BSP Governor to keynote CTB Convention
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno will keynote the annual convention of the Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) to be held virtually on October 12-14.
With the theme “Thrift Banks: Moving Forward to the Next Normal,” this year’s convention aims to further prepare its member thrift banks to cope with the changes and evolution in the industry brought about by the health crisis that has razed the country for the past nineteen months.
According to CTB president Cecilio D. San Pedro, “The ongoing pandemic has accelerated customer demand for digital solutions as customers now expect an all-round service anytime and anywhere. There is a need for the sector to strengthen its platforms, security, and service channels for the benefit of its clients and to support the digitalization thrust of the BSP and of the national government.”
Mondelēz Purpose Day
In celebration of its annual Purpose Day, global snacking company MondelÄ“z International, marked its founding on October 1 by mobilizing nearly 31,000 colleagues to activate a key element of the company’s purpose in unison around the world. This year’s theme is “Let’s put the ‘we’ in well-being.”
The company has chosen to focus its annual Purpose Day activities exclusively on well-being in mind, body, and connection, including: MDLZ Master Class held last Sept. 30 on LinkedIn Live for colleagues and the public focused on demystifying personal well-being; Healthy Habits Challenge where colleagues can complete simple micro actions to enhance personal well-being; 40 Local Well-being Volunteer Events like harvesting vegetables for disadvantaged communities to promoting physical activity for kids; and 35 Local Well-being Chats highlighting local efforts like new well-being products, mindful snacking, mental health, meditation and nutrition.
Purpose Day in the Philippines was marked by three activities promoting the well-being of its people. The first was a Walk/ Run/ Bike competition where as many as 18 colleagues received prizes for having the most number of steps and kilometers during the two-week challenge. In total the company achieved more than 5 million steps and 4,800 kilometers for the bike and run challenges with half of its workforce participating.
With October being Mental Health Month, a virtual session was held featuring Dr. Shake Hocson of the Far Eastern University, who provided tips to colleagues on how to take care of their mind health during this pandemic.
Lastly, a Passion Showdown was held, where colleagues submitted causes they are passionate about, for a chance to win funding for a donation. The winning cause was to support the Children’s Joy Foundation.
Huawei exec joins PH Digicon
Huawei Asia Pacific President for Enterprise Business Group Nicholas Ma will join the roster of notable guests and speakers in the upcoming Philippine Digital Convention (PH Digicon) 2021 on October 6 to 8.
The theme for this year’s event is “REVOLUTION,” which seeks to encourage delegates to explore the possibilities of the new world of business and embrace the revolutionary change needed to stay ahead in this ever-changing business landscape.
Ma will take part in the PH Digicon 2021’s opening plenary session, where he will share his insights on revolutionary technologies that have changed the way businesses operate since the start of the pandemic and its role in the digital transformation of organizations around the globe.
PCPPI supports Brigada Eskwela
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. recently participated in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) annual Brigada Eskwela which ran from August 3 to Sept. 30.
Spearheaded by the company’s volunteerism arm, Bukluran Council, it turned over connectivity equipment, school supplies, and hygiene kits to partner schools.
PCPPI adopted 24 schools across the country, an addition of six schools from last year. The beneficiary schools belong to communities that host the company’s various manufacturing plants and offices. These include Manila, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Batangas, Pampanga, La Union, Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Leyte, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Zamboanga, Cagayan De Oro, and Davao.
The company also ran virtual seminars on disaster preparedness in five schools, and produced information materials and held virtual workshops on WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene).
CSMC bags gold
Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) was recently granted the Gold Award for Branding and Marketing Campaign at the annual Asian Hospital Management Awards (AHMA) which recognizes the best projects and innovations of hospitals across the Asia Pacific.
The awards ceremony was held on September 14 and livestreamed via Hospital Management Asia’s event website.
The award was received by CSMC CEO and president Raul Pagdanganan.
CSMC last January the Webicon program, a hybrid between a webinar and a convention, that aims to provide the right medical information from trusted sources to the non-medical audience.
Medical topics discussed ranged from cardiovascular diseases, minimally-invasive surgeries, and rehabilitation services for movement-related pain, to pandemic resiliency, herd immunity, and vaccination advocacy.
FPH exec lands in GRC global leaders’ list
A senior executive of Lopez-led First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH) has been recognized by a US-based governance, risk and compliance (GRC) company as one of the world’s top 100 GRC leaders for driving FPH’s efforts toward greater diversity, sustainable practices, and sharper insights for company leadership.
Diligent Corp., a leading GRC software-as-a-service or SaaS company, announced in its website that Agnes de Jesus, the chief sustainability officer of FPH, is one of the honorees in Diligent’s list of “Modern Governance 100” global leaders of 2021.
De Jesus received the honor under the “ESG [environment, social and governance] and Diversity Trailblazer” category for her role in the accomplishments of FPH and its subsidiaries in environment and human rights protection, promoting gender diversity and equality, and in recognizing the rights of indigenous people on top of preserving their cultural heritage.
She won the recognition, based on the nomination coming from the Center for Social Responsibility of the University of Asia and the Pacific.
M Bakery set to open 2nd store
M Bakery fans can now get their hands on freshly baked goods from the iconic New York bakery as it opens its second branch at the Power Plant Mall in Rockwell on October 10.
At its second branch, M Bakery will be offering its signature line of freshly baked American desserts and baked goods from its cupcakes, cookies, pies, brownies, cheesecakes, muffins, and icebox desserts, as well as its world-famous banana pudding.
“M Bakery is thrilled to finally be opening its second branch in Manila as we celebrate our third anniversary here in the country. It is a very exciting time for us as we will be able to cater to more of our customers’ orders within the metro. We continue to be committed to sharing the same NYC experience with our patrons in Manila. Our freshly baked goods at M Bakery still remain to be a great choice for breakfast, mid-day snack, or even to sweeten the deal at the end of your meals,” said Stewart Ong, managing partner of Phil Jacobe Ventures, Inc., M Bakery franchisee.
Digital solutions for shippers and truckers
EEI Corp., an affiliate of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC), has introduced a Filipino-made logistics mobile app and web based platform that supports frontload cargo transport and fleet management.
Called eCarga, the app utilizes several platforms that will initially serve hundreds of shippers, professional truck owners, and drivers operating within Luzon.
The initial fleet accredited by eCarga includes over a hundred trucks combining open and closed type vans. Accreditation of more professional truckers shall continue to allow eCarga adopt to the expected increase in demand from consumers.
EEI targets 400 active users by the fourth quarter and 1,500 by end of 2022.
eCarga also plans to extend its logistics platform and capabilities to support backload service, business-to-business market, and offer multi-modal logistics services.
Atome enters PH market
Atome, Asia’s leading buy now pay later brand, today has announced its entry into the Philippines, partnering with over 50 online and offline retailers across key shopping categories such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle and home and living.
Top retail partners include Agoda, Victoria’s Secret, Timex, Puma Select, Asus, New Era Caps, Giordano, Watch Republic and Timberland, who have come onboard to launch Atome as a “buy now pay later” payment option for their customers. Other merchant partners include brands like Browhaus, Strip Manila, Apple & Eve, Mosaic, Mia Maison, Les Nereides, Davines, HairMNL, Palladium, True Religion, Plains and Prints and Ogawa.
Atome will also be integrating its payment option at Mizuno, Cole Haan and Time Depot in the coming months.
Shoppers in the Philippines can now shop and pay using Atome at these merchant partners by either scanning a QR code at their physical store or selecting Atome as a payment checkout option on their website or mobile app.
Unlike similar services in the market, Atome does not charge interest and additional annual or service fees to consumers. Paying with Atome allows shoppers to purchase the products and services they want, and split their bill into three, zero-interest deferred payments over time.
