cities and towns across the Philippines, more than double our coverage compared to the year before making our 5G network available to nearly all of the population in the National Capital Region (NCR), Cebu and Davao. We are looking to partner with industry players who share the same appetite for growth and are confident that both EdgePoint and Globe have similar goals and synergies on how we can further enhance the telecommunications industry, grow both our companies as well as be key contributors to the nation." ~Rizza Maniego-Eala, Chief Finance Officer of Globe Telecom

EdgePoint first entered the Philippines market in April 2022, when they acquired 2,934 towers from the PLDT Group. Currently, EdgePoint Philippines operates 2,557 active sites across the Luzon Islands, with the total number targeted to be closed by mid of 2023. The Group currently owns and manages a total of 14,000 towers across Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

For more information on EdgePoint, please visit https://edgepointinfra.com.

 

ABOUT EDGEPOINT INFRASTRUCTURE
EdgePoint Infrastructure is a telecommunications infrastructure company that aspires to power Digital ASEAN via Next Generation Infrastructure. Headquartered in Singapore with operations in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, through EdgePoint Towers Sdn Bhd, PT Centratama Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Tbk and EdgePoints Towers Inc. respectively, the company is focused on providing sharable and leading-edge telecom structures, small cells and in-building systems. EdgePoint aims to be an industry leader through scale and innovation, driving operational efficiencies through the adoption of analytics and digital technologies. 

About Globe Telecom
Globe is a leading full-service telecommunications company in the Philippines and publicly listed in the PSE with the stock symbol GLO. The company serves the telecommunications and technology needs of consumers and businesses across an entire suite of products and services including mobile, fixed, broadband, data connectivity, internet and managed services. It has major interests in financial technology, digital marketing solutions, venture capital funding for startups, and virtual healthcare. In 2019, Globe became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, committing to implement universal sustainability principles. Its principals are Ayala Corporation and Singtel, acknowledged industry leaders in the country and in the region. For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph. Follow @enjoyglobe on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

League of Corporate Foundations sets out Priorities for 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Expo

“The pandemic has intensified issues of climate change and food security, and the need for disaster-resilient communities. Significant future-ready education for Filipino children has also become a more pressing concern today than ever before.” ~Sebastian C. Quiniones, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the LCF and Executive Director of Pilipinas Shell Foundation

The much-anticipated annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) event in the country, the 2023 CSR Expo, which is organized by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) as part of the nationwide commemoration of National CSR Week, of which LCF is the lead, will take place from July 4 to 7 at the Makati Diamond Residences and the Palm Drive Activity Center in Makati City. It is a sign of a greener present and future.

The 21st CSR Expo aims to bring together businesses from a variety of industries, including corporate and private foundations, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, civil society, academia, and government agencies, to learn about the most recent models, trends, and best practices in CSR, strengthen collaboration, and expand networks.

Mr. Sebastian Quiniones, Executive Director, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Chair of the Board of Trustees, League of Corporate Foundations

Mr. Owen L. Cammayo, Executive Director, BPI Foundation, Inc., Board Secretary, League of Corporate Foundations

Ms. Shem Jose Garcia, Executive Director, Vivant Foundation, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees, League of Corporate Foundations

The CSR Expo's theme for this year, “From Extra to Essential,” is a continuation of the theme from last year and a call to action for businesses to take the lead and fully embody the principles of good corporate citizenship in order to achieve sustainability through accountable governance and strict legal compliance. 

“We turn to CSR to help us integrate principles of sustainability and accountability in our everyday work. The 21st CSR Expo is taking last year’s theme forward to emphasize that good and accountable citizenship and environmental stewardship are imperative for organizations to drive change and to achieve long-term sustainability.” ~Shem Jose Garcia, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of LCF and Executive Director of Vivant Foundation

Diverse perspectives 

The 2023 CSR Conference is set from July 4-6 at the Legazpi Ballroom of the Makati Diamond Residences. The Conference will feature a strong speaker panel composed of thought leaders from various industries and sectors to offer diverse perspectives on how to create real value through effective CSR practice and environment, social, and governance (ESG) compliance. 

These include H.E. Juha Markus Pyykko, Ambassador of Finland to the Philippines; Maria Divina De Leon, Principal Technical Expert at Shell International, B.V.; Aleli Arcilla, Vice President and Country Managing Director at Mondelez International; Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, head of the National Economic Development Authority; Ma. Victoria Tan, Chairperson of the Global Compact Network Philippines; and Secretary Rex Gatchalian, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

The members of LCF organize themselves into various Committees anchored on knowledge-sharing, partnership building and resource-leveraging. Each Committee will organize a Session during the Conference that will take the theme forward in their own contexts and will feature their own set of speakers and unique format specifically chosen to engender audience discussion and thought. Committee Sessions at the 2023 CSR Conference include: Enterprise Development: “Responsible Investing: Driving the ESG Agenda in Enterprise Development”; Environment: “Opportunities and Challenges for Nature-Based Solutions”; Education: “Learning for the Future: the Role of ESG in Education”; and Disaster Resilience: “ESG+R: Think Resilience”.

Recognition of CSR excellence

The awarding ceremonies of the 4th CSR Guild Awards will be awarded on July 6. The Award is conferred on organizations that have developed outstanding CSR projects which created a positive impact to the communities they serve after a rigorous  nomination, screening, and judging process by a panel of judges. There will be eight awards to be bestowed under two major categories: seven Program awards (Arts & Culture, Enterprise Development, Environment, Education, Health, Financial Inclusion, and Disaster Resilience) and one Collaboration Awards that showcases initiatives organized by two or more LCF members or partnerships.

A full-day CSR Exhibit will also be held from July 6-7 at the Glorietta Activity Center, one of the most popular malls in the country, to feature diverse CSR initiatives of various exhibitors, including those organized by LCF non-members, to a large public audience. 

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 CSR Expo is slated for a full in-person event to offer unique experiences that are difficult to replicate virtually. 

For more information contact: Christian Sanchez, Communications Officer, League of Corporate Foundations - communications@lcf.org.ph.

Stay Cool This Summer with Hanabishi Air Conditioners: Tips for Efficient Use and Maintenance

"We know that comfort is one of the utmost concerns of every Filipino family, and with the rising summer heat, it is essential that they get a reliable cooling system. Hanabishi air conditioning models offer a lot of options to suit everyone's need for a cooler and more comfortable home." ~Cherish Ong-Chua, Hanabishi Vice President for Marketing and Finance

As the summer season brings in intense heat, staying indoors and relying on your room air conditioning (AC) unit becomes necessary to counter the scorching weather. However, constantly using an AC unit can lead to higher energy consumption, which translates to higher electricity bills. Here are some tips from our technical experts from Hanabishi to efficiently use and maintain your air conditioning unit while keeping your energy consumption and costs down:

Set your AC unit to a comfortable temperature: The ideal temperature for an AC unit is between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius. Lowering the temperature to the lowest possible setting can result in a spike in energy consumption.

Use a fan to complement your AC unit: Using a fan can help distribute cool air more evenly throughout the room, allowing you to set your AC unit at a higher temperature and consume less energy.

Keep windows and doors closed: Keeping doors and windows closed while using your AC unit can help maintain the desired temperature and reduce energy consumption.

Clean your AC unit regularly: Poorly maintained air conditioning systems can cause respiratory illnesses and allergies, with dirty filters being the most common culprits. Hanabishi recommends cleaning the air filter of your AC unit once a month and flushing the drainpipe frequently to prevent clogging and increase energy consumption.

Consider investing in newer models of air conditioning units: Newer models of air conditioning units are more energy-efficient, which can translate to lower energy bills. Hanabishi offers several models of air conditioning units that are energy-efficient and easy to maintain.

Incidentally, Hanabishi offers energy-saving AC products, including the Inverter Split Type Airconditioner 1.0HP (HMSTINV10ZEN), which utilizes new technology to cool and clean rooms while reducing energy consumption by up to 60%. Additionally, it features an easy-to-clean filter. If you prefer portable air conditioning units, Hanabishi also offers the Hanabishi Portable Airconditioner 1.0HP (HPORTAC10HP) and 1.5HP (HPORTAC15HP), both equipped with easy-to-clean filters, a remote control, timer, and digital LCD display.

By following these tips and investing in an energy-efficient air conditioning unit like Hanabishi, you can enjoy a cooler and more comfortable home during the summer season while keeping energy consumption and costs down.

Hanabishi appliances are available via their website, www.myhanabishi.com; through e-commerce platforms Shopee and Lazada; and in leading appliance stores nationwide.

For more information about Hanabishi, please visit www.myhanabishi.com/shop/ and  like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHanabishiAppliances/.

 

 

 

About Hanabishi: 

Sa Bahay at sa Business Mo, Hanabishi!

Hanabishi is a Filipino household name for appliances for over 35 years. It is a brand engineered to fit the lifestyle of the Filipino both for homes and businesses.  Hardworking, durable and resilient, are the attributes that personify Hanabishi making it the brand of choice of 

every Filipino mom and businessman when it comes to value and practicality. Hanabishi is the mark of quality that grows with you through the years.  Built with passion and an impeccable desire to uphold the quality of life in every Filipino home, Hanabishi will remain to be the PRACTICAL choice and KAPARTNER, today and for the many years to come.

GCash Digital Excellence Awards 2023 honors private sector partners

“The new normal brings unique challenges to the economy, especially to the fintech industry. Through the GCash Digital Excellence Awards, we pay tribute to private and public entities for their innovative achievements that span digital transformation, customer-centric solutions, business and technology agility, and product and service innovation. We hope that this will serve as an inspiration for our key partners in various sectors to continue to innovate, serve millions and make the lives of Filipinos better every day.” ~Ren-Ren Reyes, GCash Chief Commercial Officer

From left: G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI) VP for commercial operations Luigi Reyes; Puregold Price Club, Inc. (PPCI) IT manager Gilbert Arciaga; PPCI senior manager for merchandising and marketing services Jenny Jacintos; PPCI finance manager Maricel Cambe; GXI president and CEO Renren Reyes, GXI account manager Shyla Escueta, and GXI team lead Wella de Leon

Through its annual GCash Digital Excellence Awards 2023, which were recently held at the Grand Hyatt Manila in BGC, Taguig City, GCash, the leading e-wallet in the nation, is honoring outstanding businesses and MSMEs for improving the lives of Filipinos by providing them access to cutting-edge, secure, and practical digital finance technology.

The second GCash Digital Excellence Awards for business recognized the commitment and hard work of its partners in making daily life in the Philippines better. Additionally, it seeks to motivate additional public, private, and MSME sectors to keep developing their services for Filipinos and contribute to the transformation of the nation into a more economically inclusive society.

The ceremony opened with a video message from the president and CEO of Globe Group Ernest L. Cu and was graced with the presence of G-Xchange Inc President and CEO Ren-Ren Reyes, chief technology and operations officer Pebbles Sy, chief marketing officer Neil Trinidad, head of new businesses Winsley Bangit, chief finance officer Tek Olano, chief people officer Robert Gonzales, Fuse chief finance officer Gabriel Lacuesta, strategy officer Ron Testa, GCash vice president for enterprise Luigi Reyes, vice president and head of wealth management Jong Layug, head of consumer experience Joanne Avendano

This year’s awardees were recognized in six different categories.

The Excellence in Innovation Award was given to partner industry leaders who have implemented a trailblazing project or initiative and has contributed to partners' digitization efforts leading to better customer experience and has improved overall business efficiency and fasted more convenient transactions to GCash’s 79 million and growing GCash users. These partners are Robinsons Department Store which won 1st place, Villarica Pawnshop Inc., and Max’s Group Inc. which won 2nd and 3rd awards, respectively.

For the Excellence Ecosystem Award, key partners were honored for embracing the digital lifestyle and fully integrating the different solutions of GCash into their ecosystem. The awardees include Puregold Price Club Inc. (1st place), Robinsons Supermarket (2nd place),  and Globe Telecom, Inc. (3rd place)

Taking home the Excellence in Growth Potential Award were PMFTC Inc. (1st place), BDO Unibank, Inc. (2nd place), and McDonald’s Philippines (3rd place), for showing promise to grow in terms of transaction volume, door count, or expansion into new lines of businesses with GCash.

Recognizing their efforts to achieve exponential growth in Gross Transaction Value (GTV) and sustained user base, the Excellence in Growth and Usage Award was given to AB Leisure Exponent, Inc. (BingoPlus) Abenson, Appboxo Pte. Ltd. Dragonpay Corporation, Gaisano Mall of Davao, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Lalamove Philippines Inc., Lazada E-Service Philippines, Inc., Mercury Drug Corporation, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, P.J. Lhuillier, Inc. (Cebuana Lhuillier), Seaoil Philippines, SM Retail Inc., Landers Superstore, and Unilever Philippines Inc.

Meanwhile, the Pioneer Awards which recognize companies that pioneered the adoption of GCash’s innovative business solutions were divided into four categories: the Pioneer Award for Best GGives Merchant which was awarded to Zalora, the  Pioneer Award for Best GCredit Merchant on the other hand was given to MERALCO. Meanwhile the Pioneer Award for Ad Solutions was given to Smart Communications, Inc., and taking home the Pioneer Award for Data Solutions was Trusting Social AI Philippines, Inc.

Lasty, the highlight of the evening and the most prestigious of the awards, the Partner of the Year was granted to Puregold Price Club Inc. by being one of the GCash’s key partners that exhibited excellence in digital finance and aided in promoting financial inclusion in the country. Along with GCash, Puregold Price Club Inc. introduced the first-ever barcode payment solution to Filipinos, effectively providing a safe and convenient digital payment solution to anyone with a smartphone and a GCash account.

By continuously building strategic collaboration with its partners, GCash is on track to make its mission of ‘Finance for All’ a reality and to help millions of Filipinos have a safer, more inclusive, and better financial future.

About GCash

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, 79M registered users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 5.2M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines.

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs.

The SM Blind Awareness Campaign goes all the way to Cavite

“We at SM Cares firmly believe that empathy and awareness are crucial to enabling a barrier-free and disability inclusive environment. As such, we humbly invite everyone to visit ‘The Blackout Zone’ to show solidarity, appreciation, and inspired action to the blind community.” ~Engr. Bien C. Mateo, SM Cares Program Director for Disability Affairs 

Influencer The Young Juanderer trying out the challenges inside The Blackout Zone

SM Cares just launched the latest leg of “The Blackout Zone”, the organization’s highly successful exhibit designed to simulate blindness in SM City Tanza, Cavite last April 24, Monday. 

The Blackout Zone opens at SM City Tanza from April 24 until May 14

Present at the launch were Engr. Bien Mateo, Senior Vice President of SM Supermalls, Arch. Jaime Silva from the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc., Marlo Lucas from the Resources for the Blind Inc., and Jayme Marino of the National Council on Disability Affairs. Also present during the launch are Dr. Florencio Costa of the Tanza National Comprehensive High School, Mr. Joebert Guzon of FEAPITSAT, and Coralyn Perez of Tanza Municipal Social Welfare and Development representing Mayor Yuri Pacumio.

Student participants from Tanza National Comprehensive High School at The Blackout Zone booth at SM City Tanza

Student participants from Tanza National Comprehensive High School at The Blackout Zone booth at SM City Tanza

“The Blackout Zone” is the first exhibit in the Philippines that simulates being blind and is installed inside a mall. It offers a free, immersive, and unique tour of a day in the life of a blind person. Participants get to complete simple chores in a safe environment without sight, such as tying shoes, making sandwiches, coffee, and watching movies. After the tour, the guests receive a debriefing from the blind master, a member of the blind community who offers their own perspectives and explains how the difficulties in the exhibit mirror the daily struggles of blind people. This fosters a greater appreciation and understanding of the blind population among mall visitors, tenants, and staff.

(L-R) NCDA Information Officer Jayme Marino, Resources for the Blind, Inc Marlo Lucas, SM Supermalls SVP for Operations and SM Cares Program Director for Disability Affairs Engr. Bien C. Mateo, United Architect of the Philippines’  Arch. Jimmy Silva, SM Supermalls SAVP for Operations Jason T. Terrenal, FEAPITSAT Academic Head Joebert Guzon, and Tanza National Comprehensive High School Principal Dr. Florencio C. Costa.

Following the success of “The Blackout Zone” from previous legs in SM Southmall and SM City Clark, SM City Tanza’s setup is the biggest one to date. First launched in October of last year, “The Blackout Zone” has been visited by almost 2,000 attendees. The Tanza exhibit will be open until May 14, and plans for future exhibits in different SM malls around the country are already underway.

The Blackout Zone blind master Andrew Perez briefing the first batch of participants

The Blackout Zone is just one of the many initiatives of SM Cares under its Program on Persons with Disabilities. Others include the annual Emergency Preparedness Forum for PWDs and senior citizens; the annual Happy Walk for Down Syndrome in partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines; and the annual Angels Walk for Autism in partnership with Autism Society Philippines.

Through The Blackout Zone, SM Cares supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly "SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities."

SM Blind Awareness Campaign

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, supporting initiatives focused on communities and the environment. Aside from the program on PWDs, its advocacies include Programs for the Environment, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the SM Bike-friendly initiative.

To learn more about these programs, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

Seize It, Book It, Sulit with Cebu Pacific’s Summer Seat Sale PHP 199 one-way base fare for domestic destinations

“This summer is the perfect time for every Juan to push through with their well-deserved travel plans. We invite our passengers to go on their next great summer adventure with Cebu Pacific.” ~Carmina Romero, Cebu Pacific Director for Corporate Communications

The major airline in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), encourages every Juan to embrace the opportunity and benefit from its affordable tickets as it runs another round of seat sales to brighten the summer.

For a price as low as PHP 199 one-way base rate, exclusive of taxes and other fees, CEB travelers can book their flights across the airline's largest domestic network from April 26 to 30, 2023, and travel as early as May 1 until September 30, 2023.

Whether you’re looking to cool down and swim on the white sand beaches of Boracay and Bohol or escape the hustle and bustle of city life while roaming around the nature parks of Bacolod, Cagayan De Oro, and General Santos, there’s a Cebu Pacific flight for you directly from Manila, Clark, Cebu, and Davao.

Passengers with existing Travel Funds may use these to pay for flights and other add-ons. Apart from the Travel Fund, other payment options such as payment centers, credit or debit cards, and e-wallets may also be used.

CEB flies to 35 domestic and 25 international destinations, spanning across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

Book your flights now via bit.ly/CebuPacificSale.

Partnership between the Jollibee Group Foundation and DOST to Improve the Lives and Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers

“This partnership is an important milestone for farmer entrepreneurs. PCAARRD’s expertise in research and development in agriculture will surely help create access to more technologies that can enhance farmers’ livelihood to become more profitable.” ~Gisela Tiongson, Executive Director of JGF

Partnership for Agro-Entrepreneurship. The MOU signing was held at the DOST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center in the presence of (seated, from left): (place names in this sequence for easier read) JGF Executive Director Gisela Tiongson (seated, third from left); JGF Senior Program Manager Ma Laize Ar Cruzat (seated, fourth from left); DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora (seated, second from left); and DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia (seated, first from left). Behind them are (can we make a generic description to acknowledge the other people in the photo).

A Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed by the Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) and Jollibee Group (JGF), the company's social development arm. The agreement aims to strengthen both parties' work on enhancing smallholder producers' entrepreneurial capacity and connecting them to agriculture value chains. 

 

Through the exchange of technology, access to knowledge, and the provision of tools to increase productivity, the partnership between DOST-PCAARRD and JGF seeks to support the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, it seeks to enhance R&D initiatives in order to provide scientific and technology-based solutions for agri-aqua businesses. For the purpose of ensuring the success of agro-enterprises, the program also incorporates networking and market links. 

“We believe that this partnership for agro-entrepreneurship will strengthen PCAARRD’s efforts in addressing technology gaps to improve quality and productivity, as well as in building the capacities of farmer groups and partner LGUs to provide opportunities to tap institutional markets. We are also certain that this will pave the way to strengthen the implementation of projects and activities with the end goal of achieving JGF’s mission and PCAARRD’s mandates.” ~Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director

 

This initiative also supports JGF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), which empowers and helps smallholder farmers sharpen their technical and business acumen, as well as partnership-building skills. FEP uses the Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach to assist farmer groups supplying Jollibee Group and other markets.

 

To date, Jollibee Group has accredited 18 farmer groups across the country that supply more than 9,000 metric tons of vegetables to the company, which accounts for more than P360 million in total sales.

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

About Jollibee Group

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 17 brands with close to 6,500 stores across 34 countries including the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People's Republic of China, United Kingdom, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, and Australia. 

The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); five franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, PHO24, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee and PHO24; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. 

The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 90% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. It also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' most admired company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The company is also a two-time recipient of Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the only Philippine-based company to receive the distinction. 

Going to South Korea Soon? Let GCash Help You Through Your Trip via Scan to Pay

As countries reopen their borders and people begin to start travelling abroad again, GCash made it easier for us to roam our destinations without the worry of losing cash and keeping our expenses tracked. Allow me to share with you our press release for the STP availability of Gcash in South Korea. 

The Hallyu wave has been widely welcomed in the Philippines. What's not to love about South Korea? Kdrama, KPop, cuisine, and fashion. It's undeniable that Filipinos have ranked the nation highly on their travel wish lists, whether they're planning a trip to their idol group or simply can't wait to immerse themselves in their culture. 

Now that GCash is available, traveling the nation is simpler and hassle-free without having to worry about running out of Korean Won or needing to exchange money quickly and paying exorbitant exchange rates. Make sure to include the following retail partners where you can use GCash to your list if you're organizing a trip to South Korea.

Shop!

• Lotte Duty-Free 

Give yourself a day or two to properly explore Lotte Duty Free—you won’t regret it! Boasting the most brands and goods in South Korea, Lotte Duty Free is a haven for tourists seeking the best brands of the country at the most attractive prices. Found in several locations in South Korea, also be on the lookout for exclusive items that you can only find on their shelves, such as collabs with popular idol groups. 

• Shinsegae Duty Free

Enjoy the first ever duty free store from one of the biggest names in retail in South Korea! Once the Shinsegae Chaebol opened their first department store in 1930, they never looked back. And they were the first department store in the country, too! 

Shinsegae Duty Free is a stone’s throw away from their first and main shopping mall, and you’ll find everything you want, from luxury goods to affordable finds, from electronics to character goods. There’s even an art space inside! 

• LINE FRIENDS – Flagship Store 

If you're someone who gets excited seeing cute knick-knacks, then you're definitely going to love the super cute characters of LINE FRIENDS. This global character brand can trace their popularity from Japan, where the Line App came from, and also from Naver, the internet search company that’s numero uno in SK—yup, it’s not Google! 

LINE FRIENDS have their mainstay characters called Brown & Friends, but they also carry BT21, the super popular characters of the world-famous idol group and South Korea’s pride, BTS. Find these characters in merch ranging from notepads to bags, and everything in between! 

Eat! 

• Hai Di Lao 

You can’t go to South Korea without going on a food trip! Don’t miss out on the world-famous street food and convenience store treats in SK, and make sure to visit the hot pot restaurant Hai Di Lao. One of the largest hotpot chains hailing from China, Hai Di Lao is now found in different countries, including South Korea. Expect one of the widest hotpot varieties you’ll ever find in Hai Di Lao—make sure to come on an empty stomach!  

• Starbucks, Hongdae neighborhood 

The coffee and café culture in South Korea is well-known—you can’t walk a few steps without running into a quaint café to step into SK. If you’re looking for the comforts of a familiar place though, Starbucks in Seoul can rival such quaint cafes. Make sure to check out the exclusive merch that can only be found in South Korea, and to try their seasonal drinks. 

Pay with GCash

Pay your way through these places with GCash which is now available in over 1 million Alipay+ merchants across Asia and in key countries including Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Qatar. GCash is the way to control your budget when you’re outside the Philippines—enjoy real-time forex, zero service fees and get access to exclusive deals all inside the app!  

Simply look for the Alipay+ sign and you can pay with GCash! After logging into the GCash app, select the QR or PayQR button at the bottom of the screen. Scan the merchant’s QR code, or tap “Pay Abroad with Alipay+” to have the merchant scan your generated QR. Then  check the amount, and click Pay to see the receipt. No more traveling with large sums of money—you get to travel light and get deals and discounts from different places, but with the same payment. Go with GCash!

To learn more about paying with GCash in South Korea, tap the  “A+ Rewards” page in the app and select South Korea as your destination. 

About GCash

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, 79M registered users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 5.2M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines.

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs.

GrabFood Tara, Kain! A Panel Discussion on the National Filipino Food Month

[L-R] Director of Department of Tourism (NCR) Sharlene Zabala-Batin; e-Commerce Division Chief of Department of Trade and Industry Berlin Mabuna; Director for Deliveries of Grab Philippines Greg Camacho; Chief Executive Officer of Foodee Group Eric Dee; and owner Tapapa Tapsilogan Eisen Lim engage in a panel discussion on the role of digital marketplaces in ensuring the reach and commercial activity for Filipino cuisine.

In celebration of National Filipino Food Month, leading on-demand deliveries platform GrabFood is hosted a panel discussion with the Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, and MSME Filipino restaurateurs to discuss the impact of the digital economy to Filipino Food businesses in the post-pandemic era.

Director for Deliveries of Grab Philippines Greg Camacho shared some interesting insights earlier on Filipino Food and the changing consumer behavior in the country. Sharing some data points highlighted during the discussion:

GRAB DATA FROM ACROSS THE REGION:

• 88% got to know of a new store because of delivery apps
• 90% tried at least one new store in a delivery app that they have not tried in person
• 9 in 10 consumers in the region prefer brands with an integrated online-to-offline experience
• GF consumers ordered 1.7x more often in 2022 compared to 2019
• GM consumers ordered 1.4x more often in 2022 compared to 2020

GRAB PHILIPPINES DATA

• 8 in 10 merchants say that delivery platforms are a must-have for their businesses to survive
• In 2022 average basket size on GrabFood and GrabMart, grew by 84% vs 2019

FILIPINO FOOD ON THE GRABFOOD PLATFORM:

• Halo-Halo was ordered close to 80% more in 2022 compared to the previous year – ranking 10th in the list of top orders on GrabFood
• Halo-Halo ranks no. 1 in the list of top food items ordered for Merienda (3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Longganisa ranks 2nd in the list of top food items ordered for Breakfast (5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.)
• Chicken Inasal ranks 2nd in the list of top food items ordered for Lunch (11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

[L-R] Director of Department of Tourism (NCR) Sharlene Zabala-Batin; e-Commerce Division Chief of Department of Trade and Industry Berlin Mabuna; Director for Deliveries of Grab Philippines Greg Camacho; Chief Executive Officer of Foodee Group Eric Dee; and owner Tapapa Tapsilogan Eisen Lim engage in a panel discussion on the role of digital marketplaces in ensuring the reach and commercial activity for Filipino cuisine.

Filipino food as a key tourism thrust in the post-pandemic era. The role of aggregators in commercializing Filipino food in the post-pandemic Era. GrabFood in its role of helping Filipino restaurants thrive during the pandemic and as they embrace the changing consumer behavior. How Pinoy restaurateurs find resiliency in digital marketplaces.

Practice these money-managing tips to improve your finances with Maya

The correct tools can significantly simplify your experience if you're seeking to improve how you handle your funds. Knowing effective financial "hacks" can save costs and increase returns. Money management is made simple with Maya, the top digital bank app in the nation, which combines the finest in payments, savings, credit, and cryptocurrency.

Because it offers rewards and one of the best interest rates for your savings, it is also known as the most rewarding finance app.

Here are four tips featuring exclusive Maya promos for you to take advantage of this April:

Build up your savings. Remember: you can always grow your money. You don't need significant cash on hand to start saving. Maya offers the best-in-class savings account with daily interest crediting at 4% p.a., one of the highest in the industry. And you can boost your savings by up to 10% p.a. just by using Maya for your daily payment transactions. The boosted rate of up to 10% p.a. applies to deposits up to P100,000.

Get huge savings now - spend up to P30,000 using Maya to see your Maya Savings interest skyrocket up to 10%. This promotional rate runs until May 31.

Spend smarter. Good money management means spending smartly. And when you pay using Maya, your spending smarter as it's more convenient and rewarding. Check out these wide-ranging deals this April:

Are you ordering food online? Use the code MAYANEW30 on the foodpanda app to get 30% off (up to P100 discount) using your Maya card. Open to new foodpanda users only. Promo runs until April 30, 2023 only!
·        Get 5% cashback (up to P50) when you purchase apps or in-app subscriptions worth P500 on Google Play and checkout with Maya until May 5, 2023. One-time availment only.
·        Shop and spend at least P3,000 on ZALORA to get 40% OFF when you pay with Maya. Simply input the code 'PAYWITHMAYA' upon checkout. Promo runs from April 29 to May 9, 2023!
·         Game on and save up to P45 when you enter the promo codes "MAYAML30"/ "MAYAML15" on Codashop and checkout with Maya. Top up from April 28 – May 29 to avail of the offer.
·        Shop for your family's essentials on Edamama and get up to P1,450 off when you checkout with Maya. Promo is valid until August 31, 2023
·        Grab all your summer favorites on Pick.A.Roo and save up to P300 when you checkout with Maya. Promo is valid until May 21, 2023.
·        Buy gift for your mom on Mother’s Day like the queen she is and save up to P1,450 on FlowerStore.ph! Sale starts from April 24 to May 14:
Product Exclusive Discount: Get P500 OFF + FREE Shipping on Chocolate Love when you pay with Maya! Use the code "MAYAEXCLUSIVE".

App-Exclusive Discount: Get 25% OFF + FREE Shipping when you purchase on Flowerstore APP using checkout with Maya! Use the code "MAYAAPPMOM". Reward capped at P250.

Website Only: Get 20% OFF + FREE Shipping when you purchase on the Flowerstore site using checkout with Maya! Use the code "MAYAMOM". Reward capped at P150.

Get a chance to win a trip for 2 to Boracay when you scan to pay with Maya at least P1000 in any Mercury Drug Center branch until June 15, 2023.

Pay your bills on time. Settling your payables on time saves you penalties and unnecessary stress. The Maya app makes paying your bills on time even more convenient and rewarding. For instance, customers paying their PLDT bill in Maya for the first time can get up to a P500 cashback reward. Existing PLDT bills payer, meanwhile, can receive up to P200 cashback. Meanwhile, if you're settling a minimum of P5,000 Platinum Creditplus loan payment on Maya, you will get P80 cashback. This promo runs until May 15.

Level up with Maya. Maya helps unlock a better version of yourself—one who's in control of growing and mastering your money. Did you know that Maya users can get up to P120 when they sign up, upgrade their accounts, and transact for the first time?

Use your referral code and spread the word to get your friends and family to join Maya. Even better, you get P50 for everyone who signs up using your code, upgrades, and completes their first transaction. 

Start improving your finances today with Maya and do banking your way.

Maya's digital banking services are powered by Maya Bank, Inc., a digital bank supervised by the BSP. Deposits are insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) for up to PHP500,000 per depositor. To learn more, visit https://www.maya.ph/deals. Follow Maya at @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok and @mayaofficialph on Twitter. 

Visit maya.ph and mayabank.ph for more information.
 
 

 

About Maya

Maya is the no. 1 digital banking app and all-in-one money platform in the Philippines with the most comprehensive payments ecosystem. It leads millions of Filipinos — consumers, businesses, communities, and government agencies alike — into a digital economy that’s more inclusive, transparent, and empowering. Maya is powered by the country’s only end-to-end digital payments company, Maya Philippines, and Maya Bank for digital banking services.