“Empathic Leadership” helped Alfamart grow to 7th Anniv
Alfamart, the first and only super minimart chain in the Philippines rose from being the fledgling first store in Trece Martires, Cavite in June of 2014 to over 1000 stores in a span of seven years.
Being partnered with SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) has been a significant factor to their success. However, Alfamart Philippines COO Harvey T. Ong credits the brand’s accomplishment to Alfamart’s people-centric culture and its people. “Since we started in the Philippines, we made sure to adopt the core values of the founders of Alfamart and SM,” Ong said.
Ong was referring to Alfamart founder Djoko Susanto, a self-made billionaire and one of the top Indonesian entrepreneurs, and the late Henry Sy, Sr., founder of SM. Both men had similar rags-to-riches stories.
COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns failed to stop Alfamart’s expansion, much of it attributed to the dedicated Alfamart staff–from management to store frontliners.
Alfamart took measures to keep employees safe: free shuttle service, WFH arrangements, reassignment of staff to closer branches and many others.
To ensure that team members stay connected, Alfamart launched an online platform called AlfaCares. It allowed staff from even the far-flung stores to be heard and be guided through tough times, whether it be their personal or professional struggles.
Technology was equally crucial in ensuring that communication remained seamless during times when Alfamart employees worked from remote locations, outside of the corporate offices.
A lesson from Globe, DepEd TAYO Naman! Webinar
“There is no health without mental health.”
This was underscored by Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) member, Dr. Bernardino A. Vicente, at the fourth TAYO Naman! (Tulong, Alaga, Yakap at Oras para sa mga Tagapagtaguyod ng Edukasyon) session titled “Understanding and Managing Common Mental Disorders and other Psychological Concerns.” This webinar series is organized by Globe and the Department of Education (DepEd).
While people are busy taking care of their physical health to avoid contracting the virus, Dr. Vicente said that many Filipinos suffer from mental health problems, resulting in about a 25.7 percent surge in the country’s suicide incidence in 2020.
Dr. Vicente reiterated the World Health Organization (WHO)’s statement that mental health and physical health are two inseparable things that one must care about for their own well-being.
The session also included panelists from DepEd Zamboanga del Norte Division, which was the week’s host. They are Education Program Supervisor Arcelita Zamoras, Medical Officer III Dr. Cheryl Ocupe, and Project Development Officer II Eunice Janolino.
TAYO Naman! is an online Mental Health and Psychosocial Support program designed to help teachers, non-teaching personnel, and parents learn about self-care, wellness, and resiliency.
The 14-part webinar series is led by the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction Management Services (DepEd-DRRMS) and the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development-Employee Welfare Division (BHROD-EWD) in collaboration with Globe’s Global Filipino Teachers Series on Psychosocial Support Services, Philippine Mental Health Association and MAGIS Creative Spaces.
Vaccination accelerates in Las Pinas
More than 135,000 residents in Las Piñas have received vaccines against COVID-19 as the city’s vaccination program continues to pick up.
Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar said that as of June 14, 136,733 of the city’s population have already received the jab.
“We continue to encourage our kababayans to get themselves vaccinated to help protect them against COVID-19 and the threats of new variants,” said Villar.
The latest data from the City Health Office saw a 35.3% increase from the 101,059 total administered doses on June 8.
Further, 102,742 people have been vaccinated with a first dose, a 45.2% jump from 70,770 a week ago. Those vaccinated with the second dose rose by 12.2% to 33,991 from 30,289.
The local government started vaccinating economic frontliners or those under the A4 priority group last week as more vaccines are being deployed.
Villar, who started a vaccine incentive program dubbed “May Bahay sa Bakuna” to boost inoculation rates within her constituency, also expressed gratitude to everyone who came forward in various vaccination sites which may have resulted in lower infection rates.
Meanwhile, The Tent at Vista Global South – a 3800-square meter tent venue located on C5 Extension – has been converted into a mega vaccination facility and is one of the largest vaccination sites in Metro Manila, which can accommodate more than 2,000 vaccine recipients daily.
Other vaccination sites include CAA Elementary School Main, Las Piñas Elementary School Central, Gatchalian Covered Court, Pamplona Elementary School Central, Verdant Covered Court, Golden Acres Covered Court, Bambusetum Covered Court BFRV, San Antonio Covered Court, Almanza Uno Covered Court, T.S. Cruz Covered Court, SM Southmall, SM Center, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Gymnasium, Las Piñas Doctors Hospital, Village Square and Robinsons Las Piñas.
PanzerGlass Launches Limited Artist Edition ClearCaseâ„¢
PanzerGlass, one of the leading screen protection brands in the world, has announced the launch of its Limited Artist Edition ClearCaseâ„¢. The company has partnered with Los Angeles-based Danish artist and philanthropist Mikael Brandrup (a.k.a. Mikael B), an ambassador for the Perfect World Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises awareness and supports efforts to prevent the global ecological crisis.
“We are thrilled to have partnered with street artist Mikael B. for our first-ever limited artist edition clear case. For each unit sold, we will plant a tree in the Sir David Attenborough Forest. This collaboration bridges smartphone protection, abstract street style art, and forest restoration to create small changes for a better world,” announces Head of Global Marketing Michael Broend.
The Limited Artist Edition ClearCaseâ„¢ available for iPhone 11 and 12 models features Mikael B’s original artwork, adapted from a mural he painted in Sta. Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, California specifically for the initiative. It has a signature antibacterial coating proven to kill up to 99.99% of most common surface bacteria, a 100% recycled TPU frame, and an extra-strong honeycomb pattern to enhance shock absorption providing 25% improved scratch resistance.
On this collaboration, Mikael B commented: “The collaboration has been built on a shared passion for changing the world for the better. To kick off the collaboration, I created a mural called “Moment of Clarity” in Los Angeles (Santa Monica Blvd and Orange Grove Ave).”
“PanzerGlass is in business to protect both screens and the planet. As a global business, we believe we have a responsibility to find sustainable solutions in everything we do,” adds Michael Broend.
The Limited Artist Edition Clear Case will be available for at leading smartphone electronics accessories retailers soon.
Pilmico’s corn sourcing wins Europa Award
Pilmico Foods Corp. bagged the 2021 Europa Award for Sustainable Food and Nutrition for its corn sourcing program “Project Silk.”
Organized by the European Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ECCP), the 2021 Europa Awards seeks to promote and recognize companies with exceptional performance and contributions in promoting sustainability in keeping with global standards and the Philippine Development Plan.
Tristan Aboitiz, president and CEO of Pilmico Foods Corp., accepted the award during a live broadcast on June 10.
Project Silk was formed in 2017, with the goal to support and empower local corn farmers in Bukidnon by transforming their livelihood into a more sustainable and profitable endeavor. Under the program, the idea was to directly source yellow corn from local farmers’ cooperatives in an effort to secure a portion of the company’s corn requirements for our feed milling business, and to do so at values that reflected the hard work put in by the farmers and their families to raise those crops and get them ready for consumption.
Pilmico also facilitated learning sessions to help develop the financial, entrepreneurial, and managerial competencies of its partners in order to improve their overall business acumen.
Aboitiz paid tribute to its beneficiary, the Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Cooperative (MARBFC), and shared that the success of “Project Silk” has led to the launch of similar initiatives in Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental.
Pilmico is also working together with other stakeholders under the government’s Pilipinas Kontra Gutom program, to expand the project by linking other consumers of local corn with more farmer cooperatives and associations.
Ayala begins employee vaccination
Over 2,000 employees of the Ayala Group of Companies who belong to the A4 (economic frontliners) category have begun receiving jabs of theCOVID-19 vaccine on June 14 at the UP-Ayala Land TechnoHub in partnership with the Quezon City LGU. This is Ayala’s first vaccination site out of 24 sites around the country.
In the coming days, Ayala’s medical arm, AC Health, in partnership with various LGUs will continue to administer jabs to Ayala’s A4 employees at vaccination sites in Makati Stock Exchange in Makati City, BGC Parkade 3 in Taguig City, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Paranaque.
AC Health is to administer one million doses in 2021 for the Ayala Group and its external partners.
