SMC rent-free community market
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) officially opened its Circolo community weekend market on an unused company property in Cabuyao, Laguna, to help farmers and small businesses — who are using the market rent-free for six months — reach more consumers, boost their income, and broaden access to fresh and affordable products.
SMC president Ramon S. Ang said that the first two weekend runs of the market was a big success for farmers and merchants, who have reported selling out their goods quickly on market days, as COVID-19 restrictions have eased throughout Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, including Laguna.
Since the formal opening last October 23, some 26 stalls are now operating, rent-free for six months, at the 4,000-square meter Circolo market, named as such because it is located at the rotunda connecting Sta. Rosa and Cabuyao, Laguna in the popular Nuvali development.
Circolo market is the second community market opened by SMC to disadvantaged sectors hit hard by the economic impacts of the pandemic.
Recently, the company opened the San Miguel Market in Sariaya, Quezon.
***
BDO most trusted brand
FILIPINO consumers have once again voted for BDO Unibank as a brand they trust, according to the results of Reader’s Digest Asia’s survey on most trusted brands.
This vote of confidence led to BDO receiving Platinum Trusted Brand Awards in the Bank and Credit Card Issuing Bank categories, and Gold Trusted Brand Awards in the Personal/Consumer Loan and Investment Fund Company categories–all for the 2nd straight year–during Reader’s Digest Philippines Trusted Brands Awards 2021.
Platinum Trusted Brand Awards are given to top-performing brands that achieve the highest score in their categories, while Gold Trusted Brand Awards are presented to brands that score substantially higher than their closest competitor.
BDO has been consistently identified by Filipino consumers as a trusted brand since 2010 when it received Gold Trusted Brand Awards in the Bank and Credit Card Issuing Bank categories.
***
EVAP mounts the first eco-run for EVs in PH
The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) is organizing the first EV eco-run, ‘Accelerating the Switch to EV Charging,’ on Saturday, November 6.
The on-ground event will be mounted with the support of the association’s sub-group, EV Owners Society (EVOS), a startup community of EV owners in the country that was established in January 2021.
‘Accelerating the Switch to EV Charging’ will gather registered participants–EV owners in Metro Manila and nearby areas–for a driving tour aimed at demonstrating support for a proposed legislation (now lodged in the bicameral conference committee) promoting the use of EVs in the country.
The activity is also in line with the ongoing 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), wherein EVAP and the country are participating in.
Participants to the upcoming one-day eco-run will drive along assigned routes to complete required activities. There will be two loops that they can take–North Loop (40kph speed) running from Land Rover site in San Juan City going to UNIOIL EDSA Guadalupe station DOE Ave; South Loop (15kph speed) starting from Nissan Pasong Tamo Extension in Makati City site going to BYD (southwest corner Buendia/Dian St) Nissan Otis, and ending in UNIOIL Guadalupe station-DOE Avenue.
The eco-run is set to begin at any of the loops at 8 a.m. The time starts when a participant enters a station. All stations in a loop shall be completed along with the designated stamps/signatures in the activity passport (ideally 3 minutes per station for the physical activities). All participants meet up at Ford BGC at 10 a.m. for awarding and snacks.
***
IKEA online store opens
Ahead of its Pasay store opening this year, IKEA officially opened its online store in the Philippines yesterday, November 3.The online store will now operate 24/7.
IKEA went on a test-run for the online store last September.
IKEA accepts payments via major credit cards, GCash, and installment via BDO. It offers three delivery options: truck, parcel, and click and collect.
Truck delivery orders are currently limited to Metro Manila only while parcel deliveries extend to the greater Metro Manila area including: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, parts of Quezon (up to Lucena), Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan, and Subic.
***
AllDay IPO breaks barriers
PH’s fastest growing supermarket chain AllDay debuts at the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday with Villar Group Chairman and former Senate President Manny Villar and PSE President & CEO Ramon S. Monzon ringing the bell at the trading floor. Also in photo are: AllDay Vice Chairman Camille Villar, AllDay Director Paolo Villar and former DPWH Sec. Mark Villar.
“This clearly demonstrates the trust and confidence that the investors have in the Villar family, with their proven experience and success in their various businesses,” said Monzon.
ALLDY’s IPO is seen as a success with the allotments for both institutional investors and local small investors fully taken up and oversubscribed.
***
Presyong Risonable Dapat Program
Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) has partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the Presyong Risonable Dapat Program (PRDP) — Frozen Meat Edition to benefit shoppers with frozen meat products at more affordable prices.
Launched at the Metro Supermarket in Market! Market! Taguig, this program is a joint initiative with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to help consumers by giving them access to high-quality, low-priced frozen meat products during the pandemic.
Through the PRD Program- Frozen Meat Edition, MRSGI offers cuts ranging from P60 to as much as P100 off in the prices of 10 frozen pork and chicken products.
***
Mekeni Awards
Mekeni Food Corp. continues to acknowledge students through its Galing ng Batang Mekeni.
This year, 116 students were honored for their excellence, perseverance, and hard work, including 20-year old students Catherine Labandaria and Mikhaella Santos whose parents are Mekeni employees.
Labandaria is a third year Aeronautical Engineering student from the Holy Angel University in Pampanga while Santos is a second year college student of the Ateneo de Manila University. Both are on top of their class.
Since its inception in 2008, the Galing ng Batang Mekeni has been awarding at least 100 students from grade school to college every year with medals, certificates, and cash.
***
IBPAP names new president
The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) has announced the appointment of Jack Madrid as its new president.
Madrid held leadership roles across various organizations and industries, including managing the US Consumer Tech Support and Customer Care businesses of Dell International Services from 2006 until 2009. He established Yahoo’s brand and operations in the Philippines as its country manager.
***
Lexus NX available soon
The all-new Lexus NX luxury sport utility vehicle will be available starting next month.
A consultation can be arranged with a personal sales consultant through the Lexus Remote page atfal.cn
In 2014, Lexus debuted the first-generation NX, the brand’s answer to growing global customer demand for urban-sized luxury runabouts. With its ideal dimensions, snappy performance, and stylish looks, the NX quickly established itself as the global standard.
Today, the NX seeks to again redefine the compact luxury crossover by better understanding the consumer, as well as improving the servicing of their needs. Times and tastes have changed, and customers expect more from their vehicles. The small luxury crossovers of today are more than a means of travel. As vessels of thoughtful mobility, they play an important role in personal identity. The all-new NX builds upon this interpretation.
***
Women as leaders
A webinar titled, “Is VC Funding for Women Founders Getting Any Better?” organized by DealStreetAsia, a Singapore-based financial news website, women leaders shared their insights on the gender disparity in venture capital (VC) funding and how women are capable of building their startups and becoming a leader.
Among the panelists was GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon who shared the importance of visual role modeling in order to address the issue of a lack of female leaders.
“Leading by example is important. Women founders need to be shown more to people,” said Sazon.
Although finance and technology companies are mainly dominated by men and making it in these industries may seem intimidating to women, Sazon helped millions of Filipinos during the pandemic through the top fintech company, GCash. The Philippines’ leading mobile wallet company currently has 2.5 million merchants and a 46 million subscriber base, which is equivalent to more than 40 percent of the population having a GCash account. When Sazon was just starting her career at Globe, the top telecommunications company in the Philippines, she said it was initially dominated by men but now, women leaders have also emerged in the company.
