Virtual showroom offering convenient ways to purchase one’s dream Toyota
Toyota Motor Philippines is making car-buying easier as more options become available in its recently launched Virtual Showroom.
Customers may now tour the actual showroom as its virtual counterpart takes the actual dealership experience online and makes more vehicle information accessible anytime, anywhere. They may now choose which variant and color. The information tags also enable the customer to take a closer look at the vehicle’s features. The vehicles can be viewed in 3D, 360 interior and exterior, and 2D view.
Payment estimates can also be calculated online and contact details may be submitted to connect the customer to their dealership of choice. Dealer representatives will then contact the customer to address further inquiries, offer official quotation, and facilitate the car purchase.
Aside from the full dealership experience via Virtual Showroom, TMP’s wide network of dealer outlets nationwide can now deliver newly purchased vehicles right at the customer’s doorstep. Safety procedures will be properly observed by the dealership personnel to ensure a smooth and safe turnover of the customer’s brand new Toyota vehicle. For more details on this service, customers are highly encouraged to check terms and conditions with their nearest dealership.
Grant Thornton launches Asean Focus Services for retail industry
Grant Thornton International Ltd. has produced a publication named ‘Retail: Navigating the Impact of COVID-19’ for retail businesses.
“As non-essential trading was halted in many parts of the world, many businesses have experienced a significant drop in revenue with store closures. As a result of this, many retail staff were made redundant or worked reduced hours during the pandemic,” said Marivic Espano, chairperson and chief executive officer of P&A Grant Thornton.
The Asean Focus Retail Industry Services aims to meet rising demand from retail businesses looking to relocate operations to the region. The service will focus on medium to large enterprises looking to expand, relocate or diversify their businesses in the region.
While the Asean region is often the prime choice for businesses and investors, any relocation or expansion in a new country or region can be challenging. Many factors need to be considered, including risk management, cost management, investment returns, cultural differences and more.
The growing demand for help in these areas is the driving force behind the Grant Thornton member firms from the Big 7 ASEAN countries — Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia— coming together as Grant Thornton Asean. “We offer seamless cross-border services to all the medium to large enterprises looking for opportunities to expand their retail businesses across the Asean region” said Espano.
With a team of local experts from different countries, Grant Thornton Asean can provide medium to large enterprises valuable business insights and strategic perspectives, evaluate business challenges and support their needs in local or regional growth, risk management or cost management.
HARI Foundation scholar graduates
Christine Joy Reloza, a scholar of H.A.R.I. Foundation Inc.’s (HFI) Hyundai New Thinkers Circuit (HNTC) recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in BS Applied Physics Major in Instrumentation from the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
HNTC now counts four scholars who successfully made it through their chosen science courses–two from UP-Diliman, one from UP-Los Baños, and one from Ateneo de Manila University.
HNTC, launched in 2014 as a flagship program of HFI and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), was designed to discover and train deserving public high school students to be leaders and innovators to combat climate change.
The program consisted of conferences, boot camps, and exploration activities in the country’s famed nature spots that aimed to elicit from the participants’ innovative projects that would help solve the climate change concerns of their specific communities. The activities culminated with the awarding of college scholarships to the best-performing candidates to the country’s leading universities.
“I will forever be deeply indebted to HARI for providing a space where I can nurture my talents and wisdom, and mold my career by financially supporting my college education, ” said Christine.
“It has been a particularly productive year for HARI Foundation,” observed HFI president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. “We have been actively supporting nationwide efforts to flatten the curve through our Biyahe ng Bayani COVID response campaign.”
Last June, another HNTC scholar, Bret Michaels de Leon, a graduate of Valenzuela City Science High School, also crossed the “finish line” with a cum laude degree in BS Environmental Science from the Ateneo de Manila University. He is scheduled to march at the university commencement exercises later this year.
Aboitiz Group extends aid to Masbate quake victims
Masbate’s coastal barangays received from Pilmico and Aboitiz Foundation drinking water and food packs following the earthquake that hit the province recently. The items were delivered via bancas, the only means of transportation to reach these barangays.
Pilmico Foods Corp., the integrated agribusiness and food unit of the Aboitiz Group, together with the Aboitiz Foundation, distributed food relief packs for 230 families in three barangays in Cataingan, Masbate, overcoming logistical challenges in delivering its first batch of much-needed relief to the stricken province.
Despite the difficulties in reaching the coastall barangays of Matayum, Madamba, and Aguada, Cataingan, Aboitiz volunteers immediately heeded the local government unit’s appeal for donations to address the immediate needs of its residents.
“Rebuilding after an earthquake is not an easy task. Nevertheless, we hope that these initial and future assistance will benefit and aid Masbate’s affected residents as they begin on the road to recovery,” said Maribeth Marasigan, Aboitiz Foundation president and chief operating officer.
Pilmico, fueled by its vision of feeding humanity, worked with the Aboitiz Foundation in mobilizing the food assistance to the affected families.
“We recognize the difficulty that our Filipino brothers and sisters in Masbate. During this difficult time, the modern day bayanihan is paramount. We want to let our stakeholders know that amid the challenges we currently face, Pilmico will continue to be your Partner for Growth,” said Joeben Gamatero, II, Pilmico vice president for Brand and Marketing, and head of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility group.
Eton Properties names new EVP
Eton Properties Philippines, the real estate arm of the Lucio Tan Group, has named Carlos Carlos as its new executive vice president (EVP). Carlos will be next in command and will be reporting to chief operating officer Karlu Tan Say, and would help oversee the company’s operations.
Prior to his promotion as EVP, Carlos was first vice president of the company’s Technical Services Group. With his new role, he will consequently lead the same team that handles project management, planning and design, core engineering and project development support operations. Since joining Eton in 2015, he has led the successful development of the company’s key office and commercial projects.
Carlos has 25 years of solid experience in construction and project management, real estate development and property management locally and abroad.
Araneta City reopens Farmers Plaza Bazaar
After months of closure due to the COVID-19 lockdown, Farmers Plaza Bazaar resumes operations to revitalize Araneta City’s offering of quality and affordable goods.
Stalls at the Farmers Plaza Bazaar have started reopening to cater to the needs of bargain-hunters and thrift savvy shoppers. Patrons can once again enjoy the rich selection of clothes, shoes, apparel, and food at a bargain.
With safety prioritized at the City of Firsts, social distancing measures and sanitary regulations are put in place at the bazaar. Merchants are required to wear face masks and face shields at all times. Disinfectants are made available in all kiosks. Floor markings and numerous safety reminders are made visible around the bazaar.
Shoppers are required to wear face masks and face shields in the bazaar to reduce the risk of the pandemic. A company ID or quarantine pass issued by the local government unit is also needed upon entry. Patrons are also advised to bring their own shopping bags to minimize physical contact.
Occupying the whole 4th floor of Farmers Plaza, the bazaar can be easily accessed by EDSA-MRT commuters and Araneta City visitors who are in search of budget-friendly goods.
For shopping convenience, patrons may also use the Araneta City-Zen Personal Shopper and buy items at Farmers Bazaar remotely. Through this service, patrons may book a personal shopper using the MyKuya app on any mobile device to do the shopping and item delivery on their behalf.
Camella celebrates 43rd year, brings favorites home
Brands best integrate themselves into the consumers’ lives by becoming symbols of their ideals. For Camella, this connection with their homeowners is forged by embodying the aspirations of every Filipino family. On its 43rd anniversary, the brand continues to prove its status as the country’s favorite in house-and-lot development by giving more surprises for investors and end-users to look forward to.
The onset of the pandemic additionally streamlined Camella’s processes, beginning with the full digitization of its online reservation feature. These efforts are paired with other improvements in areas that are crucial for homebuyers, such as virtual tours to replace site visits and online payment instead of over-the-counter deposits. By partnering with banks and payment platforms like AllBank and AllEasy, Camella completes the seamless adaptation of its entire buying process and bridges the physical gap brought by the pandemic with digital solutions.
Camella considers itself as a pioneer in masterplanned townships that provide a holistic lifestyle experience, and the brand carries this leadership over to its digital innovations. The brand is best known for its premium-spaced houses that are convertible into safe sanctuaries. Camella, however, does not stop there and unlocks more potential directions for healthy homes through technology.
With the addition of its new series of smart homes, the brand ups the meaning of a healthy home to include energy-saving, secure, sensitive, and touchless, giving homeowners more power to control their homes based on their preference.
Camella has undoubtedly risen from its humble beginnings in 1977 and as a pioneer established itself as the country’s favorite housing brand. Now, with projects in 49 provinces and 147 towns and cities, the brand brings nearly 500,000 families home to their favorites. Find your place where you could feel safe and bloom in one of these townships; visit www.camella.com.ph.
