Japan Coast Guard MCT in joint maritime law enforcement training with PH, U.S. Coast Guards
From 14 to 27 May 2023, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) dispatched three members of its Mobile Cooperation Team (MCT) to provide capacity-building support to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) during a Multinational Vessel Boarding Officer Course jointly held with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
The MCT is a special team that provides foreign coast guard agencies with technical support on maritime safety and security. MCT members participated as instructors in the training course and trained PCG officers on arresting techniques.
In addition to PCG members, officers from the Philippine National Police, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center, and the Vietnam Department of Fisheries Surveillance also participated in the training course.
The training course forms part of U.S.-Japan joint efforts named “SAPPHIRE”. This was the third time for the USCG and the JCG to conduct a joint training for foreign coast guard agencies since the signing of the annex of the Memorandum of Cooperation last year.
The JCG will continue to cooperate with coast guard agencies from other countries to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) based on the rule of law, and will engage actively to contribute to developing coast guard agencies in the Indo-Pacific region.
5 Gifts that Last Beyond Mother’s Day
As the saying goes, “A mother is one who can take the place of others but whose place no one else can take.”
Here are five lasting gifts that will surely last longer than Mother’s Day:
- Cook a healthy meal. Cooking your mom’s favorite meals is an act of love she will appreciate.
- Take her for a routine check-up. Accompany your mom to her doctor’s appointment especially if she’s already in her golden years and need help moving around. You can turn this gift into an annual or bi-annual routine.
- Make it a spa day. A deep-tissue massage can do wonders for your mom’s physical and mental health. Combined with a facial treatment and a cup of herbal tea, a spa day will help your mother relieve stress, alleviate body pains, and get a good night’s sleep.
- Sneak some sweat in. Physical activity is another key component to aging well. Encourage your mom to stay active by doing some light exercises with her or taking her out for a walk.
- Get her a health protection plan. Having health coverage gives both you and your mother peace of mind in case of unexpected sickness or serious medical problems. Some policies also come with cash benefits, which your mom can use for medical expenses, to pay off debts, or for anything else she needs extra funds for.
For a health insurance policy specifically designed for older adults check out Sun Grepa Senior Care which is offered by Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. Sun Grepa Senior Care protects your mother’s hard-earned savings even after retirement so she can embark on new life adventures worry-free.
SM Foundation partnership with DA to promote urban gardening
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and SM Supermalls, through its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Foundation renewed their Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last May 29, at the SM Mall of Asia. The partnership seals SM Supermalls’ commitment to making urban gardening available in 21 more SM malls.
As a staunch advocate of green and sustainable living, SM Supermalls has long championed urban gardening as an essential component of a sustainable lifestyle.
In 2015, the SM Foundation introduced the Urban Edible Garden Training as part of the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program, with the objective of enhancing food security and providing alternative livelihood opportunities in urban areas. Since then, SM has remained unwavering in its commitment to fortifying the agricultural industry of the Philippines.
Rooftop urban gardens have been successfully established at SM City North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Sta. Mesa, and SM City East Ortigas, serving as beacons of urban gardening excellence. In the years to come, SM aims to further enrich the program by establishing additional gardens and increasing its visibility among mallgoers.
To close the loop, SM’s latest initiative, launched last March, is the SM Sunday Market, which has helped almost a thousand local and backyard farmers by providing them with high-traffic spaces at more than 30 malls nationwide to display and market their products to weekend shoppers, employees, and tenants.
Beko marks 3rd anniversary
In celebration of its third year of operations, Beko Philippines announced its goal of being the number one European brand in the Philippine market in the next five years.
“We are very happy to be holding this trade launch for our dealers and stakeholders as we share that Beko will be a bigger and better brand in the Philippines in 2023 and beyond,” said Gí¼rhan Gí¼nal, Beko’s country director in the Philippines, who also presented the company’s business development plans of EXPAND, GROW, LEAD, CONNECTIVITY and SUSTAINABILITY for the Philippines along with the brand’s hero technologies at the anniversary trade launch at the Grand Ballroom of Marriott Hotel Manila.
This year, Beko will be made available soon in other appliance stores nationwide as it continues to “expand” its distribution to other retail channels.
To further “grow” brand awareness and visibility they also announced the renewal of their brand ambassadorship with Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo alongside with digital and traditional media investments.
As one of the “leading” manufacturers of home appliances, Beko promotes the Live Like a Pro lifestyle and inspires Filipinos to experience a more convenient way of living through European style product lines. They stated that Beko Pilipinas Corporation is the exclusive distributor of Hitachi Major Domestic Appliances as part of their brand portfolio.
beepâ„¢ powers QR payment in LRT1
AF Payments, Inc., operator of the beep card, launched Maya’s and Light Rail Manila Corp.’s (LRMC) QR payment system in LRT1.
With this new and convenient payment option–which is enabled by beep’s technology– train commuters can now effortlessly purchase QR codes through their smartphones.
“The overwhelming adoption of QR since the service’s launch demonstrates commuters’ willingness to embrace more diverse payment options that facilitate faster and more convenient commutes. Alongside the tap-in and tap-out functionality of beep cards, QR offers an excellent alternative to Single Journey Ticket users, allowing them to skip the lines and enjoy faster travel times,” said JJ Moreno, president and CEO of AF PaymentsLRT1 QR tickets, which will be valid for 24 hours, may be conveniently purchased through the Maya and LRMC’s ikotMNL apps, and eventually through the beep app.
BillEase, GoIT bring IT skills to the underserved
Consumer finance app BillEase has announced a partnership with ed-tech company GoIT.
Through this partnership, BillEase will empower underserved Filipinos to access GoIT’s comprehensive IT courses, training, and webinars at flexible financing options, allowing them to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
“The partnership between BillEase and GoIT is a significant milestone in our mission to democratize access to high-quality IT education for Filipinos,” said Georg Steiger, CEO and co-founder of BillEase. “We believe that by offering flexible financing options, we can empower more individuals to pursue their dreams in the technology sector, regardless of their financial background.”
This partnership between BillEase and GoIT aims to address the skills gap in the Philippines and adapt to the employment landscape that has been undergoing a wave of changes.
