BDO partners with PCCI for PBC&E

BDO Unibank Inc.  has formalized its partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to sponsor the 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E) on August 19 through a ceremonial contract signing. The event will be held on October 22-23 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

BDO’s involvement in this landmark event highlights its  commitment to empowering Filipino entrepreneurs and enterprises across various sectors.

Under the theme “Embracing Innovation. Empowering Business. Enriching Lives.”, this year’s conference will convene representatives from PCCI’s 135 local chambers and 60 business councils nationwide.

Gateway Mall 2 awarded

Araneta City’s Gateway Mall 2 was honored with the Mall Innovation Award at the recently concluded 2024 Outstanding Filipino Retailers (OFR) Awards, organized by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), held on September 25 at the Solaire Resort North.

This latest recognition for Gateway Mall 2 from the OFR Awards, often regarded as the “Oscars” of the Philippine retail industry, serves as a testament to the mall’s groundbreaking approach to blending cutting-edge technology with a unique and engaging shopping experience. 

“The award is the culmination of the vision, dedication, and collaborative effort of everyone who pulled together to make Gateway Mall 2 a trailblazer in the retail landscape,” Rowell Recinto, senior management consultant of Araneta City said. “By reimagining the entire customer journey and enhancing the overall experience, we were able to address the evolving needs of the times—transforming Araneta into a thriving, future-forward hub while honoring its rich and storied history.”

The Mall Innovation Award celebrates shopping centers in the country that stand out in innovation, featuring cutting-edge technology and creative experiences. 

Gateway Mall 2 boasts an array of high-tech features, including the Quantum Skyview, a massive activity area with the first LED-powered ceiling in the metro that immerses visitors in stunning visuals. 

ILLEST opens first standalone store in PH

Illest, the globally renowned street wear brand founded by Mark Arcenal in 2009,  opened its first stand-alone store in the Philippines at SM North The Block. 

Since its inception, Illest has captivated streetwear and car enthusiasts around the world, particularly in the United States and Japan. Known for blending fashion with a passion for automotive culture, the brand has become a symbol of authenticity, innovation, and creativity. Through its global reach, Illest has built a dedicated following among fashion-forward and car aficionados alike.

Through collaborations with global and local creatives such as Nike, G-Shock, and Beats by Dr. Dre–the brand has contributed to the growth of the country’s vibrant streetwear scene.

More than a retail outlet, the new Illest store is an immersive experience that mirrors the brand’s unique fusion of streetwear and car culture. Featuring exclusive merchandise and carefully curated installations, the store is set to become a hub for Manila’s streetwear and car culture. Every detail of the space reflects the brand’s dedication to delivering an authentic lifestyle experience.

Illest is releasing a line of limited-edition tees, designed by  Arcenal himself. These exclusive pieces, part of a special Illest x RWB collaboration, will only be available at the new store for limited quantities.

Century Tuna champions Plastic Circular Economy

After its successful run in 2023, Century Tuna launched the second year of its “Saving Our Seas” campaign.

This 2024, Century Tuna expanded its efforts by leading education drives on the Plastic Circular Economy and responsible plastic waste management, spearheaded initiatives to restore and protect vital coastal areas, and actively engaging with local communities across the country.

In celebration of International Coastal Cleanup Day, Century Tuna initiated a school-based plastic recycling drive in several elementary schools in Mabini, Batangas. In partnership with HOPE’s Aling Tindera Waste-to-Cash program, elementary students were encouraged to collect plastic waste, exchange it for cash, and learn more about the Plastic Circular Economy – where all plastics collected and recycled are diverted away from nature.

Representatives from Century Tuna participated in a coastal and reef cleanup activity in Mabini, Batangas. They were able to collect a total of 357 kilograms of plastic waste from both the shoreline and underwater.

The award-winning Century Tuna’s “Saving Our Seas” campaign is a continuation of its bigger mission to aid in marine conservation. Last year, the campaign was able to surpass its initial target of collecting 10 metric tons of plastic waste and avoiding it getting leaked into our seas.

Policymate offers dengue insurance

Advanced Abilities’ online insurance platform, Policymate, is offering Dengue Insurance with Select DengueGuard Medical Insurance by Pacific Cross. 

This provides P10,000 worth of coverage for in-patient and out-patient treatments.

Aside from Dengue Insurance, Policymate also offers a holistic array of Medical Insurance options from Pacific Cross to suit a variety of emergencies. Users may opt to avail of more than one type of policy in order to gain more coverage, which may vary from emergency medical conditions, COVID treatment, and even post-hospitalization medication coverage.

For instance, a client confined for dengue may purchase the Select DengueGuard policy, then on top of that, they may also purchase Select Assist to boost coverage for their final hospital bill. This way, clients may also maximize different benefits from the two products.

With Policymate’s user-friendly platform and interface, users are able to browse and select their preferred Medical Insurance policy as needed. 

Policymate also provides options for Travel Insurance, Accident Insurance, Property Insurance, Automobile Insurance, and Pet Insurance. 

Bosch Global City innovates everyday life

Bosch held its “Bosch Global City” event held on September 28-29  at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater where it offered Filipinos the opportunity to explore a series of immersive, experiential zones that highlighted Bosch’s cutting-edge technologies invented for life.

A major highlight of the two-day event was the Bosch home cooking demonstration using Bosch’s state-of-the-art home appliances

Attendees had  an exclusive look into Bosch Car Service, an expanding franchise in the Philippines. With a flagship store that was recently launched in Bacoor, Cavite, the Bosch Car Service offers comprehensive services with the use of genuine branded parts and advanced technology tools for precise diagnostics and repairs. 

Bosch Power Tools  showcased live demonstrations of the brand’s power tools, measuring tools, and accessories, captivating construction users with their reliability, precision, and the game-changing 18V Cordless System. 

Unicapital celebrates 48th anniversary

Unicapital Group celebrated last month its 48th anniversary–almost five decades of financing and raising funds for the country’s private sector.

The 1976-born financing company bared that its full-service investment house Unicapital Inc. (UI) has participated in raising over P230 billion worth of equity and debt capital market transactions.

Aside from fundraising through UI’s participation in numerous initial public offering  activities in the last three decades as an underwriter, advisor or issue manager, the Unicapital has powered businesses and SMEs through its subsidiary Unicapital Finance and Investments, Inc. offering various financing and loans products to companies and individuals. 

The group’s equities trading subsidiary Unicapital Securities, Inc. has empowered the country’s retail investors. UTrade, the group’s official online stock trading arm, enabled investing in stocks and mutual funds through a platform accessible online and via mobile

MakatiMed wins award

Makati Medical Center received the Social Responsibility Award and was named Runner-up for People Investor of the Year at the Investors in People (IIP) Philippines Awards recently.

The Social Responsibility Award reflects the hospital’s ongoing efforts to positively impact both society and the environment. Through its Environmental, Social, and Governance  (ESG) Council, MakatiMed has driven hospital-wide sustainability projects. Among its most notable programs is the Sustainable Waste Management initiative, which has increased the hospital’s waste diversion rate to 27 percent by Q1 2024, diverting 49 metric tons of waste from landfills.

MakatiMed’s partnership with Plastic Flamingo  also made a big contribution to environmental stewardship, ensuring that non-hazardous plastic waste is repurposed into eco-friendly materials.

In addition to its environmental efforts, MakatiMed has been recognized for investing in its people. The hospital fosters a workplace culture that values employee engagement and well-being through initiatives like the Earth Day Celebration and ESG Week which encouraged eco-friendly activities and employee participation. 

The hospital also raises awareness on the health impacts of climate change through its ESG Webinar Series, with topics aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals  and regularly engages its 600-plus participants, including employees, partners, and stakeholders, in critical discussions on health and sustainability.

Recycling facility for vehicle parts launched

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)   and Japanese automotive recycling manufacturer, Tsuruoka co., Ltd  launched  the Philippines’ first Japan-standard end-of-life vehicle (ELV) dismantling facility established by local partner EN-Tsumugi, in Pampanga.

The  facility aims to effectively reuse the recycled parts of the ELVs, thereby promoting proper disposal and waste reduction and contributing to the circular economy.

In partnership with Tsuruoka, which developed an integrated recycling system called RECYINT, JICA supports to shift the paradigm from a linear or “take, make, consume, and throw” model, to a circular economy that encourages the regeneration and reuse of materials to extend their value.

During the ceremony, JICA Philippines chief representative Sakamoto Takema stressed that this was a multi-stakeholder collaboration and appreciated its corporate counterparts such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Mitsui, as well as its Philippine government partners. 

Ampverse Pulse launched to drive further innovation in gaming

Ampverse Group, a leading gaming and entertainment ecosystem, announced the launch of its new full-service, next generation marketing agency, Ampverse Pulse. 

Ampverse Pulse is set to redefine how brands engage with rapidly growing gaming and entertainment communities across Southeast Asia, India and MENA.

With over 600 million fans, 300+ existing client partnerships, commerce solutions and a leading portfolio of gaming and entertainment media assets, Ampverse Group has become a dominant force. 

Ampverse Pulse will expand on the group’s current marketing solutions offering to provide a fully integrated solution for brands and game publishers spanning gaming influencer strategy and activations, gaming and entertainment IP partnerships, in-game advertising, user acquisition, media planning, gaming commerce partnerships and white-labelled tournaments and events. 

Ampverse Pulse will benefit from Ampverse Group’s ecosystem that includes a growing portfolio of owned and operated gaming and entertainment media assets, access to insights from 600 million followers from the Ampverse Group’s media assets and greater network including next gen behaviors and purchase patterns derived from its commerce products, and a team of seasoned professionals with proven track record delivering strategic planning and activations for over 300 clients targeting gamers.

Capital One at  One BRG Summit

The One BRG Summit held at the Palms Country Club in Muntinlupa City recently, led by Capital One Philippines’ Business Resource Groups (BRGs), brought together senior leaders, people leaders, and select associates to strengthen inclusion in the workplace. 

BRGs are voluntary, associate-led groups that provide forums for connection, cultural celebration, community service and professional development. 

With its theme, Creating a Space for All: A Commitment to Diversity and Belonging, the event underscored the importance of genuine inclusion, and the role each associate plays in creating a workplace where every individual feels safe, respected, and valued.

The event also included a keynote speech from Capital One Philippines’ head of country Raoul Teh who highlighted the importance of DIB in the organization’s success, “Our ability to embrace, accept and support differences among us, not only makes Capital One Philippines a just and fair workplace. It also allows us to better embrace, hear, see, and test the value of new and different ideas. It allows us to find the best people, and unlock the best in people, making our organization more resilient, more adaptable to change, quicker to accept and build connections, and more discerning of what creates and drives value.”