Ayala group hits bull’s-eye with prized ‘golden arrows’
All nine listed business units of the Ayala group received coveted corporate governance distinctions from the Institute of Corporate Directors at the recently held Golden Arrow Awards.
The Golden Arrow Awards recognizes exemplary corporate governance performance based on the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) for publicly listed companies and Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS) for insurance companies. A company may get 1 golden arrow up to 5 golden arrows depending on ACGS and CGS scores.
Ayala Land and Globe received 5 golden arrows (equivalent to 120 to 130 points); ACEN and IMI received 4 golden arrows (equivalent to 110 to 119 points); Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land Logistics Holdings Corp., and BPI received 3-golden arrows (equivalent to 100 to 109 points); AREIT and ENEX received 2 golden arrows (equivalent to 90 to 99 points)and 1 golden arrow (equivalent to 80 to 89 points), respectively.
In addition, BPI’s insurance companies were also recognized under the insurance companies category. BPI—AIA Life Assurance Corporation received 3 golden arrows and BPI/MS Insurance Corporation received 1 golden arrow.
The ACGS provides a rigorous methodology benchmarked against international best practices to assess the corporate governance performance of publicly listed companies of participating ASEAN member countries.
The scorecard aims to raise the corporate governance standards and practices of the country and to make well-governed Philippine publicly listed companies attractive to investors.
Herbalife’s Simply Recycle Challenge
The global premier health and wellness company, Herbalife, today announced the results of its second Simply Recycle Challenge in Asia Pacific, a regional initiative that motivated its Independent Distributors to submit used Herbalife product canisters for recycling. Held from April to September this year, the Challenge inspired 1,500 Herbalife distributors and Nutrition Club owners in 14 markets spanning the Asia Pacific region to submit 744,654 product canisters, which will in turn lead to 14,679 trees being planted to reduce the effects of climate change.
First launched last year, Herbalife’s Simply Recycle Challenge covers markets in Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The regional Challenge sees a total of 1,456,654 canisters being submitted for recycling in 2022 and this year.
For this year’s Challenge, Herbalife has again partnered with the non-profit organization One Tree Planted, which will plant one tree for every 50 canisters recycled by participants. According to One Tree Planted, a tree on average absorbs about 10 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year for the first 20 years. Hence, as 14,679 trees will be planted, this year’s Challenge can contribute to an estimated 146 tonnes of carbon dioxide being sequestered from the atmosphere each year for the next 20 years — equivalent to 21.5 around-the-world trips of carbon footprint generated by a diesel car.
Isuzu continues PUVMP in Mindoro, delivers Class 3 PUVs in Calapan
On October 6, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) delivered 15 units of Isuzu NLR77 PUV Class 3 to MIMAROPA Transport Cooperative, accelerating the modernization of their fleet which will serve commuters from Calapan City to Pinamalayan in Oriental, Mindoro.
A first time buyer of Isuzu, the cooperative previously operates UV express on the same route but has recently decided to upgrade to Isuzu NLR77 PUV Class 3 to cater to the increasing number of commuters in the area and to align with LTFRB franchising guidelines for long distance routes.
The Isuzu NLR77 PUV Class 3 runs on a 4JH1-TC Blue Power Diesel Engine that is not only durable but also very easy to maintain. Parts available nationwide so transport cooperatives need not to worry about vehicle downtime. With the body built by CENTRO, the Isuzu PUV Class 3 can carry up to 23-passengers comfortably, ideal for long trips especially in the provinces. Compliant with PNS guidelines, it is equipped with GPS, CCTV, Speed Limited, Dashboard Camera, WIFI and Automated Fare Collection System for the convenience of both the driver and its passengers.
M Bakery’s New York cheesecakes and classic American pies
New York-based M Bakery, your go-to destination for freshly baked, classic American goods, puts a spotlight on their cherished cheesecakes and hand-baked pies.
M Bakery’s Calamansi Cheesecake is flavored with fresh calamansi juice and finished with a graham cracker crust and a dollop of whipped cream.
M Bakery’s Blueberry Cheesecake boasts juicy fresh blueberries topping their timeless vanilla bean-infused cheesecake, finished with a graham cracker crust.
The Red Velvet Cheesecake is a rich, chocolatey, and subtly tart cheesecake resting on a chocolate cookie crumb crust, topped with a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Their Caramel Pecan Cheesecake features top-shelf vanilla beans atop a graham cracker crust, generously draped with homemade caramel sauce and toasted pecans.
Other delightful treats, bestsellers and fan favorites are available at all of their branches all year round. These include Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake, Apple Crumb Pie, classic Banana Cream Pie, Blueberry Jamboree and Pecan Pie is loaded with pecans and enveloped in a sweet and delicious brown sugar syrup mixture.
Pangasinan MSMEs all set to present showstopping creations at Manila FAME
MSMEs’ export quality creations, Pangasinan Gov. Ramon V. Guico III, Arlyn Guico and Rosemarie Oamil.
After a 40-year long wait, Pangasinan is all set to present its bounty of artisan creations at international shows, with Manila FAME as its first stop.
The province has tapped 10 MSMEs that deliver world-class “Made in Pangasinan” creativity under the ABOUND project which discovers artisans and provides coaching and mentorship.
With the full support of Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, leaders of the province’s towns of Binalonan and Bolinao, and local agencies, presented the 10 micro, small, and medium enterprises at the project’s recent launch. The MSMEs have been carefully selected for their world-class and export-quality artistry and products from luxurious fashion pieces to home furnishings, to creations that showcase the province’s agricultural bounty and rich heritage.
The Philippines’ premier trade show Manila FAME is finally returning on-site on October 19-21 at the World Trade Center after a 3-year break, promising an unforgettable celebration of Filipino creativity and craftsmanship.
Pangasinan’s Manila FAME, started with the help of the Artisan Empowerment Association (AEA), is an initiative envisioned by chair of the board of the World Citi Group Arlyn Guico, and industry expert, entrepreneur and CEO of luxury brand Mele + Marie, Rosemarie Oamil.
Salesforce joins forces with AFI to train Filipino women in digital skills
Salesforce, the AI customer relationship management (CRM) platform and global technology company, has announced a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ayala Foundation, the social development arm of the Ayala group of companies, to equip more women in the Philippines with digital and CRM skills.
Under the partnership, Salesforce will facilitate online workshops and digital skills learning for 185 Filipino women between the ages of 18 to 24. These women are recipients of the U-Go Scholar Grant, a joint initiative by Ayala Foundation and education start-up U-Go to help Filipino women from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue higher education.
Salesforce will be conducting the training via bi-monthly virtual workshops covering topics including data access and security best practices along with reporting and dashboards. Participants will also use Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform, to access curated learning modules, and develop critical skills for the future around AI, data and CRM at their own pace.
Upon completion of training, participants will be awarded a Salesforce Admin Super Set credential, which will allow them to pursue jobs as a Salesforce Administrator.
Sanofi Philippines sets new standard in gender pay equity
Sanofi Philippines, an innovative global healthcare company and the first company in its industry to become a member of the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE), has been recognized for its commitment to gender pay equity. In the recent Gender Equality Assessment, Results and Strategies (GEARS) diagnostic tool conducted by PBCWE, Sanofi Philippines achieved a perfect score of 100% or Leading Practice level.
This achievement spotlights Sanofi as the first company in the Philippines to openly declare its commitment to gender pay equity.
As part of its proactive initiatives, Sanofi Philippines conducts annual pay gap analysis while effectively communicating its compensation practices. The company places strong emphasis on promoting diversity in recruitment and advancement by implementing policies, tools, and using inclusive language. Additionally, it ensures equal opportunities by mandating gender-balanced candidate pools and delivering comprehensive gender equality training to all individuals.
The GEARS diagnostic tool evaluated Sanofi Philippines across 12 Focus Areas, and the company excelled in various key aspects, notably in the recruitment, selection, and promotion category.
Launched in 2020, GEARS is a diagnostic tool developed by Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian government, based on the experience of Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
Global Dominion joins Fintech PH, heads financing & lending committee
Global Dominion Financing, Inc. has been named the head of the newly established Financing and Lending Committee of the FinTech Philippines Association (Fintech Philippines) – an independent industry organization representing the interests and growth of the fintech community in the Philippines.
Fintech Philippines activities include informative events, networking among subject-matter experts and leaders, industry mixers, and international partnerships. Beyond the Philippines, the region is extremely active in financial technology and leaders in the industry see this as the future.
Recent fintech innovations include e-wallets, payment automations, the use of blockchain, and alternative credit scoring methods among many others.
Fintech Philippines Association is the largest and most inclusive industry trade group on all things fintech in the Philippines. Its diverse membership, ranging from banks to insurers, to technology start-ups, and professional firms, makes it the most credible voice of financial technology and related issues found at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy.
Global Dominion provides loans for car purchases, business capital, tuition fee, home improvement, or even emergency and medical expenses, with easily manageable interest rates and convenient payment options. Car refinancing, also known as “Sangla OR/CR,” is the most popular loan at GDFI.
