Comelec voter registration at SM Supermalls
The Commission on Elections and SM Supermalls recently launched 76 satellite COMELEC Voter Registration centers at the SM Supermalls to provide voters with more registration venues. This will run in SM Supermalls nationwide until Sept 30. This gives the public a safer, more convenient option amidst the prevailing COVID health crisis. Shown during the launch at the SM Mall of Asia are COMELEC Commissioner Aimee Ferolino (center) joined by (from left) COMELEC Director IV for Election and Barangay Affairs Department Atty. Divine E. Blas-Perez, COMELEC Director IV for Education and Information James Jimenez, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan and SM Supermalls SVP for Operations Bien Mateo. SM Supermalls is providing free space and waived charges to essential conveniences so they can efficiently operate the registration centers.
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Abizo OFW App
An overseas Filipino worker(OFW) suffering abuse received immediate repatriation from POEA through Abizo OFW App, “Ang kaibiganmosaan man samundo.”
Almedo “Ed” Lopez, on a one-year contract with a bottling company in Fiji islands, gave a detailed description about his situation in the workplace and complained of several grievances using the Abizo OFW app. Eight days after his report through the Abizo OFW app, he’s back in the Philippines and has rejoined his family.
The Abizo OFW App is a digital monitoring system that forms part of the POEA’s (Philippine Overseas Employment Agency) OFW Global Monitoring Pilot Project spearheaded by POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia. It aims to track the accurate number of OFWs at any given time, as well as monitor information on their deployment location, employers, and working and living conditions abroad.
On the same day Lopez file his story, Abizo OFW App’s response team acknowledged his message and immediately forwarded his case to the proper channels.
After a meeting, spearheaded by Deputy Administrator (DA) Villamor S. Plan of the Welfare and Employment Office of the POEA (WEO-POEA), a “Notice to Repatriate” was immediately approved and addressed to Fortune Life Insurance Company Inc. and Fortune General Insurance Corporation, through their partner insurance manager, AAB Management Service and Insurance Intermediaries Inc., from where Lopez had purchased his insurance. He was immediately provided a return plane ticket by said company on July 9, 2021.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III encourages all OFWs to join the Abizo OFW Pilot Program, which will be helpful in monitoring their current situations abroad.
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BTI Payments rolls out financial solutions
BTI Payments Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Sydney-based, ATM-market-industry leader Banktech, has been deploying innovationsto provide payment solutions in underserved and underbanked communities since its establishment in 2015.
These include “Cash Connect” ATM machines accredited by Bancnet, which allows anyone with an EMV-enabled and Bancnet accredited ATM card to withdraw cash conveniently.
BTI Payments also launched “Pay and Go” kiosks in community markets and convenience stores to further provide Filipinos easy and more convenient access to both e-money services and digital transactions.
At present, BTI Payments owns and operates more than 600 Pay & Go kiosks and Cash Connect ATMs nationwide.
BTI utilizes innovations employed by Banktech, including its state-of-the-art ATM transaction processor called EFTEX, that is constantly updated to ensure the maximum security of their customers.
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Tiktok trend celebrates Pinoy talent
Celebrities and online creators put their rapping skills to the test by taking on the latest TikTok trend, the #TNTYanAngPinoyOneBreathChallenge featuring the mobile brand’s anthem of TNT’s ‘Yan ang Pinoy by Asia’s Soul Supreme KZ Tandingan.
“Yan Ang Pinoy” is the latest campaign of mobile brand TNT, which aims to reignite Filipino pride amid the challenges we face and encourage everyone to keep on chasing their dreams. Through the campaign, TNT and KZ also seek to positively impact the Kabataang Pinoy who may be looking for reassurance in pursuing their dreams.
KZ kicked off the #TNTYanAngPinoyOneBreathChallenge on TikTok, an increasingly popular platform among Filipinos who want to promote and share good vibes through creative content like fun challenges and trends. For the challenge, KZ rapped “Yan Ang Pinoy” in only one breath.
The#TNTYanAngPinoyOneBreathChallenge has inspired other celebrities like Darren Espanto, Mimiyuuuh and other creators, and to showcase the talent of Kabataang Pinoy.
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Sun Life webinar on new ways of working
Sun Life Asia Service Centre-Philippines (ASCP) is launching its first-ever webinar and virtual job fair on September 7 “Spotlight on HR: Discussion on New Ways of Working in the New Normal.”
The one-hour webinar will be graced by Sun Life women leaders who will share the latest and relevant insights on how to manage a hybrid workforce, employ correct performance management measures, human resource development.
Sun Life ASCP also aims to help jobseekers through its online job fair with over 200 job vacancies from different functions within the organization. It will be hosted via Zoom following the webinar.
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3M Inspire Challenge
Four fourth year students from the University of the Philippines emerged as Country Champions in The 3M Inspire Challenge, a regional case challenge by global science company 3M seeking solutions in Technology, Sustainability, and Innovation.
Comprising Caleb Abrazaldo (BS Materials Engineering), Mariz Domingo (BS Materials Engineering), Lila Lu (BS Materials Engineering), and Joseph Paraiso (BS Business Administration), the group emerged victorious among the 16 competing groups in the Philippines with their winning solution 3M Hypack. Their proposal aims to offer a non-toxic pro-marine life compostable packaging to help solve the problem of plastic pollution, especially with the Philippines contributing 1.9 metric tons of plastic waste. They also won $1,000, and an internship with 3M Philippines.
On September 21, the team will proceed to the Regional-Level Finals where their team and five other hopefuls from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam will vie for the title of “Regional Champions” and $2,000 cash prize in a live judging panel.
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Ogilvy launches Centre for Behavioral Science
Ogilvy Consulting, the global growth and innovation arm of Ogilvy, announced the launch of its Behavioural Science practice in Asia.
Launched in North America in 2017, the practice focuses on how audiences think, feel, and behave to improve marketing and communications effectiveness. By moving away from assumptions about consumers, the Behavioural Science practice uses the latest insights from social psychology and behavioural economics, which in turn ensures creative solutions are touching the right nerves to make change a reality.
The Ogilvy Centre for Behavioural Science will bring a new comprehensive approach to achieving client goals by combining the Ogilvy expertise in brands, with new cognitive and behavioral insights.
Paolo Mercado has been appointed as vice presidentof Behavioural Science.Prior to joining Ogilvy, Mercado spent 12 years with Nestlé where he headed Marketing & Communications for China, and then in the Philippines where he led Innovation.
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MullenLowe Treyna acquires Quiddity
Marketing communications agency MullenLowe Treynahas acquired Quiddity, a company that specializes in developing solutions that make technology user-friendly and ultimately people friendly.
The acquisition is the latest and biggest for MullenLowe Treyna, that has been actively expanding in the past years.
MullenLowe will launch a new joint venture as Qairos Inc.Under the binding terms of the agreement, Quiddity will wind down in September 2021 as Qairos is scheduled to formally begin operations by October 2021.
The two companies’ combined roster of clients include brands across several industries, including FMCGs, finance, ecommerce, pharmaceuticals, travel, and telecommunications, among others.
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PLDT, PHINMA renew partnership
PLDT Enterprise and PHINMA Education renewed their partnership to provide connectivity solutions to PHINMA students across the Philippines to support digital learning in the next normal.
PLDT Enterprise announced its partnership with PHINMA Education in July last year to help its students across five of its schools and universities in their online education.
This year, the two companies expanded their partnership with the Smart Giga Study plans that will support more students in their digital learning as the agreement extends to nine PHINMA colleges and universities across the country.
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CIMB Bank hassle-free credit
CIMB Bank Philippines is set to launch REVI Credit, the first all-in-one always-ready credit product in the country.
This first-of-its-kind product will offer customers a flexible, secure, and hassle-free credit facility with instant approval and lower interest rates all through their mobile phones. Initially, REVI Credit will be introduced exclusively to select CIMB Bank customers on invitation to start but will be available to more users thereafter.
Revolving credit allows users on-demand and instant access to funds anytime to withdraw cash, to pay bills and to transact securely online, a feature which will be enabled very soon. REVI Credit customers can get approved for a credit line as high as P250,000 which they can easily access anytime through the CIMB Bank REVI Credit mobile app with an interest rate as low as 1 percent.
REVI Credit customers shall have an option to settle their outstanding balance early or users may also opt to pay only a portion of their outstanding balance, by paying as low as 15% of their outstanding balance, in case they are not ready to settle the full amount.