Aboitiz supports Davao Region growth
Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer SabinAboitiz said the conglomerate will continue to pour in investments in the Davao Region as it sees strong opportunities for public-private collaboration that could fuel the region’s forward momentum.
“Davao and Mindanao have always been very close to the Aboitiz’s hearts and a core region of our operations. Our strong presence and interest in the Davao Region is a clear indication of the promising investment opportunities that have always existed here and where we intend to allocate more capital,” Aboitiz said at the sixth Davao Investment Conference (Davao ICon) 2021 held recently. The event highlighted opportunities in agribusiness, real estate, manufacturing, and tourism.
The Aboitiz Group’s economic activities in the Davao Region goes back to its acquisition of Davao Light and Power in 1946. The Aboitiz Group also ventured into major investments including power generation through Hedcor, Therma South, and Therma Marine. Hedcor owns and operates several run-of-river hydroelectric power plants while Therma Marine runs an oil-fired power plant.
One of Aboitiz’s most recent major investments is Apo Agua Infrastructura’s bulk water supply project, which, once it commences operation, will provide 300 million liters per day of clean water to the Davaoeños.
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Cascadeo strengthens cloud expertise
Globe Telecom’s Cloud Professional and Managed Services delivery arm, Cascadeo, has officially renewed its Amazon Web Services (AWS) Premier Consulting Partner status and its AWS Managed Service Provider (MSP) Partner status.
As a member of the AWS Partner Network (APN), Cascadeo will boost its expertise and help accelerate the adoption of cloud technology among corporations in the Philippines.
Being renewed into the two partnership programs fortifies Cascadeo’s position as a cloud expert. AWS Premier Tier Partners are the most experienced AWS Consulting Partners and are recognized as leaders in their respective geographical, vertical, or horizontal markets. The AWS Premier Tier Partners have deep technical expertise with multiple partner program validations and demonstrated success in working with a larger number of AWS customers at scale in deploying solutions on AWS.
The AWS MSP Program is designed to validate and promote APN Advanced and Premier Tier Consulting Partners which provide end-to-end AWS solutions to customers. AWS MSP Partners help customers solve complex business needs at any stage of their cloud adoption journey.
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Workshop series on digital transformation
PLDT Enterprise–together with Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manila and Go Negosyo–held the first in a series of virtual workshop for entrepreneurs to help them pivot and emerge unbreakable in the new chapter of business.
During the first leg of the #UnbreakableMSMEs: Road To Recovery Virtual Workshop, Go Negosyo founder and presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion emphasized how digitalization plays a key role to help spur economic recovery and aid businesses to continue their operations despite mobility restrictions.
Head of Enterprise Analytics and Insights for PLDT Enterprise Sandy Roque noted that this sector’s resilience depends on transformative programs that will embrace the new business norm with innovative entrepreneurship in these unprecedented conditions.
PLDT Enterprise has been enabling entrepreneurs by providing solutions and assistance that will empower their businesses amid the difficulties imposed by the pandemic.
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LUNA Academy entrepreneurship courses
LUNA Academy is the go-to online platform for the delivery of entrepreneurship courses in partnership with the School of Agility, Grit, and Entrepreneurship (SAGE).
With the mission to provide high quality, relevant, and cost-effective future-ready skills training and certification via a customized online education platform tailored to the local market, LUNA Academy signed a strategic partnership deal with SAGE.
Last May 6, a virtual signing event happened between LUNA Academy and SAGE to provide a branded online learning platform for existing, new, and co-created courses to be accessible remotely and flexibly by SAGE members. This partnership also aims to provide new online learning and training programs for SAGE’s existing and upcoming students.
LUNA Academy is an online educational platform that provides industry-relevant & widely accessible future-ready skills training with globally recognized partners: Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, & Alibaba Cloud tailored to the Philippine market. It is a joint venture between the top EdTech company in the Philippines, CloudSwyft and DITO CME Holdings Corporation.
School of Agility, Grit, and Entrepreneurship is an education technology platform that will equip students, startup enthusiasts, and any individual with the essential skills to thrive in today’s competitive world and succeed in the age of disruption and innovation.
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Golden Grab Awards 2021
Grab,in a virtual awards ceremony held on November 19, hosted the Golden Grab Awards 2021 to celebrate its best-performing GrabFood and GrabMart merchant-partners who were treated to an evening of awards, prizes, and special performances from the Itchyworms and Ebe Dancel.
A mix of data-driven and people’s choice awards were given under three categories: Sale Superstars, Merchant Congeniality, and Golden Cart. These awards celebrated the best of GrabFood’s merchant-partner rookies, best curated menus, top-performing merchants for every meal, best-rated merchants, and many more.
Among the winners were Starbucks and Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant, as Breakfast Champs; Jollibee and Mang Inasal as Lunch Leaders; S&R New York Style Pizza, Angel’s Pizza as Merienda Masters; Chowking, KFC as Dinner Dash; McDonald’s, Army Navy Burger + Burrito for Midnight Munchies; Shakey’s Pizza
Monicar General Merchandise as Promo Masters; Mary Grace Cafe
Kenny Rogers Roasters as GrabAds Guru; Selecta Ice Cream Shop (GF)
Robinsons Supermarket Corporation (GM) for Campaign King; Picabean Coffee House (GF), DRTM Store (GM) as Data Dynamo; all under the Sale Superstars Awards.
For Merchant Congeniality Awards, the following won: GF: Blake’s Wings & Steaks,
GM: Ever Supermarket for Menu Maven; Turks for Need for Speed; Chooks to Go for Hygiene Hero; Corndog28 and Shake Shack for Pack It Like It’s Hot; Thai Mango for Newbie No More; Robinsons Supermarket Corp., for Ultimate Lifesaver; Starbucks for Riders Choice Award; Classic Savory – SM Las Pinas for Staff SAlute Award.
The Golden Cart Awards were won by the following: Wendell Fajardo Songco for Golden Grab Rider-Partner; Andok’s Litson Baka for Top Trender Award; Big Al’s Cookie Jar for Golden Merchant Badge; Pan de Manila for Eager Expander Award; and Samgyupsmile Delivery – Molino 3 for Long Distance League Award.
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Seal of Good Toilet-Keeping
West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc., in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), has announced the first-ever winners of their Kubeta PH Seal of Good Toilet-Keeping under the “Maynilad Kubeta PH X It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign.
The awardees, which were nominated by DOT, are composed of popular tourist destinations within the Maynilad service area, namely: Conrad Manila Hotel, Casa Buenas, Marriott Hotel Manila, Sheraton Manila Hotel, and Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay; Solaire Resort and Casino, Palacio de Memoria, Kingsford Hotel Manila, and Mama Lou’s Kitchen in Parañaque; Diamond Hotel and Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant in Manila; Mella Hotel in Las Piñas; and Azumi Boutique Hotel and SLT Gasmart Corporation in Muntinlupa.
To receive the seal, the establishments underwent a stringent audit process that required them to meet specific criteria not only for the general maintenance and cleanliness of their toilets but also for the implementation of proper wastewater management practices, in accordance with government laws and regulations.
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Healthy holiday cheer
Filipino plant-based brand Sekaya has carefully curated Prescribing Nature Gift Packs that naturally help with different health and wellness goals.
Every purchase also contributes to the ongoing reforestation efforts in the Cordillera region — Sekaya’s advocacy in partnership with the Cordillera Conservation Trust, an organization committed to provide sustainable solutions to environmental problems.
With the help of everyone who bought the Prescribing Nature Gift Packs during the last quarter of 2020, Sekaya was able to provide 5,190 endemic tree seedlings, which are already adapted to the region and will support local ecosystems better than non-native species. As a major part of the brand’s nature conservation advocacy, Sekaya is once again committing to match the sales of its gift packs and donate to the same cause this year.
These holidays, Prescribing Nature Gift Packs has prepared six gift boxes:Daily Immunity, Bestselling Brews, Keep It Hot , Choose Your Mood, TotalWellness and Total Cleanse.
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Easier payment solution
DHL Express has partnered with GrabPay to provide its customers with an easy and efficient online payment alternative.
With an average of more than 20,000 cash transactions per month, the DHL partnership with GrabPay will provide a billing solution that enables customers to pay, keep track of, record, and automatically reconcile payments in real-time.
All cash transactions, freight, or duty-catered by DHL service points and couriers can be completed using GrabPay.
“The DHL e-payment option of GrabPay is among our newest comprehensive billing solutions for on-route cash shipments and those collected or dropped off at our service points,” said Vince Alcuran, chief financial officer, DHL Express Philippines.
