Aboitiz InfraCapital BUs green Cebu
In celebration of Philippine Arbor Day last July 25, Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates’ West Cebu Estate (WCE) team and various partners recently planted over 2,500 seedlings in Balamban, Cebu, marking another milestone in the team’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.
Since March 2008, WCE has demonstrated unwavering dedication to reforestation, with over 100,000 trees planted, strengthening this legacy and fostering community collaboration and environmental stewardship.
This year’s tree-planting activity brought together 333 team member (TM) volunteers, including TMs from MEZ2 Estate and Unity Digital Infrastructure, Inc., the digital infrastructure arm of Aboitiz InfraCapital.
Other volunteers included Aboitiz Construction, Inc. and Balamban EnerZone Corporation TMs; WCE locators, contractors, and service providers; and volunteers from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Philippine National Police, and other stakeholders.
The seedlings were planted in Buhingtubig, Barangay Buanoy, in Balamban, Cebu. Barangay Buanoy is an urban and coastal barangay with a total area of 1,050 hectares, mostly agricultural land.
Barangay Buanoy is host to WCE, whose 540-hectare mixed-use Economic Estate has transformed Balamban, Cebu, into the Shipbuilding Capital of the Philippines.
Mondelēz celebrates World Chocolate Day
An overwhelming 82 percent of global consumers believe that “chocolate is good for the soul.” This was the finding of the State of Snacking report of the MondelÄ“z International released in time for the celebration of World Chocolate Day this July.
Additionally, 73 percent of consumers feel that chocolate has the sweet power to “…turn an ordinary moment into something extraordinary,” highlighting its role in making every day experiences extra special and enjoyable for everyone.
About 72 percent of global consumers fear that a “…world without chocolate would be a world without joy.” This feeling, reported as consistent across various geographic locations, underlines the universal appeal of chocolates as a source of happiness, comfort, and satisfaction.
Around 57 percent of those surveyed indicated that they would rather give up social media for a month rather than go through a month without chocolate. This preference emphasizes the unique and irreplaceable delight that chocolate provides, making it a treat that is loved around the world.
CITEM wins 3 CAEXPO awards
The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) has been awarded three prestigious accolades at the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO).
International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines project director Rowena Mendoza accepted these awards on behalf of CITEM from the CAEXPO Secretariat.
CITEM was awarded Best National Pavilion, Best Investment Promotion, and Best Trade Visitor Organizer in last year’s edition of CAEXPO. The country has been participating in the international economic and trade event since 2004 by bringing Philippine manufacturers of food and non-food products. CAEXPO aims to promote trade, tourism, and investment between Aseam and China.
In the 2023 edition of CAEXPO, Tuguegarao City was selected as the Philippines’ “City of Charm” along with other cities from participating ASEAN countries. Tuguegarao City and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority were featured at the National Pavilion where they had the opportunity to explore business and direct investment leads in the areas of tourism, renewable energy, and information technology.
This year, the Philippines will feature the City of Ilagan as its “City of Charm.” The local government of Ilagan will offer investment opportunities on a global scale in the fields of agriculture, tourism, and commerce. This is the second consecutive time a city from Cagayan Valley has been hailed as the “City of Charm” in the China-based expo.
The Philippines is set to participate again this year at CAEXPO on September 24-28 in Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Baygon, Gilas Pilipinas help fight dengue
Baygon and Gilas Pilipinas announced a partnership aimed at educating the public on the prevention of dengue during the peak mosquito season.
The partnership will launch the ‘Pull Up Your Socks’ education and awareness campaign, which features Gilas players encouraging the public to take measures to help fight dengue, such as pulling up one’s socks to protect lower legs, emptying standing water, dousing high-risk areas with mosquito sprays, and using repellents.
The ‘Pull Up Your Socks’ campaign will also include social media content led by influencers and Baygon ambassadors. The content encourages Filipinos to share the importance of dengue prevention using the hashtag #PullUpYourSocks.
Asialink Finance marks anniversary with Gawad Kalinga partnership
Celebrating 27 remarkable years of providing tailored financial solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the Philippines, Asialink Finance Corp. partnered with Gawad Kalinga for a number of activities of impactful activities at Gawad Kalinga’s Bayanihan Village in Cavite.
Last month, 50 employee-volunteers participated in a day of impactful activities in house-building activities at the Bayanihan Village of Gawad Kalinga.
Volunteers also engaged with children through reading sessions, storytelling, coloring activities, and games.
A financial literacy session was held with 60 adult participants.
Vic Sotto named brand ambassador of online gaming platform
PlayTime, a 24/7 online gaming entertainment platform by Playmate Leisure Solutions Corp. (PLSC), officially announced the one and only Vic “Bossing” Sotto as the brand’s official endorser.
With Bossing on board, PlayTime brings the same high stakes excitement to its 10 million players.
With over 2,500 games to choose from–the largest game bank of its kind–PlayTime offers unparalleled excitement for its players.
PlayTime also announced its partnership with Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. as a major sponsor of the upcoming 60th Binibining Pilipinas pageant.
Pru Life UK champions sustainability
Life insurer Pru Life UK, in collaboration with law firm Quisumbing Torres (a member firm of Baker McKenzie), hosted a specialized sustainability session for employees on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) trends in Asia.
Richard Allen, a local principal from Baker McKenzie’s Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration Practice Groups, and Alain Charles Veloso, partner, head of Financial Institutions Industry Group, and assistant head of Quisumbing Torres’ Corporate & Commercial/M&A Practice Group, led the discussion on ESG trends in the Philippines andchallenges and opportunities businesses face in adopting sustainable practices.
The discussion outlined derivative actions, the need to assess risks and opportunities related to ESG, and growing expectations for corporate accountability in addressing ESG risks. This underscores the imperative for more transparent reporting that ensures accurate assessments of the financial impact of ESG factors.
Such regulatory response not only reflects a shift towards greater transparency but also underscores an evolving understanding of how ESG factors can impact long-term business resilience and stakeholder trust.
Chevron scholarship
Chevron together with the American Chamber of Commerce, (AmCham) recently hosted top students from leading universities to a leadership talk with the General Managers of Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) and Chevron Holdings Inc. (CHI).
The students are part of the AmCham Business Leadership Program (BLP) which provides Filipino students with high levels of access and interaction with executives of top companies in the Philippines. BLP enhances the students’ understanding of the role of business in national development and provides a broader perspective on key global business and economic issues.
AmCham exclusively invites top university students to participate in the BLP and to familiarize them with the contributions of American multinational companies to the country.
Chevron has been a steadfast supporter and sponsor of BLP for the past 20 years.
JCI Manila-Ignacio B. Gimenez Awards honors outstanding cops
JCI Manila recently hosted the 5th Ignacio B. Gimenez PNP Awards to recognize exceptional police officers within Metro Manila.
These dedicated men and women in uniform showcased remarkable expertise across various fields, including crime prevention, disaster response, and community outreach.
Nominated by their peers, superiors, and community members, the awardees embody patriotism, integrity, courage, and social responsibility–values closely aligned with those upheld by JCI Manila and the Ignacio B. Gimenez Foundation.
The annual event serves as a platform to celebrate the police’s unwavering commitment to public safety and tireless efforts to protect and serve the community. Through exemplary service, they have become role models and an inspiration to the next generation of law enforcement professionals.
The Ignacio B. Gimenez Awards underscores the importance of recognizing and appreciating law enforcement officers who go above and beyond their call of duty. By honoring their contributions, JCI Manila aims to foster a culture of excellence and encourage others to follow in their footsteps.
Echelon startup business confab
As the Philippines establishes itself as the fastest emerging startup hub in Southeast Asia, Brainsparks and e27 partnered to introduce the first ever Philippine edition of Echelon, a tech and startup business conference.
Scheduled in September at Level 2, SMX Convention Center Manila, Echelon Philippines 2024 will unite the collective expertise of the Philippines and Southeast Asia’s startup leaders, visionary entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking investors to drive the next phase of growth in the country’s startup ecosystem.
Echelon Philippines 2024 will feature showcases and business matchings that foster regional partnerships, facilitating funding and investments crucial for startup growth.
The conference will share insights from thriving and emerging sectors, revealing new opportunities and inspiring participants to explore untapped markets.
Echelon Philippines 2024 will also focus on nurturing new talent entering existing markets, ensuring a steady influx of fresh ideas and perspectives to fuel sustained growth.
e27 started Echelon a decade ago to foster tech ecosystem resilience by promoting deeper collaboration, sharing new knowledge, and driving collective innovation. Echelon X, the 10th edition of the tech business conference, featured 65 exhibitors and was joined by over 7,000 attendees.
