foodpanda logistics livelihood program
Six women from the Ka-panda delivery fleet graduated from the Ka-pandaBIZ livelihood and training program. Launched during Women’s Month, the initiative empowers women by providing tools and skills to start their own businesses.
The commencement program was held recently which brought together beneficiaries residing in Metro Manila from Taguig and Makati, and joined remotely by Ka-panda women from Mindoro, Leyte, Cagayan De Oro, and Davao.
Each of the six women has successfully completed the program and was able to receive a business capital worth P100,000 to kickstart their own small businesses. They were carefully selected to undergo a comprehensive training program, which included financial literacy and personal leadership lessons, sari-sari store starter plan, and running and growing the sari-sari store. This approach aims to ensure the sustainability of the business for our Ka-pandas
The training sessions were organized in partnership with HAPINOY, foodpanda logistics’ official partner organization, a program dedicated to empowering microentrepreneurs.
Aside from the business training sessions, they were also taught about community leadership. Each beneficiary was given a separate allowance to do a pay-it-forward activity through community clean-ups, feeding program and back-to-school support. Over 300 beneficiaries including children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD), and members of the LGBTQIA+ community were able to either participate in or receive the benefits.
The Ka-pandaBIZ: Women on Wheels program is part of foodpanda logistics’ broader commitment to corporate social responsibility and gender equality. “By empowering women in the Ka-panda delivery fleet, this program not only enhances their livelihoods but also contributes to the economic growth of their communities.”
Asialink CEO distinguished as UP Alumni Awardee of the Year
The UP Alumni Association (UPAA) on August 17 honored 96 distinguished alumni as this year’s top awardees at the Luciano E. Salazar Hall, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City.
The UPAA presents awards each year to UP achievers who have exhibited excellence in their respective fields and have made notable contributions that greatly benefit society and bring prestige and distinct honor to the University.
“These exceptional individuals are being recognized for their established leadership, significant achievements, tireless service, and substantial contributions to their professions and the communities they chose to serve,” UPAA President and Alumni Regent Robert Lester F. Aranton said in a statement.
One of the awardees is Robert “Bobby” Jordan, Jr., a social entrepreneur, co-founded more than 30 companies, and co-founder and CEO of Asialink Finance Corp.. He was honored with the 2024 UPAA Distinguished Alumni Award in Social Entrepreneurship and Banking for his outstanding leadership and impact to the Philippines’ financing industry.
Jordan significantly stood out among the other nominees due to his service orientation, leadership, impact, and integrity. The UPAA grants the award to Jordan for his contribution and accomplishment in the field of entrepreneurship and banking as he financially enables MSMEs and communities to improve their lives across the Philippines by providing accessible, fast, and convenient loans.
Medical cooperation with Taiwan enhances transplant care in PH
The Tzu Chi Hualien Hospital’s training programs under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy have significantly bolstered Filipino medical expertise, particularly in transplant procedures, despite challenges like high costs and limited local resources.
The recent Taiwan-Philippines Advanced Medical Forum underscored the importance of these collaborations, showcasing how shared knowledge and technology are transforming healthcare and inspiring hope for many.
Six years since the Tzu Chi Hualien Hospital International Medical Center began offering professional training programs for Filipino doctors under the Taiwan government’s New Southbound Program, Philippine-based surgeons are reporting increased confidence in performing transplant procedures, leading to improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Alma Reyes Calavera, during her lecture at the Taiwan-Philippines Advanced Medical Forum on August 16, cited data from the Philippine Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, which showed a steady increase in haploidenticalhematopoietic stem cell transplant cases in the country since 2018. A haploidentical transplant uses healthy, blood-forming cells from a half-matched donor (usually a family member) to replace the unhealthy ones.
At The Medical City alone, where Calavera heads the Bone Marrow Transplant Program, nearly a hundred cases have already been performed. While many factors have contributed to this development, Calavera noted that Tzu Chi Hualien Hospital has had an undeniable impact on their transplant program.
“For over several years, Dr. Chi-Cheng Li has been helping us train our transplant specialists. For difficult cases, we usually call him to mentor us,” Dr. Calavera said.
Li is the director of Tzu Chi Hualien Hospital’s Center of Stem Cell & Precision Medicine.
For six years now, the Taiwan-Philippines cooperation not only help equip Filipino doctors with the skills to bridge gaps in medical care but also inspire a shared commitment to addressing healthcare disparities; thereby, creating doors of opportunities and ultimately, hope for patients.
Raising awareness on circular economy
Holcim and One Earth – One Ocean (oeoo) deployed the Circular Explorer, a solar-powered ambassador vessel to raise awareness and find solutions towards the circular economy.
The Circular Explorer Team does so, by combining education and research, with networking and actual waste collection.
The Circular Explorer is supporting the cleanup of Manila Bay, where it has collected 40,000 kg of marine litter as of July 31, 2024, about 40 percent of which is plastic. But more than collecting waste, the Circular Explorer is also gathering data to guide researchers in developing recommendations to policy makers for possible solutions.
The University of the Philippines Marine Science uses the vessel to gather information about marine pollution using oceanographic sensors and a microplastic collector. The Circular Explorer shares data with the Plastics Research Intensive Methods Training Program to capacitate 80 early-career researchers and faculty members from 50 universities and government agencies across the Philippines.
The Circular Explorer partnered with the Department of Education to deploy an educational toolkit on circularity to select primary and secondary schools in the National Capital Region. The goal is to eventually incorporate the modules into the educational curriculum to teach children the value of conserving resources and preventing waste through circularity.
AXA Ph names new president/CEO
AXA announced the appointment of Ayman Kandil as its new president and CEO for AXA Philippines, effective Oct. 1, 2024.
Kandil is currently chief distribution officer of AXA Philippines.
In this new post, he brings extensive executive experience and a proven track record in the insurance industry. He will be succeeding Bernardo Serrano who will be transitioning to a new role within the AXA Group.
Kandil brings more than 26 years of executive experience in the insurance industry and a successful tenure as CEO of AXA Egypt.
TELUS Digital Ph joins Brigada Eskwela
TELUS International Philippines (TIP) soon to be rebranded as TELUS Digital Philippines later in the third quarter, is celebrating 10 years of support for the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela program.
The company’s decade-long commitment has significantly enhanced learning environments for more than 61,000 students across 22 public schools in Manila and Iloilo, fostering safe and conducive learning environments in these communities where TIP operates.
Over the past 10 years, more than 17,200 TIP team members have collectively volunteered more than 85,000 hours to Brigada Eskwela. This year, TIP’s TELUS Days of Giving (TDOG) event in Iloilo took place at Ramon Avanceña National High School, where 192 team members from TIP’s two Iloilo sites came together and volunteered alongside its teachers and students.
In addition to the successful Iloilo event, the company’s TDOG event in Manila had more than 1,500 team member volunteers who revitalized Manuel G. Araullo High School.
The volunteers nearly 100 classrooms, refurbished 500 chairs and repainted hallways and staircases to provide the students and teachers with inspiring and comfortable spaces for the academic year ahead.
TIP also engaged construction crews and specialized workers to complete repairs to roofs, waterproof buildings, and enhance essential infrastructure. TELUS International Philippines also donated 190 fans, and 33 exit signs and emergency lights.
CCI France Ph to hold inaugural sustainability conference
The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines (CCI France-Philippines) will hold its inaugural Sustainability Conférence, “La Conférence Bleue”scheduled for September 10.
The event will take place at the Ascott Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, bringing together leaders, innovators, and advocates committed to promoting sustainable practices and responsible stewardship within businesses and communities.
As a key player in promoting sustainable practices, CCIFP is committed to turning sustainability from a mere concept into actionable strategies for businesses in both France and the Philippines. This conférence will provide a platform to celebrate the significant sustainability journeys undertaken by CCIFP members, highlighting their companies, products, services, and higher purpose.
The event will feature various activities, including keynote addresses led by Christine Lei Go, Board of Director – Espoir School of Life, Margaux Inocando, Foundation Manager – Save Palawan Seas Foundation, and Allison Jackson, Manila Bureau Chief – Agence France-Presse, among other industry experts and government representatives. More speakers will be announced soon. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals and exchange ideas for implementing sustainable practices in their organizations.
The annual Le Trophée Bleu Sustainability Business Awards will be presented at this year’s gala on November 21, further highlighting its dedication to sustainable development.
‘Innovation Garage’ launched
Union Bank of the Philippines through its UBPXcellerator Program has crossed another milestone in its advocacy of “teching-up” Filipinos with the launch of the UB Innovation Garage in partnership with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).
Located at The Atrium DLS-CSB Campus, the Innovation Garage is a learning facility where students can learn from experts and gain knowledge on topics ranging from emerging technologies to management skills and design thinking and everything in between, so they can thrive professionally in the digital world.
As part of the partnership, DLS-CSB and experts from UnionBank’s learning and development team will be running the classes to be conducted in the Innovation Garage. UnionBank’s Human Resources team will also work with DLS-CSB for student mentorship opportunities and placements, and even help top-performing students become part of the UnionBank family as professionals, where they can further improve their knowledge and skills.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last July 17.
Monde Nissin boosts digital success
Monde Nissin Corp. has harnessed TikTok Shop’s innovative tools and vibrant community and achieved notable results.
Monde Nissin, maker of Lucky Me!, SkyFlakes, Fita, Nissin Biscuits, Monde, M.Y. San Grahams, and Quorn meat-free products, joined TikTok Shop in January 2023, and launched its first livestream event in June 2023.
“Joining TikTok Shop has been a transformative step for Monde Nissin. It’s not just about expanding our digital footprint, but about engaging with a new generation of consumers in a dynamic, interactive environment. By integrating entertainment and commerce, TikTok Shop has enabled us to drive sales and deepen brand loyalty in ways that traditional platforms could not offer,” said Shellane Dy, Activation & Ecomm head.
During TikTok’s 7.7 Shopping Sale, Monde Nissin saw double digit growth in Total Gross Merchandise Value compared to its previous campaign.
“Monde Nissin’s impressive performance on our platform highlights the power of TikTok Shop’s unique blend of social engagement and e-commerce innovation. Our platform is designed to help brands connect with audiences in meaningful ways, and Monde Nissin’s success is a testament to how our tools and features can drive real results. We’re excited to continue supporting local brands as they navigate the evolving digital landscape and achieve their growth objectives,” said Niks Fojas, category lead for FMCG at TikTok Shop.
