HEDCOR supports Bukidnon IPs, QUEST Plus Clark all set for Valentine’s, OLD SPICE Body Spray for Valentine, AGODA uses ChatGPT, GALAXY S23 series planet-friendly innovation, JOBSTREET PH eyes expansion, ARTIFRACT launches music NFT, SITEL Academy BPO upskilling, BILLEASE-Rex Education partnership
NEW YEAR, NEW HOME. The infrastructure project will serve as proof of genuine commitment that Hedcor recognizes the IPs significant role in nation building, progress and development.
Hedcor, a hydropower company and subsidiary of AboitizPower Corp. (AboitizPower), strengthened its ties with the indigenous peoples (IP) groups of the Province of Bukidnon by helping renovate their tribal halls as a place of convergence and collaboration.
In separate ceremonies held recently, Hedcor turned over these reconditioned tribal halls to various IP groups in the province, specifically the Lumikapaw Ka Guihean Tribal Council of Elders in Barangay Guihean, Municipality of Impasugong; Guilang-Guilang Apo Datu Nanikunan Association Inc. in Barangay Guilang-Guilang; Santiago Tribal Community (SANTRICO), Inc. in Barangay Santiago; and Impakibel, Apo Man Asilan Tribal Association in Barangay Maluko, Municipality of Manolo Fortich.
“This is where all the plans for the IP communities will be created, this is where the tribe’s future lies and which the people can call their own,” Hedcor president and COO Rolando G. Pacquiao said, underscoring the importance of the structure in preserving the tribe’s culture.
“We look forward to a continued partnership with our indigenous peoples and count on their support to achieve our mutual goal of driving change for a more sustainable future for the country,” he added.
The newly refurbished tribal halls will serve as a venue for the tribes’ gatherings, meetings and learnings among many other functions. Its design depicts an architectural style that’s traditional and goes according to the needs of the indigenous tribes.
Expressing his gratitude to Hedcor, Datu Delfin Abunda of Barangay Guihean said that the project is a manifestation of Hedcor’s advocacy of uplifting the lives of the IP communities.
Hedcor is the run-of-river hydropower arm of AboitizPower, managing and operating 22 hydropower plants that generate 278-megawatts (MW) of clean and renewable energy.
Quest Plus Clark all set for Valentine’s
Celebrate love this whole month of February at Quest Plus Conference Center, Clark. From romantic dining experiences to a charming hotel stay, the Valentine’s promotions are sure to sweep sweethearts off their feet.
For a Quest Plus Clark getaway, rates start at PHP 6,000 for an overnight stay with breakfast for two and a cuddly surprise awaits your visit.
A sweet and intimate four-course dinner on February 14 at Mequeni Lounge is at PHP 2,200 per person.
The Hotel’s signature Heart goes for only PHP 1,800. A delicious steak platter good for two with the Lovers’ Plate at Charley’s at PHP 3,200, and the Mequeni Live dinner buffet is at PHP 1,996 per person
Head on to the Fairways as love awaits at Mimosa Plus Golf Course as well. Join the Better-Ball (Pairs) Golf Tournament on February 14, 2023, 7:00AM at the Acacia Course. End the game with lunch at Baker J Café or wait until the evening for a romantic dinner to celebrate your mon amour. The Valentine’s Dinner at Baker J Café is at PHP 2,713 per person.
Old Spice Body Spray for Valentine
Old Spice Body Spray is offering five scents in time for Valentine’s Day.
Bearglove combines hints of apple, citrus, and a little spice ideal for the outdoorsy man; Captain has a splash of fresh sandalwood; Krakengard combines the scents of citrus and wood; Magnate is a blend of cedarwood and lime; and Wolfthorn, the boldest in the line.
Agoda uses ChatGPT to serenade Valentine’s Day hotspots
Agoda revealed that Manila is one of the 14 most-searched destinations for Valentine’s Day.
The Philippine capital joins Tokyo, Bangkok, and Singapore among this year’s most popular Valentine’s Day getaways in Asia, according to Agoda.
To pay homage to these and other romantic hotspots in the top 14 searched destinations, Agoda commissioned AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT to compose unique poems.
For the Pearl of the Orient, ChatGPT’s love note reads: Manila, city of contrasts, where the old and new coexist. A place of beauty and diversity, where the heart of the Philippines persists
Being the hot new thing, recently introduced chatbot ChatGPT already has millions falling in love with its capabilities. When asked by Agoda to channel its inner artificial intelligence-Shakespeare the chatbot composed lines like ‘From Pad Thai to Tom Yum Goong, Bangkok’s food is a taste that lingers on’ (Bangkok, Thailand), ‘With every visit, I’m captured whole, in this gem of India, I find my goal’ (Goa, India), and ‘Mount Fuji in the distance, a sight to behold. Tokyo, a city that never gets old’ (Tokyo, Japan).
Using ChatGPT to compose poetry may be a gimmick, but the artificial intelligence technology powering the chatbot is beyond promising, said Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of Agoda: “We’re all about hassle-free travel at Agoda and a technological leap like this has a lot of potential to further enhance the booking experience on digital travel platforms.”
Designed with the planet in mind
With its new, cutting-edge design, Samsung’s new Galaxy S23 series (Galaxy 23 Ultra, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23) demonstrated that innovation brings both high-performance and sustainability for the ultimate premium experience.
The Galaxy S23 series raised the bar for both quality and aesthetics with less environmental impact than previous generations. To achieve this, Samsung incorporated recycled materials in more device components than in any other previous Galaxy smartphone and designed the packaging box using 100 percent recycled paper.
The presence of recycled materials in the Galaxy S23 series has also been increased, rising from six internal components made from eco-conscious materials in the Galaxy S22 Ultra to 12 internal and external components incorporating recycled materials in the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Samsung also used a wider variety of recycled materials, including pre-consumer recycled aluminum and glass. Specifically, the use of recycled ocean-bound plastics in the Galaxy S23 series could prevent more than 15 tons of discarded fishing nets from entering the world’s oceans by the end of 2023, helping to reduce ocean pollution.
The Galaxy S23 series is also built to last with durability and repairability, making it dependable for years to come. It’s the first device to feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus® 2, offering durability for long-term use and contains an average of 22 percent pre-consumer recycled content. The Galaxy S23 series also provides four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates, so users are protected for longer.
JobStreet PH eyes expansion
JobStreet Philippines aims to expand and mobilize the job market–looking to secure over 40 million job applications and 30,000 plus new hirers from across the country.
In 2022, JobStreet recorded a total of 37 million job applications through the platform and accumulated over a million job posts.
JobStreet’s marketing team aims to make the platform and opportunities more accessible as it plans to expand its services in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Davao Region, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon.
During the past years, JobStreet has been assisting in ensuring that opportunities are reaching the jobseekers and hirers are able to find quality talents, launching three Virtual Career Fairs as well its regional campaign SEEK Better which aims to empower candidates to attain their desired transformation in the new normal by seeking better jobs that will allow them to become the best version of themselves.
Fractionalized music NFTs launched
Artifract, the country’s first tokenization and fractionalization platform, has expanded its collection from art pieces to music, partnering with Pinoy rock icon Ely Buendia to enable fans and music lovers to own pieces of the latter’s music and artistry through the blockchain.
Artifract signed a partnership agreement with Buendia, WEU Event Management Services, and Dvent Productions to bring Buendia’s musical collection into the metaverse.
Under this collaboration, Buendia will be releasing his exclusive musical NFT titled “Flamed Lullaby,” with a self-composed original tracking/song title called “Hele.”
The artwork is inspired by the Eraserhead’s last 2008 Reunion Concert, where the Sticker Happy Piano was burned and smashed during their final performance of “Ang Huling El Bimbo.”
Empowering BPO workforce
Sitel Academy is looking at implementing new courses that will help improve talent acquisition, focusing on best in class applicant experience, speeding up the hiring process, and applicant retention in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.
Sitel Academy is a pioneering free BPO upskilling program for students, near-hires, and individuals who are usually deprived of good career opportunities. Launched in 2007, Sitel Academy has a curriculum that focuses on developing well-rounded skills, touching on both technical and non-technical core skills like BPO fundamentals, communications, empathic listening, and logical thinking.
“Sitel Academy helps bridge the job skills gap or the skills that employers are looking for and the training and experience that candidates possess. We provide free intensive technical and skills training for the disadvantaged and marginalized sector of the workforce,” director of Sitel Academy and Sitel Philippines’ talent acquisition Rowel Villalobos said.
To expand its reach, Sitel Academy has formed partnerships with local government units, foundations, training centers, sororities, and educational institutions that include TESDA, Far Eastern University, Rizal Technological University, Tarlac State University, University of Baguio, among others. It is also working with government organizations like DOLE and PESO. Sitel Academy has over 70 active partners in the local government sector and academe.
Read now, pay later
BillEase and Rex Education through its nationwide retail arm Rex Book Store announced the launch of their partnership to offer light and cardless installment options to customers.
Through the Read Now, Pay Later partnership with BillEase, students, parents and guardians, and practitioners shopping at Rex Book Store branches and Rex E-Store can choose from a wide selection of books, assessments, digital learning products and pay only one-third of the price upfront, then split the rest for up to 12 months
Law students can also get authentic law books and references and pay in light and easy installments. For instance, aspiring attorneys purchasing Ferdinand Tan’s Criminal Procedure (2021 Edition), priced at P 2,320, will only have to pay P773 upfront and split the rest into customizable installment plans.
