ICCP, PCCI hold vaccine summit
The International Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ICCP), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have organized a virtual meeting of experts and policymakers dubbed the “Vaccine Summit: Equitable Distribution and Safety” set on April 30.
Francis Chua, founding chairman of ICCP and chairman emeritus of PCCI, said the summit will provide information on the status of the global distribution of the vaccines against the new coronavirus disease 2019.
Benedicto Yujuico, president of PCCI and ICCP also highlighted the importance of equitable administration of the vaccine to the speedy rebuilding and recovery of the country’s economy and society.
Leading the presenters at the Summit are: Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso of Manila; Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer, and vaccine czar, National Task Force Against COVID-19; ambassadors to the Philippines Huang Xilian of the People’s Republic of China and Marat Pavlov of the Russian Federation; and Dr. Sutayut Osornprasop, senior human development specialist of the World Bank Group.
Globe encourages Pinoys to access its lifelines:
HOPELINE, HEALTHNOW, BANTAY BATA #163
Globe encourages the public to access its “lifelines” such as Hopeline to receive FREE 24/7 mental health support, HealthNow to access health services, and Bantay Bata #163 to report domestic and child abuse.
Hopeline is a round-the-clock suicide prevention and crisis support desk of Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF) created in 2012 with Globe providing the necessary technology for its operations.
Those who are in emotional crisis and in need of immediate assistance may contact the hotline through 2919 (toll-free for all Globe and TM subscribers), (02) 804-HOPE (4673) or 0917 558 HOPE (4673).
The Department of Health (DOH) reported almost 600 suicide-related calls during the months of January and February 2021 alone. The National Center For Mental Health (NCMH) hotline also receives an average of 1,002 monthly calls, with suicide calls accounting for 289 each month.
These staggering figures have given rise to the importance of mental health support platforms that people can easily access. The NGF also partnered with telehealth service integrator HealthNow to give the public more ways to reach the hotline.
HealthNow mobile app is a joint undertaking of 917Ventures and AC Health. The app may be downloaded from Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS.
Globe likewise continues to support the ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.’s Bantay Bata #163 Helpline, which is free for all Globe and TM mobile phone users. It allows anyone to report child abuse especially during this period when children are at home most of the time. To call, simply dial #163.
First Metro bags PDS awards
For 10 consecutive years, First Metro Investment Corp., the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, has won the Top Corporate Securities Market Maker at the PDS Annual Awards. It also ranked among the Top 5 Corporate Issue Managers/Arrangers (Investment House category) and the Top 5 Fixed Income Brokering Participants.
First Metro’s parent bank, Metrobank, won the coveted Cesar E.A. Virata Award for Best Securities House (Bank Category). The Best Securities House award is given to the trading participant that has focused on the fixed-income securities business as evidenced by its exceptional performance in trading, distribution and settlement activities for the year.
The PDS Annual Awards recognizes members of the investment community and market stakeholders that exhibit outstanding performance, leadership, innovation, and contribution to the growth and stability of the domestic capital markets. This year’s awards ceremony was especially memorable as the year set a milestone in both primary and secondary markets activities, reaching P387 billion and P6.13 trillion, respectively.
Inspiring entrepreneurs turn limitations into opportunities
Inabel face masks distributor Regina Escolin of Kanami Supplies (Quezon City), Arnie Cotecson of White Beard Coffee (Siargao), and Dalareich Polot of Dalareich Chocolate House (Bohol) recently shared their respective stories of hope via a short YouTube video to inspire other entrepreneurs coping with the challenges of the ongoing pandemic.
These entrepreneurs persevered in sustaining their businesses by responding to customers’ needs during the pandemic, and by shifting from brick and mortar shops to digitizing their businesses. Escolin, a former marble exporter and turned into making Inabel face masks when demand for marble slowed down.
Besides giving customers a fashionable option for staying safe, Regina’s Kanami face masks also proudly showcase artful Filipino designs which caught the attention of customers from Europe and the US.
Cotecson’s White Beard Coffee innovated into bottled, ready-to-drink coffee and offered free delivery with no minimum orders to give his customers more leeway to choose between dine-in or takeaway, which he made known through his Google My Business profile.
Polot had to close Dalareich Chocolate House, the first chocolate factory in Bohol, due to the pandemic. Polot, however, saw this as an opportunity to boost her online presence on Google Search through the free Google My Business tool .
Tata Consultancy bares new branding
Recognized by Brand Finance as one of the Top 3 IT services brands in the world, Tata Consultancy Services has launched a new brand statement “Building on belief” which encapsulates the active and collaborative role that TCS plays in partnering with customers over the long term, leveraging its contextual knowledge, investments in research and innovation, and technology expertise to help them grow, and achieve their purpose-led transformation goals.
The branding statement also reflects TCS’ own belief that it, along with its customers, can harness collective knowledge to innovate in ways that result in better futures for individuals, communities and the planet.
TCS sets itself apart by leveraging on its core values which is to involve innovation, knowledge, and technology to help their customers grow and leave a positive impact.
Smile Train launches first Filipino speech therapy app
Smile Train Philippines is launching the very first Filipino mobile speech application in the country designed for those who were born with a cleft.
The app was developed to help parents, guardians, and children in accessing speech therapy services online. With kid-friendly features and lively graphics, the app leads to a wide array of educational videos and speech therapy sessions, all in Filipino.
The app also serves as a platform for more patients and families affected with cleft to connect with healthcare professionals to ensure that they can continue to receive comprehensive cleft care with minimal disruptions.
Since the start of the pandemic, Smile Train’s speech telehealth program in the Philippines has treated over 200 patients, providing them with more than 1,000 cleft care-related sessions– including speech therapy, nutritional support, breastfeeding guidance for mothers of babies with clefts, pre-surgical consultations, and psychosocial care. Smile Train envisions the app to be more than just a platform for learning, seeing it as a way to bring more smiles to cleft-affected families in the Philippines.
Vertiv taps DigiServ as distributor
Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has entered into a partnership with Digi-Serv Solutions Inc. (Digi-Serv) in the Philippines.
Digi-Serv, a solutions and service provider company and system integrator of innovative and cost-effective IT solutions and services, will be the first e-commerce store in the Philippines to officially carry Vertiv’s range of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) solutions for small to mid-size applications.
With a strong presence in leading e-commerce sites in the Philippines, Digi-Serv has established itself as a company that offers quick and no-fuss customer transactions.
As a Vertiv partner, Digi-Serv will carry select Vertiv UPS solutions on its e-commerce platforms Lazada and Shopee, targeting customers looking for affordable power protection solutions for their homes, small offices, or small businesses.
The partnership also allows Vertiv to expand its online presence and reach more customers across the country by tapping into Digi-Serv local expertise and market knowledge. Among the Vertiv UPS products offered on Digi-Serv’s e-commerce stores are the Liebert® itONâ„¢ PSA SOHO 650VA to 1000VA and the Liebert® itON PSA BX.
Panasonic’s nanoeTM X technology will be in Jaguar Land Rover’s in-vehicle HVAC system in the future
Panasonic confirms that Jaguar Land Rover will use Panasonic’s nanoeâ„¢ X technology in in-vehicle HVAC systems in the future. Models across the Jaguar range, including the new all-electric Jaguar I-PACE performance SUV, and Land Rover line-up — including the Discovery and Range Rover Evoque — currently offer nanoeâ„¢ technology.
nanoeâ„¢ is a nano-sized particulate ion produced by applying a high voltage to water in the air and contains hydroxyl radicals (highly reactive components) that easily act on various substances. The production of these hydroxyl radicals has been increased tenfold compared to conventional products, and nanoeâ„¢ X is used in home appliances such as air purifiers, air conditioners, washing machines, and refrigerators, as well as in automobiles, trains, and commercial air-conditioning equipment because of its various effects such as deodorization, inhibition of bacteria, and allergens.
Not only in the automotive sector but Panasonic said it will continue to pursue the realization of “QUALITY AIR FOR LIFE” in various areas of human life and society, including, automotive, housing-related fields, and home appliances like selected models of air conditioners, refrigerator, and air purifiers to deliver a healthy lifestyle.
