300K Moderna doses administered
The vaccination support initiative of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and Bloomberry Resorts Corp. has administered over 300,000 doses of mRNA Moderna vaccines since ICTSI-sponsored vaccination sites in Solaire Resort and Casino and at the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) property in Parañaque City opened midyear.
The Solaire-ICTSI Foundation Vaccination Center — Nayong Pilipino Foundation (SIVC-NPF), which opened in August, administered 158,515 does while the SIVC — Solaire administered 150,737 doses for a combined total of 309,252 doses as of November 22.
On an average, the SIVC-NPF administers close to 1,000 doses daily, while the SIVC-Solaire administers about 600 doses daily. The two sites recorded the highest rollout last November 13 with a combined total of 5,537 doses.
The SIVC — NPF in Paranaque City is the first mega vaccination site in the country, serving residents from Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
In both SIVC — Solaire Theater and SIVC — NPF, vaccinees need only to show their QR codes to get vaccinated.
Globe supports vaccination drive thru anti-fake news campaign
Globe Telecom is supporting the upcoming National Vaccination Day through its anti-fake news campaign.
Globe joined the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Family Vaccine Specialty Clinic (FVSC), GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications Inc., (GMCI) and the Vaccine Solidarity Movement (VSM) in encouraging the public to support and participate in the National Vaccination Day on November 29 to December 1.
With Globe’s Truth in Action campaign, the public is encouraged to be discerning online and be confident about the COVID-19 vaccination.
Globe senior manager Miguel Bermundo discussed several examples of fake news which have been circulating online such as vaccination site shutdowns and various misleading information regarding vaccine efficacy in the country.
Battling fake news is part of Globe’s education initiative termed Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP). It is a multi-awarded workshop series conducted for free to students, teachers, parents, and even larger groups such as LGUs, and interest groups. Participants are taught how to develop strong critical thinking skills when online, which are fundamental for netizen safety today.
CSR project agreements
SN Aboitiz Power Magat (SNAP-Magat) signed agreements with local government units in its host communities in Ifugao, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya for projects that will address immediate health and safety needs in the areas.
Initiatives will include the purchase of barangay motorcycle patrol vehicles; acquisition of personal protective equipment and medical supplies; construction of a quarantine facility; procurement of food packs; the purchase of a response vehicle; purchase of bailer machine for recycling; and the installation of potable water supply projects and public comfort room upgrades.
SNAP host communities have benefitted from 88 projects totalling P22 million through a corporate social responsibility fund.
iQor Ph opens in Iloilo
iQor recently opened over 1,000 positions in Iloilo, offering options to work-at-home (WAH) or onsite.
WAH allowed iQor to hire an additional 1,500 employees in October 2020.
Fleurette Navarro, head of Global Recruiting and senior vice President for Human Resources (Philippines) said the company is committed to doing its part in strengthening the current local economy by providing job opportunities and developing the skills and talents of its employees. Over 300 agents in 2021 were promoted in 2021, Navarro said.
iQor is one of the largest employers in the Philippines and continues to grow in provinces throughout the Philippines to support growth outside of Metro Manila.
New options for online sellers
Ecwid by Lightspeed, a global SaaS ecommerce platform, has partnered with Xendit, a leading payment solutions provider in Indonesia, the Philippines and Southeast Asia, to offer new ways to sell online and enable sellers to accept online payments with popular local payment options.
With Xendit’s payment gateway, online sellers will be able to offer popular local and international payment options in their online stores such as GCash (e-wallets), 7-Eleven (over-the-counter payments), Visa and Mastercard credit cards, and more.
The partnership with Xendit is a new way to bring the award-winning ecommerce to the fast-growing South East Asian market. Ways to sell with Ecwid include websites, marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, social media like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, mobile apps and point-of-sale systems.
Payoneer partners with GCASH
Payoneer has recently forged a partnership with GCash, giving them access to expanded financial solutions.
With the popularity of the gig economy, freelancers are advised to take advantage of Payoneer’s service that connects them to the global market they aim to tap.
Users simply have to connect their Payoneer account to, say, Upwork which will then allow them to receive money on their account. If they have a direct client, they can also send an invoice directly.
Payoneer customers can connect their account to a local bank and withdraw in pesos at fair and competitive exchange rates. Payoneer can also provide a card for online transactions or ATM withdrawals. Accountholders can transfer funds to other Payoneer users.
Pasig City, JobStreet seal partnership
The city government of Pasig and JobStreet sealed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) where new and existing Pasig-based employers are entitled to free monthly job posting credits on JobStreet.
This initiative aims to help employers find the right candidates through JobStreet that has a large pool of jobseekers. The initiative will run for the next three years.
In the dedicated microsite, Pasigueños can browse job vacancies and submit applications from the comfort of their homes. Opportunities that will be posted on the microsite are varying from full time, part time, to work from home jobs.
Jobseekers can also explore career tools and motivational resources.
Aboitiz InfraCapital bags 4 honors
Aboitiz InfraCapital’s Integrated Economic Centers was conferred with four awards at the 9th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards.
LIMA Estate, Aboitiz’s 794-hectare industrial-anchored township in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas, was hailed the “Best Industrial Development.”
AIC also received Special Recognition in Sustainable Design”¯ and Construction and Special Recognition in ESG for its sustainable practices.
AboitizLand’s residential project within LIMA Estate, The Villages at Lipa, was also Highly Commended in the Best Housing Development (Southern Luzon) category.
PLDT quiz winner
A 15-year-old high school student from Aurora province recently bagged the grand prize in the PLDT HomeFibr Broadband Quiz, an online academic contest participated in by top graduates of PLDT’s flagship education advocacy program Infoteach Outreach Webinar Series.
Ma. Eugenie Yvette Gata, a Grade 10 student from Casiguran National High School in Aurora, won the grand finals, taking home a cash prize of P25,000, a laptop, and a gold medal for herself; and two laptops and a printer for her school. All winners and their respective schools and DepED Division Offices also received plaques of appreciation.
The PLDT HomeFibr Broadband Quiz, now on its 11th year, is the yearly culmination of the Infoteach Outreach Program, PLDT’s flagship project for its education pillar.
Online agro-entrep training
Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) and Xavier University — Ateneo de Cagayan (XU — AdC) recently celebrated the graduation of 97 field facilitators who took its first online Agro-Entrepreneurship for Inclusive Value Chains course.
Field facilitators coach small holder farmers on agro-entrepreneurship to shift farmers’ mindset and practice from being individual producers to entrepreneurs.
By taking the course online, JGF was able to equip graduates with knowledge on the agro-enterprise clustering approach despite pandemic restrictions.
The graduates were leaders from 47 organizations that implement programs assisting smallholder farmers participated in the course.
Limited-edition holiday treats
M Bakery is offering Christmas products and gift packages at both its BGC and Rockwell locations starting December 1.
Holiday products include Red Velvet Banana Pudding, Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake and Christmas Cupcakes. M Bakery’s Christmas party spread include the World-Famous Banana Pudding Party Bowl in various flavors.
Christmas cakes in classic vanilla or chocolate include Bottle Brush Tree Cake Christmas Cake (Lights & Gifts), Snowman Cake and Winter Cake.
M Bakery also has holiday gift boxes of cookies, brownies and blondies.
HSMA Virtus Awards 2021 winners
Okada Manila earned this year the prestigious Virtus Award for Most Resilient Business – Property.
Now in its seventh year, the Virtus Awards is organized and given by the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) Philippines to recognize the country’s most outstanding hotel sales and marketing professionals.
Okada Manila was one of the recipients of the special awards because of its initiatives, which “enabled us to reinvent our offerings based on consumer insights we’ve gathered, which, basically, show their need to experience a semblance of ‘normalcy’ again,” said Victor Galzote, Okada Manila director of corporate marketing and communications.
The second special award went to the Chroma Hospitality Group, which was honored with the Most Resilient – Hospitality Group Award because of their ability to keep occupancy rate up with their bubble initiatives.
The Conrad Hotel Manila was awarded Outstanding Marketing Campaign for their Meetings To Go/Signature Takeaway campaign.
