Golden jubilee
Senate Committee on Housing, Urban Development and Resettlements chairman Senator JV Ejercito graced the launching of annual celebratory events to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations Inc. (CREBA) at the Conrad Hotel on March 16.
In his message to the members of the housing and real estate umbrella group, Ejercito acknowledged the tremendous role of CREBA and its leaders in the creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development through Republic Act No. 11201 which was enacted during the Senator’s stint as head of the same committee in 2019.
5th Meeting of the Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue
The fifth meeting of the Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue was held on March 29 in Tokyo.
The Japanese side headed by Mr. HAYASHI Makoto, deputy director-general of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consisted of officials of the National Security Secretariat, the National Ocean Policy Secretariat, the Ministry of Defense, and the Japan Coast Guard; the Philippine side headed by Ms. Maria Angela A. Ponce, assistant secretary of Maritime and Ocean Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, consisted of officials of the Department of National Defense, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), among others.
Both sides, representing the two neighboring maritime nations and strategic partners sharing vital sea lanes, discussed latest developments in their surrounding seas such as the East and South China Seas as well as ways to strengthen cooperation in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and the Luzon Strait.
Both sides affirmed the importance of rules-based, free and open maritime order and continued to strengthen cooperation in the maritime-related fields toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” and the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)” based on the outcomes of President Marcos’s official visit to Japan last February.
Formalized in light of the Japan-Philippines joint statement of June 2009, the first meeting of the Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue was held in Tokyo on September 9, 2011, followed by the second in Manila on February 22, 2013, the third in Tokyo on June 11, 2019 and the fourth in a teleconference format on October 22, 2021.
Converge champions women empowerment
Led by its co-founder and president Maria Grace Uy, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has taken strides to uplift women not just within the organization but also in the communities the company serves.
As part of its National Women’s Month activities, Converge recently visited its partner social enterprise, KREations Upcycle Furniture Manufacturing, in Angono, Rizal where a group of women repurpose the company’s old marketing materials, such as tarpaulins, and turn them into reusable bags and other materials.
The partnership creates jobs for women in the local community who upcycle its discarded tarpaulins and flyers.
MentorSHE Project in Converge, a woman-to-woman mentorship training initiative, was launched recently initially providing mentoring sessions for the women leaders in the company.
A Woman Month’s Fair was held in the office premises, inviting as many as 20 vendors and enterprises to participate in a three-day bazaar. The company also advocated for Purple Wednesdays, where employees were encouraged to wear purple outfits every Wednesday for the entire month of March.
Converge ended the month with a Women’s Month Job Caravan.
Great work destination for Pinoy nurses
Filipino healthcare professionals who plan to pursue work abroad will find TrueProfile.io a useful platform.
TrueProfile provides Filipino healthcare professionals around the world with the tools they need to secure a lucrative career abroad. All one has to do is register on TrueProfile.io.
Prospective employers abroad can view one’s credentials through a digital resume provided by the platform.
According to Alejandro Coca, co-head of TrueProfile, the platform uses blockchain technology which eliminates the need to verify one’s documents over and over again when applying.
Coca said becoming a TrueProfile.io member gives one access to career solutions including digital CV which can be shared with recruiters, regulators, recruiters, and can be showcased on social media.
Access Eastern
Access Eastern gathered business leaders based in Bicol to explore tools for business growth.
Dubbed “Access Eastern,” the series is part of the telco’s efforts to ramp up the adoption of digital technology among various industries and startups. These roadshows address important topics such as top business tech trends and introducing key business technologies that have been made available for the Philippine market.
Kicking off in the Bicol Region, specifically in Legazpi and Sorsogon, the exclusive digital learning sessions allow local business owners to take advantage of the expertise of Eastern Communications’ professionals and get the latest updates on technological developments.
Its Eastern Fiber 1 internet plan is recommended for startups and emerging businesses that need fast and reliable connectivity ranging from 10 Mbps up to 100 MBps.
Eastern IDS or Internet Direct Service is ideal for more established businesses, having dedicated high-speed Internet service of up to 10 GBps.
Access Eastern’s next run will be in Cebu and is also expected to launch in Tuguegarao, Iloilo, Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, and select cities in Metro Manila soon.
Alorica empowers women
Alorica Inc. marked March as its International Women’s Month and as an extension of the official International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8.
This year, the celebration was elevated with the global CX provider receiving a Stevie Award for Achievement in Developing and Promoting Women. The award underscores Alorica’s dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where women are empowered to lead and achieve their full potential. Last year alone, the company promoted 5,000 employees and more than half were women.
Across its Philippine operations, Alorica’s executive management team actively promotes diversity, equity and inclusion as evidenced by the number of their accomplished women leaders starting with Asia-Pacific regional president Mireille Magallona. Alorica’s worldwide workforce of 100,000 is made up of 60 percent women with a similar breakdown in APAC. Also, several corporate functions are run by female leaders from the Philippines
Electrical tools Pinoy homeowners should have
MR.DIY offers a wide array of electrical products, including lighting, that are not only value for your money, but are only a stone’s throw away at your nearest MR.DIY branch.
- DIY Battery Sensor Light, equipped with a motion sensor, has 6-LED light that is perfect for small and out-of-the-way spaces with no access to a power outlet. This durable, USB-powered light is also ideal for camping or outdoor use.
The E27Daylight LED Bulb, there’s no need to worry about straining the eyes or having headaches with a wide light coverage just enough to fill the room.
MR.DIY has torches of all shapes and sizes, from handy aluminum led-light flashlights to solar-powered, and even USB-powered torches, to battery-powered, large-capacity flashlights.
MR.DIY batteries are safe and long-lasting—especially designed for clocks, remote controls, electric shavers, toys, and electric toothbrushes among others.
With more than 18,000 items available, MR.DIY is the country’s favorite family and home improvement one-stop shop retailer. These tools and other electrical items are now available at MR.DIY stores nationwide.
Green engineers
Mapúa University is set to offer the country’s first undergraduate program in Energy Engineering this upcoming Academic Year 2023-2024.
The program will prepare students for professional practice in the power generation, transmission and distribution, demand side management and electricity supply, architecture and design, oil and gas, industrial processes, manufacturing facilities, office buildings, and transportation sectors.
Energy Engineering will produce industry-ready graduates for various sectors in power generation, energy transmission and generation, as well as supply and demand management.
Graduates of the program may practice as engineers, consultants, or managers in the power, government and public, manufacturing, or real estate and commercial industries.
Sustainability report
Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines released its first Sustainability Report, which covers fiscal year 2022.
The report highlights the firm’s practices in promoting sustainable business operations and addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
The report outlines the firm’s progress towards its sustainability goals, which include reducing carbon emissions, promoting inclusion and diversity in the workplace, supporting communities and social enterprises, and upholding good governance. Some of the key achievements outlined in the report are: a 37 percent reduction in total emissions since 2019; partnerships with the government and NGOs to support local communities and businesses and; an “Advanced Company” rating in terms of integrity business practices in 2014 by the Integrity Initiative Inc.
The Sustainability Report was internally launched in PwC’s Asia Pacific Americas (APA) East Cluster Corporate Sustainability (CS) Meeting, which ran from March 9 and 10.
Best retail bank
The Asian Banker’s Global Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards Program 2023 recognized UnionBank with its 4th consecutive Best Retail Bank in the Philippines award for being voted the Most Recommended Retail Bank in the Philippines.
The Asian Banker International Advisory Council cited UnionBank for establishing a “robust culture of innovation and collaboration supported by significant investments in productivity, growth, and digitalization both at the front-end and back-end that allows the bank to maintain a competitive edge over its rivals.”
UnionBank “outperformed its peers in 2022 with 26 percent retail revenue growth, compared to the market average of 10 percent, an improved net interest margin of 4.9 percent and strong deposit growth of 32 percent.” UnionBank was voted by consumers as the Most Recommended Retail Bank in the Philippines, “for sustaining its position in the country as a pioneer and with a 100.90 BankQuality Score.”
Best workplace
Tech One Global Philippines has been ranked as one of Philippines Best Workplaces 2023. The award was given during the Recognition Gala, held at Hilton Manila.
Tech One Global Philippines places a strong emphasis on fostering a positive culture and nurturing its people through mentoring and skill development programs, flexible work arrangements, and employee engagement initiatives.
The company believes in empowering its employees and encouraging them to take ownership of their work. Tech One Global Philippines is dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment that enables its employees to reach their fullest potential.
