McDonald’s brings back Shake Shake Fries with all-time favorite flavors, BBQ, Creamy Cheddar, and the new Garlic Butter.
Cebuana Lhuillier Insures One Million Filipinos for National Pilipino Protektado Day
One million Filipinos officially joined the country’s rally to be a fully-insured nation as Cebuana Lhuillier—the Philippines’ leading microfinancial company—provides free microinsurance through its National Pilipino Protektado Day campaign.
Helping Filipinos be more disaster-resilient and prepared against various calamities, Cebuana Lhuillier has declared July 21 as the National Pilipino Protektado Day as part of the company’s advocacy to build disaster-resilient communities and help the Insurance Commission achieve its vision of protecting 80% of the Filipinos with microinsurance by 2020.
“For the past years, we’ve been constantly just introducing new and innovative products and services to the public to be able to help them be financially included. This time, with our National Pilipino Protektado Day campaign, we decided to take a bolder step and took the initiative to really touch ground with those who are most vulnerable to calamities and directly offer them free microinsurance as a new way for them to be secured,” Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier said.
In partnership with Pioneer Insurance and with the help of various public and private organizations, free microinsurance were given out across the Philippines, prioritizing the most vulnerable communities, families and individuals from the marginalized sector.
Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions General Manager Jonathan Batangan reiterates that National Pilipino Protektado Day is only one of the company’s many endeavors in its push for disaster resilience. “National Pilipino Protektado Day is a great milestone in our disaster preparedness campaign. But after insuring one million Filipinos, we are on to more initiatives that will help us promote microinsurance and foster disaster resiliency. We are introducing an app, a microinsurance organization, and later on, a website–all designed to ultimately promote the welfare of Filipinos,” he said.
Cebuana Alerto App Reinforcing its disaster resilience advocacy further, Cebuana Lhuillier has also officially launched Cebuana Alerto during the culminating event. An android app that harnesses the digital mobile platform, Cebuana Alerto is designed to provide real-time vital information about disasters within the Philippines.
Equipped with an interactive technology that allows users to share updates in areas affected by any disaster, the Cebuana Alerto app features an alert system that sends notifications to the user in the event of disasters such as typhoon, earthquake, fire, and flood. It has live newsfeeds that show the latest updates from third-party government agencies including the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDDRMC) for weather updates, the Department of Education (DEPED) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for school suspension announcements, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for information on traffic and road conditions. It also informs the users about Cebuana Lhuillier’s various insurance products and services which they can also purchase immediately online through the app.
Furthermore, the app also includes a “Safe Button” special feature that will automatically notify and send an “I AM SAFE” SMS message to the intended recipient about the user’s current state during a disaster.
MIAAPI
Simultaneously, Cebuana Lhuillier also led the formation of the Microinsurance Agents Association of the Philippines, Incorporated (MIAAPI)—an organization founded to promote the interests and welfare of microinsurance agents nationwide.
MIAAPI interim Board Members include ASEAN Insurance Council Head Michael Rellosa, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) RFPA Asia Senior Adviser Dante Portula, Pioneer Insurance VP Geric Laude, Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines Past President Enrique Abellana, Philippine Insurers Club Treasurer Edgardo David, RBAP Coordinator Gay Mapano, Eternal Plans SAVP Jumer Lecetivo, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Executive Trustee Atty. Cesar Vidal, and CLIS General Manager Jonathan Batangan.
Moreover, Cebuana Lhuillier is also set to launch an online platform for insurance donations called OurHelp later this year. Connecting donees in the Philippines and donors from all over the world through a dedicated website, this crowdfunding website further aims to provide quality insurance protection awarded to the most vulnerable sectors in the form of premium donation from socially aware enterprises.
Prior to the culmination of the National Pilipino Protektado Day, Cebuana Lhuillier kicked off its disaster resilience advocacy by mounting and leading the highly-commended “2016 READY: The Role of Microinsurance in Building Disaster Resilient Communities” forum last January. A series of roadshows in key cities such as Baguio, Cebu, and Davao immediately followed to cascade the Forum’s learnings. Simultaneously, Cebuana Lhuillier launched during the road shows the Alagang Cebuana Plus Gold or ACP Gold—an improved version of the company’s premiere microinsurance product that already includes a microlife component underwritten by PhilamLife. ACP to date has covered more than six million Filipinos.
PLDT SME Nation’s #BeTheBoss is back!
They are looking for the country’s most promising and tech-savy entrepreneurs.
PRA elevates SM Megamall to Shopping Center of the Year Hall of Fame
Constant innovation will remain the Philippine retail industry’s significant growth driver in the coming years, according to Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) during its 19th Outstanding Filipino Retailers and Shopping Centers of the Year Awards held recently at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.
The retail industry has contributed about 18% of GDP in 2015 alone. PRA Vice Chairman Roberto Claudio cited OFW remittances, BPO earnings, increased consumer spending power, and tourism as key contributors to this development. Tourism, in particular, is projected to attract 12.5M tourists by 2022. This means demand for shopping, leisure and entertainment will increase tremendously.
Claudio said that although the retail industry has been experiencing growth over the last three years, it still has to address the challenge to keep the consumers coming to the stores because of the growing popularity of e-commerce. “We need to go beyond the idea of selling. We have to provide excellent customer experience for them to keep coming back to our stores,” he said.
Claudio gave SM as an example on how to meet the demand because of the company’s continuous investments in shopping, hotel and conventions, events and entertainment. “SM never stopped innovating. It keeps reinventing itself. In retail, you can’t afford to be complacent once you meet your sales targets. Just look at how many times SM innovates, how they keep reinventing their product categories, how they continue training their people,” Claudio said.
PRA Chairman Emeritus Samie Lim believes that SM’s success is driven by SM founder Henry Sy, Sr.’s ability to see beyond selling and marketing. According to Lim, Henry Sy was instrumental in bringing the Asian Retailers Conference and Exhibit to the Philippines in 1993 at the then newly built SM Megamall. There, he remembers seeing Henry Sy, exchanging ideas with, and learning from, the delegates who were some of Asia’s best retailers.
“Henry Sy is a true visionary. He doesn’t see things for what they are, but for what they can become,” Lim said. “That’s how SM became a leader. The company’s tradition of learning from the best retailers around the world continues until today. That’s the spirit of entrepreneurship.”
Today, the tradition is carried on by Hans Sy as president of SM Prime Holdings. “This win is a tribute to the entire team whose hard work has helped build the SM brand in the way it is recognized today,” said Hans Sy about the various awards SM brought home from the PRA. “It is a win that will help keep us on track toward maintaining innovative products and services.”
SM Megamall went home with another Shopping Center of the Year award, which automatically elevates it to PRA’s Hall of Fame. It was also given a special award for Best Retail Architecture awarded by the Southeast Asia Property Awards.
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Samsung teams up with Abenson to be the Filipino home’s perfectpartner in taking care of the family
Samsung Philippines brings its home appliances closer to Filipinos’ reach with the help of its key partnership with Abenson, one of the most trusted dealers in the country.Together, Samsung and Abenson launched the Filipino household’s perfect partners in taking care of their family. Samsung showcased home appliances that intuitively understand and care for the family’s needsin the “Samsung Digital Appliances: Perfect Partners” launch held at Abenson’s flagship store in Bonifacio Global City last June 23.
The event highlighted easy-to-follow life hacks that homemakers can accomplish using Samsung’s Digital Appliances.Samsung Twin Cooling Refrigerator: Your Partner in Freshness Fresh food and energy savings are important for all families. Samsung Twin Cooling Refrigerators are engineered to keep food fresh up to two times longer, allowing family members to enjoy fresher and better-tasting food. Samsung’s innovative Twin Cooling Technology allows for the refrigerator and freezer to have separate temperature controls, which gives flexibility for five different conversion modes.
This allows users to easily convert the freezer into a fridge to store more groceries, or keep only the freezer or the fridge on if one would go on vacation. Samsung Add-Wash: Your Partner in Convenience Sometimes the wash just started then mom would see socks or a towel on the floor, or realize that she forgot to include school uniform to be used tomorrow. Addressing this common problem, the Samsung Front Load Washing Machine with Add-Wash technology allows more clothes to beadded in the middle of a wash cycle. Its Wi-Fi capability via Smart Control feature allows the washing machine to be controlled remotely, giving family members the freedom to do other things.
These innovative features mean less time and energy washing every piece of laundry and more time for moments that truly matter. Samsung Airconditioners: Your Partner in Comfort The sweltering heat in the Philippines makes airconditioners a must in every home. However,these can jack up electricity costs considerably. Aiming to provide maximum comfort to Filipino families, Samsung Airconditioner with Digital Inverter offers hours of reliable cooling and
unparalleled energy efficiency. It uses an 8-pole inverter that ensures a more efficient operation with less vibration and noise, while its Wi-Fi function via Smart Control enables the user to control the airconditioner using their smartphone or tablet.
Samsung Smart Microwave Oven: Your Partner in Delight The Samsung Smart Microwave Oven gives access to easy and healthier cooking. Beyond its sleek and premium design, this microwave oven is packed with features that reduce cooking time,grill meats, and even ferment dough or yogurt. Samsung’s Smart Microwave Oven is designed with ceramic enamel coating to quickly and conveniently prepare healthy and delicious meals. It also makes the microwave oven easy to clean, making it a partner in delight in the kitchen. “Our latest suite of home appliances go beyond their usual functions to help the modern homemaker do daily chores easily, efficiently, and stylishly.
Through our partnership with Abenson,we can let more customers experience why Samsung home appliances are the perfect partners of modern Filipino homes,” said Stephanie Chua, Head of Product Marketing, Digital Appliances.“As part of our mission in bringing ‘the good life’ to every Filipino, we are making sure that we are offering the best products that fit our customers’ lifestyle. We are proud to partner with a trusted brand like Samsung to give our customers access to the latest innovations in home appliances,”said Jephanie Ma, Abenson Marketing Manager.
A Greater Quality of Life
Growing up in an impoverished post-war Taiwan, Johnson Health Tech founder, Peter Lo knew that following one’s dreams would require hard work, ambition, and a true entrepreneurial spirit that, 40 years later, has become the core of our business.
It was 1975. With the idea that building his own business would be the key to long-term success, a determined Lo hand wrote about 2,000 letters to American companies to offer support and services for their manufacturing needs. He received only 2 responses. One, an exercise equipment called IVANKO, asked if Lo could manufacture barbells. With his first order of $400 for 200 barbell pieces. Lo created Johnson Metal. While learning the skills and knowledge necessary for barbell manufacturing. Lo began to understand the individual and societal benefits of fitness equipment and wanted to foster his commitment to health and well being around the world.
By the 1980’s, Lo’s barbell business has expanded to the cardio fitness space. Johnson Health Tech became the original equipment manufacturer for numerous industry leaders including Trek, Schwinn, Omron, True and Universal among others. In 1996, Johnson Health Tech’s first brand efforts was spun off by the Trek Fitness management team – Vision Fitness- with the idea that the specialty fitness channel, still a small market at that time, would see immense growth in the future. While higher-end cardio products were too expensive and mass products were too low-quality for most fitness enthusiasts at the time, Johnson Health Tech was to find the “sweet spot” by offering exceptional quality at a more affordable price.
With a knack for spotting major trends in the fitness and manufacturing world to meet today’s consumer needs, Johnson Health Tech’s business more than doubled within just three years. In 1998, Johnson Health Tech introduced Horizon Fitness to bring higher quality and durability to the typically lower-end sporting goods/mas-market channel. Three years later, Johnson Health Tech launched Matrix Fitness line of products to the commercial fitness channel.
Throughout its gradual but massive growth, Johnson Health Tech has also established itself as a true pioneer of product innovation, from the Matrix hybrid bike to the first folding elliptical, to perfecting the eddy current magnetic brake system. Many of the technologies invented for the Johnson Health Tech machines have now become industry standards. From the beginning, an investment in key technologies to increase quality and add value has been a key priority of Johnson Health Tech.
Currently Johnson Health Tech is the largest fitness manufacturer in Asia and the third-largest manufacturer in the world. With a product portfolio covering all fitness channels and markets, including Matrix, Vision and Horizon. Johnson’s global network consists of manufacturing facilities in Shanghai and Taiwan, with Research & Development centers in North America, Shanghai and Taiwan. We are among the industry’s fastest-growing manufacturers, and with 24 wholly-owned subsidiaries, a service network of 60 countries, and 315 retail stores, allowing us better reach and to efficiently serve the needs of our customers around the globe.
This 2016, Johnson Health Tech (JHT), is proud to announce the establishment of their twenty-third wholly owned subsidiary in the heart of the Makati Business District, the leading financial and central business district of the Philippines.
“Johnson Health Tech is extremely excited to have an established home in one of the most dynamic cities in Southeast Asia. As a direct subsidiary, we can bring a number of significant benefits to our customers across both commercial and home use fitness segments. With JHT’s industry-leading product portfolio and strength in global R&D and manufacturing, paired with our local team of highly trained professionals, we can provide turn-key solutions for all fitness and wellness related needs. Here in Manila, we want to be known as JOHNSON HEALTH TECH PHILIPPINES, INC.”, said Mr. Katsuya Ito, the Japanese-Australian nationale spearheading JHT Philippines’ – Team Manila. Prior to this appointment, President Ito served as a Regional Sales Manager for JHT’s Taiwan corporate headquarters, and head of Overseas Sales Development for Fujiiryoki (Fuji Medical Instruments), a leading Japanese massage chair manufacturer.
The subsidiary will serve both the commercial market, including fitness clubs, condominiums, corporate gyms, colleges, and government projects; as well as the home use market, where the subsidiary’s primary focus will be to aggressively develop a corporate-owned retail store network across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
VXI – Launching of their new logo and brand positioning
Contact center solutions provider VXI Global Solutions recently opened its flagship facility in Pasay—its seventh in the Philippines—and is looking at opening one or two more by end of this year.
Speaking to the local media during the facility’s grand opening at the Five E-Com Center located at the Mall of Asia Complex in this city, Jared Morrison, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for the Philippines of VXI Global Holdings B.V. Philippines, Inc., said they are already in the market scouting for two more additional locations.
Morrison said among those locations are one at the National Capital Region (NCR) and another provincial site. He mentioned that they’ve already looked at the Next Wave Cities list of the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) for possible locations.
“We’ve seen the list and we’ve already sat down with our real estate consultants. Right now, we’re developing strategies on where to locate next,” explains Morrison.
He added that VXI will make the announcement on the new expansion location, whether in the NCR or in the province, by the end of this year and the next one by early next year.
Davao City was mentioned as a possible provincial site again since VXI already has an existing facility there. “Of course Davao is also still possible but we don’t want to compete with ourselves. However, if there’s room for one more there, then we’d love to go to Davao,” he said.
The Pasay site, costing around an estimated Php 185 million to build and will house more than 1,000 employees, is already filled to about 80% of its total capacity and Morrison said they expect to be fully loaded by the end of this year as well.
But what’s even more exciting is the fact that the new facility will provide additional jobs for those interested to work in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. Last year, Morrison said VXI paid a total of close to Php 3 billion in salaries and this facility will definitely add up to that total.
“VXI has an excellent service track record with our clients and they are demanding more of our services so we have to develop an excellent talent pool, which we compensate with above-industry standard pay, including other exceptional benefits. People work for us and stay long with us because they see opportunities for career advancement and growth, the chance to lead people. That’s the value that VXI offers in terms of jobs for those who want a career in the BPO industry,” Morrison added.
VXI has more than 21,000 people working around the world with office in the US, China and of course the Philippines. More than 40% of its global employee footprint is based in the Philippines. The company started with only 590 employees in 2003 and grew at an average of 30% per annum, and now has more than 10,000 employees as of June this year working in its facilities in Makati, Ortigas and Quezon City . Last year, VXI grew its headcount in the Philippines by 16% from 2014.
VXI provides call center and ITO services in more than 25 languages for leading global Fortune 500 companies. Its partners rely on a complete range of contact center and technology solutions to retain and grow their customer base while maintaining the highest level of quality and operational excellence.
For more about VXI, visit www.vxi.com.
Ian Veneracion endorses Primera Light Brandy
Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) introduced “man of the hour” Ian Veneracion as the newest endorser of its liquor brand Primera Light Brandy.
In a grand press launch and contract signing held recently, the multi-talented actor was welcomed to the GSMI family by its president Bernard Marquez, group brand manager Paul Camello, and brand manager Henry Simon.
Ian, who won the hearts of many after starring in a hit primetime teleserye and movie, relates that being “swabe” is important when dealing with both his work and personal life.
“After a ‘tamang swabe’ day of shooting or taping, I just want to relax and drink something smooth. So when I’m with friends we usually just open a bottle of Primera Light Brandy,” says Ian, who finally found the smoothness that he had been looking for in a brandy. “Primera Light Brandy is smoother than other brands, and I love how it tastes,” he adds.
Primera Light Brandy is a unique brandy liqueur masterpiece made from fine imported ingredients and exquisitely blended with Solera Gran Reserva Brandy concentrate from Spain. The breakthrough Premium Smooth Blend process gives Primera Light Brandy that distinctly flavorful aroma, well-balanced character, and exceptional taste for that “Tamang Swabe, Swabeng Tama”.
Primera Light Brandy was recently recognized for its high quality and taste by the Monde Selection International Quality Institute, the distinguished authority of quality in the food and beverages industry worldwide.
Primera Light Brandy is a quality product of Ginebra San Miguel Inc.
For more on Primera Light Brandy, like the official Facebook fanpage www.facebook.com/primeralightbrandy or log on to www.ginebrasanmiguel.com.
WRITE UP: H2O SALAMANDER CROWD SOURCE FUNDING CAMPAIGN
With the recent global temperature record-breaking El Nino coming to an end, another extreme weather phenomenon is expected to take its place – the La Nina. If the El Nino caused many countries all over the world – including the Philippines – to experience severe drought, the La Nina is expected to do the exact and extreme opposite. As such, we can expect severe flooding in many places not just in Metro Manila but also all over the country.
While the government is doing its part in building the necessary flood mitigating infrastructures like sufficient drainage systems and other flood control projects, it will take a long time and a lot of money to complete them all. In the meantime, how can the people living in the 26,000 flood-prone barangays – as identified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council or NDRRMC – in the Philippines cope with massive flooding and the great challenges that come with it? And even after completing such infrastructures, how about the many other areas outside Metro Manila and other major cities in the Philippines that aren’t included in such infrastructure projects?
THE H2O SALAMANDER, an amphibious multi-utility vehicle
In response to this particular challenge posed by today’s severe weather, a cutting-edge Filipino innovation and technology company – H2O Technologies – has developed the H2O Salamander. It is an amphibious multi-utility vehicle that can safely run on both land and water, yes even in flood waters. t’s a potential game changer in terms of responding to typhoon-related disasters and mitigating the effects of severe flooding, especially in highly urbanized areas. The vehicle can be utilize to ensure continuity to provide basic services needed by people in every flood prone barangays. The H2O Salamander can carry up to 6 passengers (driver included) and comes in electricity and gasoline powered versions.
THE PARTNERSHIP
H2O Technologies is partnering with the single biggest non-government organization (NGO) that helps the Philippine government in dealing natural calamities like typhoons and massive flooding – the Philippine Red Cross. The Red Cross provides critical disaster management services to local government units (LGU) severely affected by natural calamities like floods through its disaster relief activities like rescue operations, among others. H2O is partnering with the Philippine Red Cross in helping local government units manage natural calamities better by donating 500 units of the H2O Salamander.
FUNDING THE PARTNERSHIP
For a successful campaign, we need to raise the amount of US$4.3 million . To do this, it will embark on a 60-day crowd source funding campaign via www.startsomegood.com, a crowd-funding platform for social enterprises, nonprofit projects and change makers. The campaign will give social change supporters the opportunity to donate $10, $50, $100, $150 and $2,500 in this crowd funding campaign;
Jollibee releases new Pinoy pride jingle for Independence Day
This coming June 12, the country’s number one fast food chain is set to release its latest anthem that is sure to make Filipinos #PinoyAndProud. Titled “Sarap at Saya”, this inspirational song is written for the country’s 118th Independence Day, to remind everyone how joyful it is to be Filipino and to highlight the many qualities that make every Pinoy proud of our beautiful country and unique culture.
Jollibee has consistently introduced generation-defining jingles through its TV commercials over the years. Top hits include the iconic “Beeda ang Saya” and “I Love You Sabado,” which captured the hearts of Pinoys of all ages. The brand’s latest anthem—especially composed for Independence Day—is slated to become another classic.
“Sarap at Saya” redefines Pinoy pride by igniting interest in commemorating the one truly Filipino holiday of the year, and in celebrating Independence Day as one resilient, jolly, and hopeful nation.
Emerging international musical titan Rachelle Ann Go, star of the London West End productions of Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, and The Voice Kids Philippines Season 1 runner-up and teen singing sensation Darren Espanto brought the anthem to life with their heartfelt rendition.
The song will be performed live for the first time by Darren joined by The X Factor Philippines season 1 champ KZ Tandingan at the Jollibee #PinoyAndProud: 2016 Independence Day Celebration and Countdown on June 11, 2016 at the Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig.
The music video version, starring Rachelle Ann and Darren, will premiere on local TV and online through the Jollibee Facebook page and on the official Jollibee YouTube channel on June 12.
Catch the performance of other top Pinoy talents Sarah Geronimo, JK Labajo, Elmo Magalona, Spongecola, and Itchyworms during the program that will run from 7 PM all the way to midnight to welcome Independence Day. They will be joined by Jollibee ambassadors Jodi Sta. Maria and the Legaspi family Zoren, Carmina, Mavy, and Cassy.