Notable for its buy one, take one shawarma, Shawarma Shack extended a helping hand to Taal Volcano eruption victims.
Shawarma Shack visited the affected communities of the recent Taal Volcano eruption, particularly those in Tanauan City, Batangas. Bottled water and relief goods were donated to over 1,000 families in different areas.
This good came from the heart of Shawarma Shack founder Walther Buenavista's wife, Patricia Buenavista, who spent her early childhood in Tanauan City. It was disclosed that she has relatives residing in the area when the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised alert level 4 for Taal Volcano on January 12, 2020.
Multiple houses and livelihoods were destroyed since the volcano started erupting, forcing residents within the 14-kilometer radius from the main crater to immediately evacuate. This is when the bayanihan evidently blossomed among Filipinos—everyone, even in their own little way, lent a helping hand.
Shawarma Shack visited and gave aid to 170 families relocated to La Consolation College, 70 families at Daughters of Mary Immaculate School, 89 families at Tanauan Local Government Unit Evacuation Center, 120 families at Tapia Elementary School in Barangay Trapiche, 98 families at Jesus is Lord Christian School, 45 families at Tanauan City College, 250 families at Pamahalaang Sentral ng Hilagang Tanauan, 98 families at Ulango Elementary School, and 92 families at Pantay Bata Elementary School.
Tanauan City Vice Mayor Atty. Herminigildo "Jun-jun" G. Trinidad assisted the Buenavista family along with other Shawarma Shack volunteers during this relief operation.
Get a glimpse of how Shawarma Shack extended a helping hand to Taal Volcano eruption victims by watching this video.
Visit Shawarma Shack's Facebook and Instagram pages for more information.
Top-rated young actors Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla were officially unveiled as the latest brand ambassadors for PayMaya’s “BalikBayad” campaign, which encourages Filipinos to experience the most rewarding mobile wallet app in the country today which gives them cashback and other perks for their cashless transactions via PayMaya.
As we call them the “Teen Royalties” Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla reunite for an action-packed project that sees them sharing the many perks and rewards of going cashless through PayMaya’s “BalikBayad” campaign.
Serving as a follow-up to PayMaya’s widely successful “Don’t Pay Cash. PayMaya!” campaign last year which gave birth to a catchy video and jingle set to the tune of the hit ‘90’s Eraserheads song “Ligaya,” the “BalikBayad” campaign sees Kathryn and Daniel in action-packed scenes teaming up to beat a common foe–cash.
Set as a typical ‘90’s action movie complete with guns, goons, and even the penultimate “Pinoy Kontrabida” in the form of Rez Cortez, the campaign video features the two young celebrities using the powers of PayMaya to tackle everyday transactions that are typically paid with cash, such as grocery shopping, paying bills, buying load, and online shopping, among many others.
“We’re very excited to have KathNiel representing the ‘BalikBayad’ campaign, because just as these two big celebrity icons have made a comeback for PayMaya this year, our users can also expect something to come back–in the form of cashback–every time they use PayMaya instead of cash,” said Mark Jason Dee, Head of Growth and Marketing of PayMaya.
“PayMaya is a young and fun brand and we’re definitely lucky to have collaborated with Kathryn and Daniel in this campaign, because they represent the exciting and energetic lifestyles of most of our users,” Dee added.
Filipinos can get in on the most rewarding mobile wallet experience by downloading the PayMaya app on their iOS or Android devices and using the code PAYMAYAKATHNIEL upon signing up to get an instant reward, apart from the many other cashback and discount perks they can get by being a PayMaya user.
In February alone, PayMaya users can get as much as P6,000 in cashback when they participate in the mobile wallet’s various promos for bills payment, buying load, paying for goods and services via QR, online shopping, and sending money, among many others.
PayMaya has also expanded the list of merchants and establishments under its PayMaya Preferred program, which gives additional cashback to users who scan to pay with PayMaya QR on top of the regular cashback that they usually receive. Some of these new partners include Landers Superstore, Mercury Drug, KFC, Robinson’s Department Store, Total Alabang and Valenzuela, and Toys ‘R Us, among many others.
Bringing back time and convenience
But aside from getting monetary rewards in the form of cashback every time they pay, users are also able to make more time and experience greater convenience when they use PayMaya.
With PayMaya’s virtual card, for example, users can instantly gain access to a payment card which they can easily use for online shopping and other digital payments for a faster, more efficient payment experience.
PayMaya also recently introduced the ability to transfer money from users’ PayMaya account to other bank accounts, eliminating the need to wait in line at bank branches in order to make a bank deposit.
“PayMaya users can definitely look forward to even more features and services that will give them more convenient ways to pay as well as awesome rewards in the months to come,” Dee added.
To know more about the BalikBayad campaign and how you can get all of these exciting perks from PayMaya, visit www.paymaya.com/balikbayad or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The leading fiber internet and digital consumer-centric services provider in the country, Converge ICT Solutions further ensures of a more convenient customer journey, aims to innovate their services and make it more accessible.
Signing of partnership with Peter Blackett General Manager, Strategic Development & Asia of BANKTECH, and Director of BTI Payments Philippines; Jesus C. Romero, Chief Operating Officer, Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. and Dan Ibarra, BTI Payments Country Head during the media conference, held at the Golf and Country Club, Wack Wack, Shaw Blvd. on February 5, 2020.
The new partnership with leading self-service payment kiosk operator BTI Payments, Converge ICT’s customers can pay their bills in more than 500 self-service Pay & Go payment kiosks, with a number of them operating 24/7.
For customers, this means more locations for paying bills, shorter queues, and an enhanced customer experience.
Since launching the country’s first pure end-to-end fiber internet network, Converge ICT has been offering Filipino consumers a speedier and more reliable internet connection. Last year, Converge ICT rolled out the country’s first 400Gbps backbone to augment existing domestic network capacity. As an extension of the company’s mantra to optimize customer experience, Converge ICT partnered with BTI. This endeavor intends to deliver an improved end-to-end customer experience that goes all the way to bills payment.
Innovative customer-centric programs as such has enabled Converge ICT to grow its base and allow more Filipinos to enjoy premium fiber internet experience. And for efforts such as this, the fiber internet organization has been cited by London-based International Finance Awards Group as the “Fastest Growing Fiber Internet Service Provider in the Philippines.”
“Converge ICT is about giving Filipino consumers the kind of connectivity that is simple, fast, and easy. As we grow our presence in the Philippines, we are turning to credible and capable partners who will help us deliver the kind of customer experience we promise. In terms of bills payment, Pay & Go has the expertise and nationwide presence that complement our goal of delivering that seamless experience,” said Dennis “J3” Uy, Converge ICT President & CEO.
Dan Ibarra, BTI Payments Country Head
“Our growing portfolio of kiosks is located nationwide and will be in more places relevant and synonymous to where paying customers are at. We want to seamlessly integrate it into their fast-paced lifestyles, making payments without a hassle – whether you are in the office, supermarket, pharmacy, mall or at home. As our service is real time, anytime – we ensure Converge transactions through Pay & Go will be no different from doing it at their stores or business offices,” said BTI Payments Country Head Dan Ibarra.
“We aim to support the growing Philippine market with decades of experience in payments solutions. We are looking forward to collaborate with Converge and BTI Payments PH to enhance processes that will provide better customer service,” said Peter Blackett General Manager, Strategic Development & Asia of BANKTECH, and Director of BTI Payments Philippines.
BTI payments is a wholly owned subsidiary of BANKTECH, a top provider of ATM and payment technology in Australia and Asia for the past 25 years.
World-class leather accessories brand McJim Classic Leather brings back Get Reel Film Festival 2020, a bigger and more challenging edition of last year’s successful Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film Festival.
This time around, the competition is accepting entries that touch on the theme, “Filipino Values Beyond Generations.”
The 2020 Get Reel Film Festival is upping the ante with two brand-new categories: the Main Competition for professional and amateur filmmakers using digital cameras and the Brand Digital Ads category for innovative ads for McJim Classic Leather. These will complement the Mobile Shorts Competition for users of mobile phone cameras.
Professional and amateur filmmakers now have more opportunities to showcase their talents and share stories displaying the timeless values of the modern Filipino gentleman.
The winning entries from the 2020 Get Reel Film Festival will join the prestigious group of notable films from last year’s Mobile Shorts Competition: Dylan Ray Talon’s Walang Hanggang Ligaya Sa Una Mong Ngiti; James Edward Golla’s May Love Life Na Si Pepito Jr.; and John Carlo Balasbas Tarobal’s Champion, which all garnered critical acclaim for their inspiring stories and excellent filmmaking.
Cash prizes and trophies await the festival winners.
Chris Cahilig, award-winning filmmaker and festival director, says, “Through the powerful medium of filmmaking, a brand breaks into the new media to advance its social cause and deliver good value and entertainment to its audience.”
Cahilig’s hope is for the festival to provide a platform for aspiring filmmakers. “Get Reel Film Festival 2020 aims to inspire more filmmakers to create moving, relatable, and distinctly Filipino narratives that will be screened online,” he says.
The festival is open to all Filipino filmmakers from around the world. All entries to the Main Competition and the Mobile Shorts Competition must have a minimum length of two (2) minutes and a maximum length of ten (10) minutes, including opening and closing credits. Films of all genres are qualified to participate.
The selected films will be eligible for eight awards: The McJim Prize for Best Short Film (P50,000); 2nd Prize for Best Short Film (P30,000); Best Director (P25,000); Best Inspirational Story (P10,000); Best in Cinematography (P10,000); Best Actor (P10,000); Best Actress (P10,000); Best Screenplay (P10,000); and the Get Reel Viral Film Award (P10,000). Winners will be chosen for both the Main Competition and the Mobile Shorts Competition.
Entries to the Brand Digital Ads category must have a maximum length of sixty (60) and depict a modern Filipino gentleman as the lead character. The select brand digital ads will be eligible for the following prizes: 1st Prize (P100,000); 2nd Prize (P50,000); and 3rd Prize (P25,000).
All films submitted should be recorded and edited in not less than 720 HD format, but using 1080 HD is highly recommended. Only digital submissions emailed to mcjimtv@gmail.com will be accepted.
All submitted films must use any McJim Classic Leather accessories (bags, belts, wallets) as an organic part of the narratives.
A panel of judges will determine the finalists and winners through a deliberation. The results will be final and irrevocable.
No film entry shall be an imitation or plagiarized version of any copyrighted work. Get Reel Film Festival and its organizers will not be responsible for any copyright infringement committed by the participants.
The deadline for submission is on May 20, 2020. The finalists will be announced on June 15, 2020, and the winners will be awarded on July 15, 2020.
Participating filmmakers must be willing to have their works posted on various social media accounts of McJim Classic Leather and its agency, Insight 360 Consultancy Services, Inc.
Trendsetters, get ready for Shopee’s Fashion Fair on February 6. Cop the latest and hottest fashion pieces at up to 90% off their original price. Shopee’s Fashion Fair boasts a wide selection of clothing pieces from the biggest fashion brands.
Check out these items you can cop on February 6:
1. Peculiar Wayfarer Sunglasses
Get ready for summer by having the Peculiar Wayfarer Sunglasses in your bag. These sunglasses offer UV protection and come in a range of colors. Grab a pair for only ₱199 at Shopee’s Fashion Fair!
2. Silver Kingdom Necklace Pendant
Elevate your look by pairing the Silver Kingdown Necklace Pendant with evening gowns and semi-formal dresses for a glam night out. Score this showstopper necklace for only ₱168 at Shopee’s Fashion Fair!
3. Silver Kingdom Forever Love Necklace
Share the love this coming Valentine’s Day with Silver Kingdom’s Forever Love Necklace. It flaunts a delicate infinity heart design made of genuine Italian silver, making it a great surprise for your loved one. Grab this piece for only ₱209 at Shopee’s Fashion Fair!
4. Silver Kingdom Heartbeat Couple Rings
Match with your special someone with Silver Kingdom's Heartbeat Couple Rings. These rings are made with a non-tarnish hypoallergenic material and can be embellished with a dainty crystal for that extra sparkle. Get these for only ₱408 at Shopee’s Fashion Fair!
5. Penshoppe Corduroy Dress
Get that fresh and laid back look with Penshoppe’s Corduroy Dress in Camel. This dress is perfect for school or the office, but throw on a jacket and transform your outfit for a night out with friends! Grab this show-stopper for only ₱599 at Shopee’s Fashion Fair!
6. Penshoppe Striped Resort Shirt
You can never go wrong with a little bit of color. Stand out with Penshoppe’s Striped Resort Shirt, with its different colors, hues, and drop shoulder design. Get this piece for only ₱499 at Shopee’s Fashion Fair!
7. Mikana 18k Gold Plated Kotonoha Pendant Necklace
Add a little sparkle in your life with the Mikana Kotonoha Pendant Necklace. This necklace is sure to catch anyone’s eye with its 18 karat gold plated pendant, and cubic zirconia crystals that dazzle like diamonds. Grab this stunner for only ₱269 at Shopee’s Fashion Fair!
8. Mikana 18k Gold Plated Fuyumi Drop Earrings
Complete your look with this flawless pair of earrings. Mikana’s Fuyumi Drop Earrings boasts large cubic zirconia crystals, and hypoallergenic metalware.
Score these must-have for only ₱229 at Shopee’s Fashion Fair!
Converge ICT Solutions, the broadband services provider behind the country’s first pure end-to-end fiber internet network, has been cited as the ‘Fastest Growing Fibre Internet Service Provider’ by the International Finance Awards.
Dennis Anthony Uy, President and CEO, Converge ICT Solutions and Grace Uy, Chief Resources Officer, Converge ICT Solutions.
The recognition comes from London-based global business and finance magazine, International Finance. According to the publication, Converge ICT is recognized to be true to its mission to upgrade the overall digital experience of the country. International Finance also lauded the company’s growth from the grassroots to become a budding powerhouse provider of pure end-to-end fiber internet.
Since the launch of Converge ICT’s fiber packages, the Philippines saw a steady and noticeable internet speed improvement. According to the world-renowned digital delivery network Akamai, the Philippines’ average internet speed in the third quarter of 2016 was only at 4.2Mbps. By the first quarter of 2016, the average download speed in the Philippines has increased by 135.90 percent to 18.66Mbps, Akamai reported.
One of the most recent milestones of Converge ICT is the introduction of the country’s first 400Gbps backbone to augment existing domestic network capacity. This allows 400G per channel at 64 channels or the equivalent of 25.6Tbps at capacity.
The backbone is considered a boost to major businesses and institutions such as business process outsourcing companies and financial institutions, which require high capacity connectivity or bandwidth. The rollout also allowed individual subscribers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enjoy faster connection without any data cap for high bandwidth capacity.
Converge ICT has received the award last January 31, 2020 at Waldorf Astoria, Bangkok, Thailand.
Alanis Morissette to be here in Manila this coming April to give you hits like Ironic! Music fans are in for a treat as seven-time GRAMMY winner Alanis Morissette returns for a one-night concert on April 6 at the Mall Of Asia Arena, celebrating 25 Years of Jagged Little Pill, her most iconic breakthrough album.
Since 1995, Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music. Her deeply expressive music and performances have earned vast critical praise. Morissette’s 1995 debut, Jagged Little Pill, was followed by nine more eclectic and acclaimed albums. She has contributed musically to theatrical releases and has acted on the big and small screen. Outside of entertainment, she is an avid supporter of female empowerment, as well as spiritual, psychological and physical wellness. In 2016, Alanis launched Conversation with Alanis Morissette, a monthly podcast that features conversations with a variety of revered authors, doctors, educators, and therapists, covering a wide range of psychosocial topics extending from spirituality to developmentalism to art. On December 5, 2019, Jagged Little Pill, The Musical, made its Broadway debut at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City. Also in December 2019, Alanis released her newest song, Reasons I Drink. The track comes off Alanis’ highly anticipated ninth album, SUCH PRETTY FORKS IN THE ROAD, due out May 1st. For more information, see www.alanis.com.
Alanis Morissette’s hits include You Oughta Know, Hand In My Pocket, Ironic, You Learn, Head Over Feet, All I Really Want, Thank U, Mary Jane, Uninvited, Perfect, Forgiven, Right Through You, Wake Up, and more.
Alanis Morissette 2020 Live In Manila is presented by Ovation Productions in cooperation with TAP Go: Stream Sports Anywhere!
Tickets go on sale starting February 5 at 12nn via www.smtickets.com and all SM Tickets outlets. For inquiries, please call (02)8470-2222 or 0917-149-5959.
Aside from using its platform as channel for monetary donations, GCash has also led an internal donation drive to further help the affected communities in Taal with its employees stepping up to help those in need.
Over the past few days, GCash encouraged its employees to donate in kind for the people that were hit by the eruption of the Taal volcano. Through the generosity and inner kindness of the GCash workforce, GCash was able to fill as much as 200 bags of donations filled with daily necessities for the people of Taal.
“One good deed creates a whole new ripple of various acts of kindness, and we at GCash are proud of our employees who willingly donated. This is a true embodiment of our vision of continuously transforming our app to a socially-significant and responsible platform,” GCash President Anthony Thomas said.
Part of the donations were handed over to partners for distribution in the evacuation centers in Batangas.
“We are encouraged by the generosity of our people and we will continue to work with our partners to further utilize the GCash app as an agent of change in these trying times,” Thomas added.
GCash for Good, the corporate social responsibility arm of GCash, launched Tulong Taal in early January to help facilitate monetary donations for humanitarian aid in the affected areas in Taal.
The donations made through the Tulong Taal campaign reached P772,048.55 in end of January, and this amount has been divided equally to each of the civic partners of GCash, namely: Philippine Red Cross, World Vision, Animal Kingdom Foundation, Ayala Foundation, the School of Deaf and Applied Studies, Hope in a Bottle, ABS-CBN Foundation, and the United Nations Children's Fund - Philippines.
Individuals have also directly sent their donations to their chosen non-government organizations. This brought the total amount of donations sent via GCash to P1.015 million. This does not include the individual donation drives that GCash users launched for the same advocacy.
“As part of our core values as an organization, we put premium in using our platform as a channel of kindness. We continue to encourage individuals to donate through the GCash app for the people affected by the Taal volcano eruption,” Thomas said.
To donate to the Tulong Taal campaign, GCash users simply have to open their apps, click on the “Pay Bills” tile, select “Others,” click on “Tulong Taal,” and input the amount they would like to contribute.
For the first time to be held in the Philippines, the 71st FIABCI World Real Estate Congress, to be on May 26-30, 2020 at Marriott Hotel, Metro Manila, Philippines.
FIABCI means Federacion Internationale des Adminstrateurs de Biens Conceils et Immobiliers, a Paris-based world real estate industry federation of over 100 national associations, 95 public and private academic institutions, 2,300 regular companies, and more than a million associate members representing over 40 real-estate-related professions in five continents comprising 72 countries, including the Philippines.
During the media conference held on February 4, Tuesday at Shangri-La Makati City, Dr. Reghis M. Romero II shared about the 71st FIABCI World Real Estate Congress, to be on May 26-30, 2020 at Marriott Hotel, Metro Manila, Philippines.
The federation is represented in the country by FIABCI Philippines, which is headed by urban masterplanner Architect Nestor S. Mangio as president, environmental entrepreneur and civic-industry leader Dr. Reghis M. Romero II as chairman, and businessman Florentino Dulalia Jr. as chairman emeritus.
Marking the staging of the 2020 congress is the turnover of FIABCI World’s presidency to Dulalia, the first Filipino to ever assume such position, thus catapulting the Philippines to leadership status in the pursuit of the federation’s global socioeconomic and environmental goals.
Enabling FIABCI members to pursue such goals are research and development, technology sharing, continuous education programs, professional networking, printed and online newsletters, sustained inter-chapter correspondence and communications, participation in world councils, and incentives through national and World Prix d’Excellence Awards at the annual World Real Estate Congress, which gathers private firms and agencies, professionals and students, national associations and institutions, and international multi-disciplinary experts and speakers to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and conduct business with each other.
For this year, the congress will be held mainly at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, with a total of 10,000 sqms of function space, by far the biggest in the Philippine hotel industry.
Marriott is located in the Newport City, which is just across NAIA Terminal 3 and within walking distance to Resorts World Manila’s Savoy, Hilton and Belmont hotels, where other congress events are slated and many of the delegates are to be billeted.
Constituting the congress are:
- plenary sessions,
- leadership training,
- product and services exhibits,
- general assembly,
- board and professional meetings,
- and such ticketed events as the Prix D’ Excellence, Medal Holder’s Dinner, International Young Members’ Party, Study/Social Tours, and the Gala/Farewell Dinner, each generating business networking opportunities on a global scale for local participants.
To be featured at the plenary as :
- Congress speakers are US-based National Association of Realtors president Vince Malta,
- outgoing FIABCI World president Walid Moussa, global design director Anthony Cuthbertson of Topshop London,
- a representative from Foster and Partner UK,
- president Kevin Tan of Megaworld,
- sustainable design development advocate Daniel Watch of Harvard University, among others.
Congress topics include :
- the future and leadership in real estate,
- township and urban development,
- digital technology’s huge role in transforming cities,
- insights on new and emerging industry prospects,
- investment and business opportunities, among others.
Supported by UN-Habitat, Grant Thornton, Reed Midem, and World Urban Campaign as sponsors, the 71st World Congress is being organized by FIABCI-Philippines (fiabci.phil@gmail.com; www.fiabciphilippines.org) to help put the global industry on the best track for “Urban Revolution” while generating momentum along its course.
More about on FIABCI:
Preceding this event on May 27-31, 2019 was the 70th FIABCI World Real Estate Congress at the World Trade Center in Moscow, Russia, where the local chapter walked the talk by putting up a bio-climatic greenhouse building as its headquarters.
Created in Paris in 1951, FIABCI is the world’s most representative non-political business networking organization that also holds a special consultative status at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since May 31, 1996 for overall guidance and coordination on sustainable development, or “to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.
FIABCI is also a global partner of UN-Habitat in implementing the City Prosperity Initiative (CPI) program in 400 cities worldwide through innovative approach to urban measurements, design, and formulation of policy interventions for decision makers.
Just recently, FIABCI held a business summit in Ghent, Belgium where it strongly affirmed its support to the UN for its November 4, 2016 Paris Agreement to “address climate change by keeping global temperature rise at only two percent in this century”.
All such environmental initiatives involve innovative material, structural, geological and urban planning design concepts and measures.
The innovations must be able to resist earthquakes and natural calamities, prevent depletion of natural resources, save energy, reduce carbon footprint, eliminate pollution, cope with rapid urban migration, minimize construction cost, and improve quality of life.
In effect, FIABCI members worldwide will have to bring about an ecologic, economic and ergonomic urban development, which is no less than revolutionary.
Thus, falling squarely on FIABCI’s hands is the responsibility to help make urban development cope with the challenges of climate change, global warming, rising sea levels, carbon footprints, polar shift, volcanic eruptions, splitting and converging tectonic plates, earthquakes, weather calamities, and the socioeconomic pressures from spiraling energy costs, fuel prices, and agro-industrial pollution, all impacting real estate and the quality of city life.
But being situated on the planet’s ring of fire, south of the geologically active Japan Trench and bordering the subducting Pacific plate, the earthquake-prone and volcano-dotted Philippines makes for an ideal laboratory for structural engineering and calamity-related technological studies on human settlements.
And while requiring extensive R&D activities, the same challenges can also lead to the creation of innovative construction materials and methodologies that minimize building cost and house prices, add new products and services to the supply and value chain, generate new businesses, increase real estate’s contribution to the global employment and GDP, and further promote international linkages and sharing of expertise.
