Security Bank continues to give back
Security Bank’s Tanya Ansaldo-Deakin opening the Christmas gift-giving program.
Security Bank partnered with communities such as the Philippine General Hospital-Cancer Institute, the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) Group, and the Community Crafts Association of the Philippines (CCAP) to touch the lives of Filipinos.
Enriching the lives of Filipinos
Through its community outreach events, Security Bank remained true to its mission of purposeful giving with continued support for the Philippine General Hospital’s (PGH) Cancer Institute patients. This time, the Bank supported their Christmas gift-giving program to fulfill the wishes of over fifty cancer warriors and their families.
PGH Cancer Institute head Jorge Ignacio and Security Bank VP and Corporate Communications and Brand Head Tanya Ansaldo-Deakin welcomed the guests as they spoke about the significance of PGH’s Christmas tradition and their ongoing partnership. The children also prepared thanksgiving messages, song, and dance numbers which added to the touching yet festive mood of the season.
Security Bank, through its partnership with Helping Women and Others (HWAO), also provided supplemental funding that built a state-of-the-art Chemo Prep Room for the PGH Cancer Institute in 2021 and significantly improved the delivery of daily chemotherapy treatments.
Acer launches laptops for education
Acer announced its latest additions to the TravelMate series of Windows 11 Education laptops, designed to improve students’ overall learning experiences and boost productivity whether in school or at home.
The Acer TravelMate B5 14 features up to an FHD display and is powered by up to Intel Core i3 N-series processors to support the essential needs of mobile college students, as well as secondary school students. The newest 11-inch TravelMate laptops let students get more out of their blended classroom experience as the TravelMate B3 Spin 11 comes with an optional dockable Wacom AES stylus for added flexibility, while the TravelMate B3 11 has up to 9.5 hours of battery life to provide students with a reliable laptop that could be maximized throughout the school day.
These student laptops, shipped with Acer’s new User Sensing Software, are compliant with MIL-STD810H (military-grade) standards and come in a reinforced design with shock-absorbent bumpers, allowing the devices to withstand drops of up to 4 ft (122 cm).
The latest TravelMate B series school laptops were also designed with sustainability and waste reduction in mind.
Digital payment adoption grows
Dragonpay sees digital payment adoption will continue to grow in the Philippines.
The pioneering payment gateway provider said out of the 130 million transactions it has processed in 2022, 78 percent were facilitated through digital channels such as e-wallet and online banking.
Meanwhile, 8 percent were done via physical channels and 4 percent using credit cards. “We have been working with businesses of all sizes to get them onboard in the digital economy. Creating payment solutions for them means more opportunities to scale their businesses and reflects their impetus by broadening payment options that are accessible, safe, and convenient for their customers,” said Robertson Chiang, founder, and chief technology officer of Dragonpay.
Currently, Dragonpay’s network consists of more than 3,500 merchant and channel partners. Dragonpay is enabling over 60 payment collection and payout partners with 35,000 branches serving various communities across the archipelago.
P10M for vulnerable Filipino children
Cebu Pacific (CEB), in partnership with UNICEF Change for Good, has raised over P10 million in 2022, thanks to the generosity of its passengers and the support of its employees. The donation will help save more children’s lives and improve the situation of children in need.
CEB has been a proud partner of UNICEF Change for Good since 2016, with the goal of raising funds through the collection of spare change from passengers. CEB is the first and only airline in the Philippines to partner with UNICEF for the Change for Good initiative.
Since the start of the partnership, the Philippines’ largest carrier has raised more than P79 million to help children in the Philippines survive and thrive in their first 1,000 days of life. Over the years, the program has expanded to provide essential services in the areas, water, sanitation, hygiene, education, child protection, especially in emergencies and humanitarian response.
During the pandemic when operational flights were stopped, CEB and UNICEF quickly adapted by shifting the Change for Good program online, allowing the public to donate safely through the website.
Whether the cash was collected by cabin crew in a bag, or online, all funds were pooled to support lifesaving programs for children.
16-country tour
To welcome tourists to Taiwan, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau embarked on a 16- country tour in 2023, holding 20 tourism workshops.
The first stop was the Philippines on February 3 through 5 at the Travel Tour Expo, the largest such event held annually at the SMX Convention Center in Manila, rolling-out an array of Taiwan-featured cultural and travel products.
Since Taiwan’s border was reopened on October 13 last year, the number of Philippine visitors to Taiwan has grown rapidly to 29,831. The total number of arrivals in 2022 reached about 65,000.
The delegation will also hold a Taiwan Workshop on February 7 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu in Cebu to forge closer bilateral cooperation for operators of both sides through Travel Marts and Travel Product Briefings
DepEd hails PLDT, Smart for inclusive education
The Department of Education has recognized PLDT and Smart as long-standing partners in improving the quality of education in the Philippines. Across the country, PLDT and Smart have helped learners and educators transition to the new normal of education whether schools opt for full on-site learning or hybrid mode where students alternate between face-to-face classes and distance learning.
“The PLDT Group’s education programs bring learning to remote communities, even right inside the homes of students. These tools also aid schools as they transition from distance learning to on-site classes. These initiatives promote inclusive quality education, as part of our wider sustainability goals,” said Cathy Yang, FVP and head of Group Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.
The PLDT Group has supported the DepEd’s efforts through its pandemic tested education initiatives like the Central Visayan Institute Foundation-Dynamic Learning Program (CVIF-DLP) that was developed by Ramon Magsaysay awardees Dr. Christopher Bernido and the late Dr. Maria Victoria Bernido. The CVIF-DLP encourages independent learning among students through extensive use of the CVIF-DLP Learning Activity Sheets (LAS) that help improve learner outcomes even with little to no teacher or parent intervention.
In 2022, CVIF-DLP reached more than 400 schools and 19 municipalities around the nation via the series of CVIF-DLP Workshops conducted. CVIF-DLP has trained over 15,000 teachers since its inception in 2012.
25 years of fuel to peso efficiency
To celebrate 25 years of alleviating the fuel expenses of its customers, the Shell Citi card is treating card holders every Wednesday until February 15.
For a minimum purchase (P2,000 for Shell V-Power and P2,500 for Shell FuelSave) using the Shell Citi Card, customers can avail of a P7 per liter discount. Promo is capped at P350 per transaction per cardholder per day.
Participating Shell stations are offering card applications for more consumers to be able to enjoy the P7 off per liter treat. Successful new card applications will also be eligible. New Citi cardholders can enjoy no annual fees forever for applications within the promo period.
New Year, New Deals extended
Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) continues its special offers under the “New Year, New Deals” promo, now including the new “Choose Your Own Deals” for City sedan and Brio, available until Feb. 28.
Customers who will purchase any of the variants of City sedan and Brio 1.5 V CVT have the option to choose one of the Choose Your Own Deals promo packages.
To avail of the Choose Your Own Deals package, the vehicle must be released to the customer until March 31.
The Choose Your Own Deals campaign may be used on top of current ongoing promos from HCPI.
Interested customers of City S may bring home and enjoy the 23YM City 1.5 S CVT through the following special offers: Promo discount of P55,000; special all-in downpayment for as low as P10,000; and low monthly amortization for as low as P17,618 per month
Interested customers of the All-New Honda BR-V may bring home and enjoy the 23YM All-New BR-V 1.5 S CVT through the following special offers: Promo discount of P10,000; special all-in downpayment for as low as P30,000 and Low monthly amortization for as low as P21,259 per month.
Maynilad offers desludging services this February
West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is offering septic tank cleaning services to its residential and semi-business customers this February in select parts of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Valenzuela, and Cavite Province at no extra cost.
Maynilad’s sanitation program is one of the company’s efforts to lessen pollution loading into Metro Manila’s river systems. “We ask our customers to avail of this service, as it will help to protect community health and the environment,” said Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randolph T. Estrellado.
Customers residing in Barangays 167, 171 to 174, 180, 181, 183, 185, and 186 in Caloocan; Brgy. Pamplona 2 and Talon Dos in Las Piñas; Brgy. Longos in Malabon; Brgy. Poblacion in Muntinlupa; and Brgy. Marcelo Green, San Antonio, San Dionisio, and San Isidro in Parañaque may avail of Maynilad’s desludging service.
Some Maynilad customers in Cavite Province, particularly in Brgy. 10-A, 10-B, 13, 16, 18, 19, 23, 26, 28, 29, 29-A, Dalahican, Panapaan, and San Roque in Cavite City; and Bucandala 1 to 5, and Carsadang Bago 2 in Imus City may avail of the company’s septic tank cleaning services at no extra cost. Septic tank cleaning service normally costs around Php 4,700 per truck.
