SMC skills program
San Miguel Corp. (SMC), together with the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA), is expanding its skills development program to cover more provinces and include financial assistance to small businesses in disadvantaged communities where it operates.
“As our economy starts opening up, there is an urgent need to help the poorest and most disadvantaged sectors get back on their feet. Many have lost their jobs or small businesses during this pandemic, and what we aim to do is upskill them, so they can pursue better job opportunities and help them start or restart their small businesses and allow them to participate in the economy’s growth post-pandemic,” SMC president Ramon S. Ang said.
The program has benefitted close to a thousand trainees from Taliptip and other coastal barangays in Bulacan –where the company is building the New Manila International Airport and Aerocity – and over 300 families from Sariaya, Quezon, where it is investing in a modern agro-industrial facility.
The program will be extended to beneficiaries in Bataan, Batangas, and Davao provinces.
Divina named Managing Partner of the Year
DivinaLaw Managing Partner Atty. Nilo T. Divina was recently recognized as Managing Partner of the Year in the 2021 Asian Legal Business (ALB) Philippine Law Awards in a virtual ceremony held last November 19, 2021.
DivinaLaw, which celebrated its 15th anniversary earlier this year, was also a finalist in nine other categories including Philippine Law Firm of the Year, Arbitration Law Firm of the Year, Data Privacy and Protection Law Firm of the Year, Immigration Law Firm of the Year, Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year, Labor and Employment Law Firm of the Year, Litigation Law Firm of the Year, Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year for senior partner Atty. Enrique Dela Cruz, Jr., and M&A Deal of the Year (midsize).
Divina’s award was given in recognition of his leadership, professional accomplishments, community development initiatives, and his contribution to the firm, the Bench and Bar, and the general public.
Asian Legal Business (ALB) magazine is a leading legal publication owned by Thomson Reuters. ALB received more than 270 entries for this competition which were evaluated by a panel of judges from the legal academia, in-house lawyers, firms, and legal associations in the region.
SM Start–Up Package
The recent launch of SM Supermalls’ SM Start-Up Package has ignited new hope and inspiration for micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.
With the SM StartUp Package, MSME owners who have ongoing online businesses can register and will be given the support they need to set up their first physical store in one of 13 high-traffic SM malls nationwide. This includes perks like startup-friendly rental rates, free use of kiosks, access to financial assistance through BDO Net Bank, marketing assistance to give the brand free exposure in SM online assets and ad spaces inside the malls, as well as giving them a prime location within the mall.
Categories open for tenancy are health and wellness, home hobbies and at-home experiences, smart gadgets for productivity, functional fashion and comfort food.
PCPPI-Southville tieup
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) has partnered with Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) to benefit employees who wish to continue learning and further their education.
The partnership covers tuition fee discounts for PCPPI employees who will enroll in Southville’s Flexible Higher Education Programs or those courses that are conducted 100 percent online, using blended learning solutions.
The discount is applicable in select courses from SISC and Southville International School Affiliated with Foreign Universities.
The partnership also targets PCPPI employees who, due to life’s circumstances, were not able to finish their studies to finally get a degree.
Black Friday sale
Discovery hotels and resorts group is offering special rates of up to 60 percent off this Black Friday, Cyber Monday Sale.
At Discovery Shores Boracay, rates start at P11,600++ on weekdays for a Junior Suite. Special rates also available for the luxurious Signature One-Bedroom Premier.
At Club Paradise Palawan, rates start at P12,000++ for weekdays.
Discovery Primea offers vouchers for overnight stays starting at P 7,500 nett for a Business Flat valid until Dec. 30, 2022.
Discovery Suites’ rates start at P4,888 nett for a Junior Suite, valid until March 31, 2022.
First Gen contest
First Gen Corp. has received interesting entries in a two-month competition among hundreds of students and Lopez Group employees who responded to a First Gen challenge to suggest solutions to climate change and to other issues related to this problem.
The contest, dubbed “Innovate for the Climate 2021” or IFTC 2021, attracted over 300 participants in 14 student teams from different First Gen partner-schools and 13 Lopez Group employee squads.
First Gen dared the participants to submit proposals that address any of the five priorities under the National Climate Change Action Plan: water sufficiency, environment and ecological stability, sustainable energy, waste management, and knowkedge and capacity development.
The students are competing under the “Youth Challenge” category, while employees from First Gen and its sister companies under parent firm First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH) are vying among themselves under the “FPH Community Challenge” grouping.
Out of the 27 teams that submitted their respective entries, 15 have reached the final round, of which 9 are student and 6 are FPH employee teams.
These finalists will present and explain their entries in a program that will be streamed live from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 26, 2021, over First Gen’s “Create for the Climate” Facebook Page.
Security Bank bags awards
Security Bank Corp. was lauded at the 11th Asian Excellence Awards for its various Investor Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives on November 22.
Recognized for their excellence in leadership and Investor Relations were Security Bank president and CEO Sanjiv Vohra, Security Bank chief financial officer Eduardo Olbes, and the bank’s investor relations officer Ropi Dangazo.
The award-giving body named Vohra as Asia’s Best CEO for Investor Relations, Olbes as Asia’s Best CFO for Investor Relations, and Dangazo as the Best Investor Relations Professional in the Philippines.
PH participation in CIIE earns $597.34M export sales
The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) celebrates another milestone for the food export industry as the Philippines’ hybrid event participation in the Chinese International Import Expo (CIIE) held last November 5 to 10, at the National Exhibition Center in Shanghai, China delivered over $597.34 million onsite export sales.
A significant amount of export deals came from memorandum of understanding sales, amounting to $575.03 million from signings and commitments. A total of $22.31 million came from sales booked and inquiries on the trade floor and business matching activities.
The Philippine participation in the CIIE is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry in partnership with the Foreign Trade Service Corps through the Philippine Trade and Investment Centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, EMB and Liwayway Corp. The country’s food sector was represented by 40 Filipino companies.
#TatakPinoy celebrates local
Shopee launched the #TatakPinoy: Shopee Celebrates Local contest.
Unitl Dec. 5, users can vote for and support their favorite sellers in time for the 12.12 Big Christmas Sale.
#TatakPinoy: Shopee Celebrates Local recognizes 12 Filipino sellers who offer locally made products and their inspiring journeys to success with Shopee. Besides having to source and offer goods that are proudly Pinoy, the brand also shortlisted these entrepreneurs, who come from various categories such as lifestyle, fashion, and FMCG, based on shop ratings and number of reviews.
The top three sellers, based on total user votes, will win gadget prizes that are useful for their online business. On top of that, theirs and a few other shortlisted sellers’ inspiring stories and sought-after products will be featured on Shopee Live on December 8 and 11.
The brands are Indianajanemnl, Chelssydresstaytay.ph, Luxeessential, Uniq.mnl, Orangeandpeach, Randashoesofficial, Mightyclean, Dnemnlph, Localidad.ph, Emsalvadorpunzalan, Gratitudebar and Mareclothingph.
New favorite Italian pizza
Rodolfo Pizzeria is emerging as Makati’s new Italian pizza shop. Opened just a few months ago, Rodolfo Pizzeria serves classic Neapolitan pizzas and Italian dishes by Jerick Magadia, owner and chef.
Magadia tried and tested 40 recipes to come up with a menu that makes Italian flavors more accessible and affordable to the public.
Some of Rodolfo’s bestsellers are Margherita Pizza, Italian Sausage & Pepperoni with Mushrooms , Quattro Formaggi , Pepperoni Pizza, Mushroom Truffle Cream Spaghetti, and Italian Tomato Basil Pasta .
Rodolfo Pizzeria is located in A. Bonifacio street,. Bangkal, and accepts dine-in, pickup and delivery.
Crave boxes for next gifting
Non-profit Crave4Good PH is offering a wide assortment of local and imported favorites at the most affordable price ideal for gift-giving this Christmas.
The company uses the proceeds from this project to share simple joys to kids in the country.
Available in big and small sizes, the boxes contain candies and snacks, and are delivered to customers nationwide even in bulk orders.
The offerings include Kjap Crave Box ( Korean and Japanese) Harry Potter, Choc to Go, Batang 90s, May Tokyo Ka, Wow Ang Gummy, Leche Kayong Lahat, Nuts About You and Not Guilty.
