Inside Asian Gaming Academy Summit 2024
The country’s pioneer integrated resort hosted the biggest names in the integrated resort industry–from regulators and operators to suppliers and developers–across the entire Asia Pacific region for the two-day event organized by the Inside Asian Gaming magazine on September 10 to 11 at the Hilton Manila.
The event featured a two-day conference for industry leaders and professionals with insightful panel discussions on key issues and developments in various integrated resort jurisdictions; and the IR Academy Awards that honored the industry’s best.
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco, during his keynote address on the summit’s first day, discussed the gaming regulator’s plans to further stimulate the local industry and revealed plans to modernize Pagcor casino facilities in preparation for its privatization currently set to happen by 2026.
Newport World Resorts executive chairman Kevin L. Tan in his keynote speech bared the group’s plans to expand its own integrated resorts’ footprint in the country.
foodpanda clinches Technology Excellence Awards
Online food and grocery delivery platform foodpanda has been recognised with the Philippines Technology Excellence Award in the Online Services – Retail category for its integrated advertising solution panda ads that has reshaped the way brands connect and engage with their consumers.
As a groundbreaking advertising technology (adtech) solution, panda ads offers a full suite of advertising options, from static or carousel images to videos and lead-generating ads. Brands can leverage the social media channels of online food ordering company foodpanda and enter collaborative partnerships across its verticals of food delivery, grocery, on-demand delivery service, and many more. These build brand visibility and allow for performance tracking and monitoring.
panda ads can connect brands with millions of foodpanda’s young, tech-savvy and digital-first consumers seeking convenience and seamless digital experiences. By tapping into this targeted user base, panda ads provides brands an opportunity to reach consumers predisposed to making purchasing decisions related to their lifestyle.
panda ads presents a full-funnel marketing solution across channels that include lead-generation campaigns, email marketing, and social media promotions. This multifaceted approach enables collaborative partnerships across various services offered by foodpanda.
Through their adtech solutions, foodpanda ensures maximum visibility through co-branded out-of-home campaigns and in-app advertisements prominently displayed within the foodpanda app. Meanwhile, targeted off-app campaigns deliver personalised and relevant content to consumers, leveraging first-party retail data and audience targeting capabilities to influence purchasing decisions.
The credibility and success of panda ads are evidenced by its endorsement from leading brands across diverse industries, including F&B, financial services, e-commerce, fashion, and telecommunications. panda ads has become a preferred marketing solution for brands aiming to maximise their reach and impact in the digital space. This wide spectrum of industry endorsements highlights the effectiveness of panda ads as a digital advertising platform.
The adtech platform has been able to successfully run over 250 campaigns from its partnerships, with one billion total impressions made across channels in the Philippines alone..
The Asian Technology Excellence Awards, now in its fourth year, celebrates top technological innovators and solutions that are redefining industries and leading the charge in digital transformation.
Mang Inasal supports gastronomy tourism
Mang Inasal is playing a key role in promoting gastronomy tourism through its new “Love the Flavors, Love the Philippines” campaign.
“Food connects people, and at Mang Inasal, we’re proud to be a part of that connection for tourists visiting the Philippines. We’re excited to share the flavors of the Philippines with the world,” said Mang Inasal president Mike Castro.
Castro said Mang Inasal’s chicken and halo halo connect tourists to the heart of the Filipino culture, making their travels more meaningful and unforgettable.
As a special treat, local and foreign tourists can enjoy a free 8oz. Extra Creamy Halo-Halo when they order Chicken Inasal Paa or Pecho Large in any Mang Inasal store from September 23 to 27.
Cebuana Lhuillier transforms insurance scene
Cebuana Lhuillier joins the government and the insurance industry’s mission to address the low insurance penetration in the Philippines.
Cebuana Lhuillier continues to play a massive role in reinstating itself as a leading microinsurance institution.
Over the years, Cebuana Lhuillier has provided a comprehensive selection of insurance products to millions of Filipinos nationwide.
Through innovative microinsurance products like Protectmax, the company has offered comprehensive packages that include life, accident, fire assistance, and emergency medical coverage.
The company also offers Healthmax which allows Filipinos to access HMO coverage for an annual fee of only P3,000, ensuring P150,000 in health benefits. Cebuana Lhuillier has also provided the best value family Personal Accident insurance that has P2.5 million insurance coverage for only P600 a year.
“Our goal at Cebuana Lhuillier is to make affordable insurance in the Philippines accessible to every Filipino, particularly those in the C, D, and E market, who make up the majority of our clientele. We’ve developed insurance plans starting at just P50, ensuring that even the most vulnerable communities can protect their families and their futures. This approach underscores our commitment to financial inclusion and our mission to serve the broader Filipino population with affordable insurance in the Philippines,” said Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier.
Silliman University plants 132K mangrove and beach forest seedlings through GCash partnership
GCash has partnered with Silliman University for a reforestation project in South Negros.
The SU-GCash Reforestation in South Negros Project, is part of a larger environmental initiative in Negros Oriental. The partnership between the two organizations began in May 2023, marking a joint commitment to plant 500,000 trees in the province to fight climate change and support biodiversity conservation.
The project involved 16 partner people’s organizations, three from the municipality of Zamboanguita, four from the municipality of Siaton, five from the municipality of Sta Catalina, one from Bayawan City and three from the municipality of Basay. Four of these POs have members that are all women.
The tree planting initiative spans 13 barangays from Zamboanguita to Basay.
This effort aims to restore mangrove and beach forest ecosystems, which are crucial for environmental sustainability and local livelihoods.
BDO is PH’s Corporate and Investment Bank
Candice Lee, manager of Institutional Banking of BDO Singapore; and Sonny Marpuri, FVP and head of Accounting & HR of BDO Singapore receive BDO Capital’s awards from Nick Atkinson, Contributing editor of Asian Banking & Finance magazine.
BDO Capital & Investment Corp. was recognized as the Philippines’ Corporate and Investment Bank of the Year for the 7th straight year at the Asian Banking & Finance Awards 2024 in Singapore. BDO Capital has continued to provide outstanding advisory services to its clients and has prioritized digital transformation and business continuity, improving client coverage and market presence. BDO Capital also received the Project Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year award as it played a key role in financing the MRT-7 Project.
BDO Capital also earned the Green Deal of the Year award for serving as Joint Issue Manager and Joint Lead Underwriter in ACEN Corp.’s issuance of P25 billion perpetual preferred shares.
BDO Capital has garnered international and local recognition as the Best Investment Bank in the Philippines from prestigious publications and associations.
#BrigadangAyala Open Book
The Ayala group is implementing #BrigadangAyala Open Book, a nationwide campaign to foster a love for reading in public elementary schools.
Led by Ayala Foundation and Ayala Land, the program gathers public and private stakeholders to address learning gaps and support the Department of Education (DepEd)’s National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP).
Ayala Land SVP Mariana Zobel de Ayala highlighted how books can “unlock a world of possibilities for children” and recognized the “transformative power” of reading.
“Reading inspires lifelong learning and nurtures the next generation of leaders,” she said during the kickoff at Bagong Tanyag Integrated School on September 9.
Through the support of partners, Open Book has gathered 26,000 books to date, surpassing the target of 20,000 books for 172 schools nationwide. The program will turn over these curated, age-appropriate books to partner schools in trolleys that will serve as mini rolling libraries.
The program is also working with publisher Adarna House and Ayala Land to gather books for distribution. Donors may purchase book bundles from Adarna’s website or drop off unused storybooks at the concierge of select Ayala malls and estates. These will be delivered to designated schools by November, to coincide with National Reading Month.
Celebrate Filipino pride with PalawanPay
PalawanPay supports Filipino Pride with ‘Gawang Pinoy Para sa Pinoy’ Promo.
PalawanPay users called “Gawang Pinoy Para sa Pinoy,” where users of the e-wallet app can win trips to well-renowned beaches such as Palawan and Boracay, 2 NMAX motorcycles, PalawanPay credits, and Palawan Gold Bars!
PalawanPay offers a range of convenient features, including “pera padala” (send money), cash-in, cash-out, money transfers, pawn renewals, international remittance claims, as well as options to purchase jewelry and ProtekTODO micro-insurance. Users can also buy mobile loads, pay bills, and make payments to authorized merchants using QR Ph code.
This nationwide promotion is open to individuals aged 13 and above.
To join, simply upgrade your PalawanPay account to verified status and complete a one-time cash-in of at least P500 within the promo period (August 9 – November 9, 2024). PalawanPay users may cash-in either via any Palawan branch/outlet or via InstaPay.
50 years of empowering business
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is celebrating 50 golden years of the Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E), the biggest in the country, happening on October 22 to 23 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.
Headlining the 50th PBC&E is Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte who is set to open the conference and welcome the delegates, alongside the PCCI Board of Directors and Officers.
With the theme “Embracing Innovation, Empowering Business, Enriching Lives” this year’s PBC will deep dive into new paradigm shifts and global business trends that are disrupting the course of business.
Over 1300 local and international delegates, including PCCI members, local and foreign chambers, business councils, international organizations and government are expected to attend the conference.
Spine operative workshop
Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) welcomed surgeons from the country and overseas for the 4th Philippine Spine Society-Asia Pacific Spine Society (PSS-APSS) Spine Operative Course.
MakatiMed’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Section of Spine Surgery, worked closely with the Philippine Spine Society (PSS) and the Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS) to make the two-day event happen.
Some notable foreign guests who were at the two-day event took part in case discussions and lectures. Among these guests were Professor Dato’ Kwan Mun-Keong, MD, president of Asia Pacific Spine Society, as part of the expert panel on Severe Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS); Professor Yat Wa Wong, MD, incoming president of Asia Pacific Spine Society on Sacropelvic Fixation Techniques with Saw Bone Demonstration; Professor Jason Cheung, MD, Department Chairperson and Clinical Professor of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Hong Kong on Non-fusion Surgery; Professor Chris Chan, MD of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Malaya on Surgical Treatment for Severe Deformities in the Adolescent Spine; and Professor Tomohiko Hasegawa, MD from Hamamatsu University School of Medicine’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery on Approach to Treatment of Symptomatic Degenerative Scoliosis. Live surgeries on patients with varying diagnoses were also viewed on both days of the event. The 4th PSS-APSS Spine Operative Course introduced new surgical procedures that exposed MakatiMed surgeons to innovative techniques.
Eastern Communications expands reach
Eastern Communications continues its mission to empower more businesses across the Philippines as the company launches its services in Roxas City, Capiz. The telco provider officially expanded to the city through its “Via Eastern” launch event held on September 13 at the San Antonio Resort, Baybay, Roxas City.
The expansion will provide Roxas-based enterprises with access to cutting-edge digital tools and insights on how digital transformation can propel their growth in an increasingly competitive landscape. As Eastern Communications marks its presence in the area, it plans to extend its services to other cities across Capiz in the future.
Eastern Communications will also offer an array of ICT solutions, such as Network Solutions, Cybersecurity Solutions, Cloud and Data Center Solutions, and Business Applications. These services are designed to equip local businesses with the tools they need to succeed in a highly competitive and evolving marketplace. The telco provider’s entry into Roxas City fortifies its nationwide expansion through the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network , the longest undersea fiber cable network in the Philippines spanning 2,500 kilometers.
Deposit Return System set to accelerate PH circularity
The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Deutsche Gesellschaft fí¼r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) hosted a workshop on Septemner 24 to continue to promote the inception of the Deposit Return System (DRS) as a complimenting mechanism for Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) in the Philippines in Seda Hotel, Vertis North, Quezon City.
The workshop follows the discussions last year, in line with the goal of the Philippines to achieve its target of 80% plastic waste recovery by 2028. The DRS can boost the circular economy of the country, where consumers can refund deposit from plastic products upon the return of its packaging at an accessible collection point.
DRS is a high-performing recycling scheme which incentivizes consumers for returning the packaging and containers. DRS is a proven and tested model to have accelerated circularity of beverage containers up to 90%. It is currently implemented in over 60 markets all over the world including countries in Europe, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East, states in America and Australia, and provinces in Canada. DRS is influencing consumer behavior towards solid waste management by encouraging consumers to return beverage bottles.
“The Deposit Return System is deeply rooted in Norwegian society,” said Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster highlighting the importance of DRS to Norwegian circular economy and its development.
The workshop issues the Phase 1 Feasibility Study which aims to finetune DRS mechanism for the Philippines and set the tone on how it would fit in terms of social dynamics, economic development, and available infrastructure in context. The implementation of the DRS can vary from one place to another, and the feasibility study is an approach to tailor-fit the design of the circularity to its setting.
The Norwegian Embassy in Manila funds the second phase of the feasibility study for the DRS programme with support from WWF. The project is setting the target for pilot project approval and implementation for the first DRS pilot site by 2025.
