ARTBOX, Singapore’s largest lifestyle event, returns even bigger, better and cooler than before with a dose of cheekiness, thanks to SGAG collaboration

• Event held indoors for the first time providing visitors with air-conditioned comfort, redefining the night market experience even in the daytime

ARTBOX, Singapore’s largest lifestyle event, is back after a three-year hiatus - bigger, better and literally cooler than before - with an all new line-up of at least 300 vendors from Southeast Asia providing retail and F&B experiences, and art installations by local artists at the Singapore Expo. Organised by Invade, the upcoming edition of ARTBOX will be held indoors for the first time since its inception in 2017, providing visitors with air-conditioned comfort while they soak in the festivities of the night market experience, even in the daytime, thanks to cleverly designed spaces and lighting installations in the 9,822 sqm space (equivalent to 1⅓ of a football field).

Next year’s ARTBOX is also co-organised with SGAG, one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing digital content producers for Millennials and Gen Zs. Visitors will be entertained throughout with local humour and activities provided by the funniest and cheekiest bunch from the SGAG team. Visitors who have been following SGAG online can now experience them in-person for the first time in an offline setting with wacky activities such as the National Shake Leg Championship, SGAG’s first ever fan meet-and-greet and roving mini games throughout the event.

Over two weekends in February and March 2023, visitors can also expect a showcase of gourmet creations from F&B entrepreneurs and brands from Southeast Asia, unique shopping experience featuring crafts and innovative products from local and global brands, and immersive structures and interactive experiences curated in collaboration with the region's best artists all under one roof.

“True to next year’s theme of Vision, we would like our visitors to manifest their wildest visions in our refined night market experience – to create brand new memories, take part in unique experiences, and to enable them to connect with the world once again,” said Kent Teo, Founder and CEO of Invade. “We are also co-organising the event with SGAG to inject their dose of cheeky humour to the festival and at the same time provide an interactive offline space to the local and regional creator economy.”

“We are excited to be co-organising ARTBOX with Invade for the first time and welcome visitors back to everyone’s favourite festival with SGAG’s brand of cheekiness that’s guaranteed to crack Singaporeans up,” said Adrian Ang (Xiao Ming), Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of SGAG. “Expect hilariously difficult obstacle courses, entertaining challenges, roaming activities and fan meet-and-greets throughout the whole event. We are going to pull out all the stops to bring the unconventional to a conventional space like the Singapore Expo.”

ARTBOX will be held on 24 to 26 February and 3 to 5 March 2023, from 12pm to 11pm at Hall 6 of Singapore Expo. Tickets to the event cost $5 per person per entry with early-bird pricing of $4.50 per person, available till 31 December 2022. Visitors looking at attending all six days can opt for a Season Pass at $30 per person with priority entry. More information can be found at https://www.artbox.sg/.

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Kwentong Kumunizen: Spiking Numbers and Building Bridges

Volleyball star Tots Carlos connects with friends and fans on Kumu, and wins more than just trophies.

Some might be astonished to learn how popular volleyball is in the Philippines when it’s often overshadowed by other sports in most conversations. They would be even more shocked to hear just how fierce the fandom is, spurred by a longing to connect with players and get to know them. But, when armed with that knowledge, it comes as no surprise at all that players from the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) regularly stream on Kumu to do exactly those things.

Cheerful and unassuming, 24-year old opposite hitter Diana Mae “Tots” Carlos actually discovered Kumu long before PVL entered a partnership with the social entertainment app. What started as cheering her friends on from the sidelines of their stream, she soon began to guest and host streams herself, talking about the ins and outs of her sport.

Hailing from Lubao, Pampanga, she traveled to the metro specifically to do what she loved, and quickly became a highly sought-after recruit over UAAP Season 78. Landing in the University of the Philippines’ varsity team as an outside hitter, she has since bagged the title of Most Valuable Player several times over—in 2018, 2021, and 2022—clearly a force to be reckoned with. But her one frustration with the game has been the lack of interaction with fans, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finding Her Tribe

“Wala akong kilala noong talagang nagstart ako magstream sa Kumu, apart from my friends,” she recounts, “and hindi man ako humingi ng tulong, people I didn’t know wanted to help me!” Soon enough, she bridged the gap between herself and her avid supporters, and made those interactions the highlight of her streams.

“In my hometown, athletes get the same treatment,” says Tots, “banners, tarpaulins, a warm welcome when you come back. Ngayon, online posters and messages of congratulations, ganon. Being on Kumu feels the same, but these are my fans, people I would never meet if not for Kumu, who really want to support me. Kaya I really take care of that relationship.”

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

“Ang gusto ko talaga sa Kumu is it’s safe,” says the athlete on what differentiates Kumu from other digital spaces. “May rules, may good censors, kaya may respeto. Pwede kong ipakita kung ano at sino talaga ako and I’m safe, and more importantly, the fans are safe.” This contradicts what most of us know to be true about the internet—don’t speak to strangers who offer you gifts—but the watchful eyes of the moderators, also known as the Kumu Police, allow those new connections to flourish with minimal, if any, risk. Apart from these important duties, they keep interactions positive in every stream.

This unique feature of the app is one of the biggest pillars of its success, especially for users who would otherwise be marginalized. As a woman who is open about who she is and who she loves, Tots is a perfect example of how someone can thrive even outside of that identity when they are given the space to show their truest self.

Diamonds Are a Girl’s (Other) Best Friend

But it just wouldn’t be Kumu without the campaigns, or the contests that almost turns live streaming into an extreme sport all its own. Creators go live and earn virtual gifts from those watching, and get the chance to win prizes that range from a little bit of cash to having one’s face on a billboard. And while Tots doesn’t necessarily need to join them—she openly admits that her status as a volleyball player has boosted her numbers on more than one occasion—she sees the fun and takes the opportunity to spread the joy.

“If I do win something, I share it with my loved ones,” says Tots. “And what I earn there is a big help. Noong nagtuloy-tuloy na ako, pinapadali niya ang buhay ko. You don't even have to spend the whole day streaming, just once in a while. Talagang inaabangan ka ng followers. Just keep doing the streams, and you’ll build your audience.”

For Tots, Kumu is a platform ripe with opportunities not just to earn through live streaming, but to connect with people she otherwise would never get to know; people who can truly enrich someone’s day-to-day. Follow her on Kumu (totscarlos_) to get insider volleyball knowledge, meet other players, or just to see Tots flourish in her own digital habitat. Otherwise, experience it for yourself; download the app now through the App Store or Google Play. Your community awaits you, so get ready to show what you’ve got and start your live stream soon!

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About Kumu

Kumu is a powerful social media platform that brings the voices of Filipinos from all over the globe at the forefront. Aside from presenting users with real-time earning opportunities as a live streamer, chances to win prizes in various game shows, and engagement in campaigns, Kumu also fosters communities that ignite relevant discussions among Filipinos. According to mobile-app performance company App Annie, Kumu is not only the first Filipino app to be the #1 top grossing social app in the Philippines, but one of the highest grossing social apps in the world, ranking top 10 in multiple markets including Canada, Australia, Middle East, Europe, Hong Kong, and Singapore app stores. Visit www.kumu.ph and follow @kumuph on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest events and surprises from the favorite Pinoy live streaming platform.

Home Buddies gives back in Paskong Mayo Puso 2.0

Gift-giving celebration aims to raise funds for SPED classroom makeover

To usher in the holiday season and recap an incredible year, online community Home Buddies celebrated with PASKONG MAY PUSO 2.0, a gift-giving treat held through a variety of online activities for all beloved kapitbahays and ka-hangouts!

The celebration was kickstarted by Home Buddies founder, “Mayora '' Frances Lim Cabatuando, and Q Radio’s Ysa Chong as hosts. To add to the fun, Quest and Kitchie Nadal entertained the kapitbahays and ka-hangouts with their performances, along with a series of games that brought fun prizes, sponsored by its partner brands: Bet On Your Buddy (sponsored by Dakki), Around The Globe: Guess The Movie & Country (sponsored by Globe Roaming), Read My Lips (sponsored by All Home), and Zoomba (sponsored by Irish Spring). Present also at this event was Kevin Pueblo as the guest tanod.

Through PASKONG MAY PUSO 2.0, Home Buddies raised funds for the makeover of a SPED (Special Education) classroom at the Pasay City North High School.

In line with their advocacy of giving back to the community, Cabatuando and Pueblo shared their gratitude for the overflowing support.

“We are one kapitbahay, we are 3-million strong, and we are here to support them. Thank you dahil sa pagsali ninyo sa mga events tulad nito, we are able to raise funds for the benefit of the people who are in need,” Cabatuando said.

“Kaya hindi lang talaga siya Paskong May Puso di ba, it’s not just for us the kapitbahays but also for those who need help,” Pueblo said.

Home Buddies, initially started in September 2020 by “Mayora” Frances Lim Cabatuando, is an online community and safe space for over 3.1 million home enthusiasts who want to achieve the home of their dreams. In this community, members engage with each other and share helpful tips, interesting finds, and inspirational stories about their home improvement journey. It also holds regular activities, such as the Monday Market, where group members can buy and sell home-related items.

But the festivities don’t end there. Home Buddies kapitbahays and ka-hangouts are still in for a merry ride this December with more activities.

There’s Globe Brand Week, where exciting games were held every noon until December 15 in the Hangout Buddies group. There will also be games until December 18 in the Home Buddies group. The fun doesn’t end there as a variety of brands will also be celebrating the joy of this Christmas season with us: Dakki Brand Day and Live Selling to be held on December 20 at noon, followed by Irish Spring Brand Day on December 21, Globe Roaming's live segment at 12 noon which will feature another round of fun games & raffle for the kapitbahays and Violeta’s Curtains Live Selling at 7 p.m. on December 22, and All Home Brand Day on December 23. Watch out for these events from the comfort of your own home through the Home Buddies Facebook group page.

HOME BUDDIES PASKONG MAY PUSO 2.0 is co-presented by Globe. Special thanks to major sponsors Irish Spring, IKEA, Dakki, and All Home; minor sponsors NYMA, Anker, and Omni; Kapitbahay partners Dunsk Kuhner and Oasis Sauna; and media partners FreebieMNL and PIE Channel.

Merry Christmas, mga Kapitbahays and Ka-hangouts!

Xiaomi Rings in the Christmas Spirit with Xiaomi Pop Concert, New Store, and More!

Loyal Xiaomi fans enjoy big discounts, freebies, star-studded entertainment

 The holidays just got brighter with the opening of Xiaomi’s new flagship store at BHS. Xiaomi Country Manager Kenny Cheong and Blue Lite Gadgets Inc. executives Leandro and Edwin Poblete were at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, joined by Xiaomi brand ambassador and TV star Gabbi Garcia. The opening was made more special with a dragon dance performance and an in-store tour. Customers who purchased top-of-the-line phones like the Xiaomi 12T Series, Redmi Note 11S, or 10 Pro were rewarded with various freebies, including a RoboVac, Vacuum Flask, umbrella, ceramic mugs, and more.

The holidays are here and Xiaomi has made sure to ring in the festivities with a bang! From a star-studded Xiaomi Pop 2022 holiday concert, a cozy community Christmas party, and a smorgasbord of products at discounted prices at the grand opening of the Xiaomi flagship store at Bonifacio High Street in BGC.

As the main highlight of the festivities, the Xiaomi Pop 2022 Concert did not disappoint. Fans were treated to an evening of performances by some of the hottest names in the music industry. P-pop boy band BGYO kicked off the main show with their hit singles, and they also picked a lucky fan to dance on stage with them. Next up, Singer and actor Darren Espanto serenaded fans with his version of popular Christmas songs.

Closing the night was multi-awarded singer Moira Dela Torre, who gave a beautiful and emotional performance of her ballads. She also shared a special moment with fans as she took a selfie using her Xiaomi phone.

The atmosphere was electric with enthusiasm as the audience sang along to their beloved tunes. Fans cheered on as Xiaomi devices were given away as prizes during the fun games, making for an unforgettable night.

Prizes galore

The BHS Amphitheater was packed with over 300 Xiaomi fans who gathered for the community Christmas party. It was an afternoon of fun and laughter, with plenty of games, Xiaomi prizes, and special performances from both the Xiaomi team and the fans themselves. 

New flagship store

The opening of the new flagship store located at B3, 7th Avenue, Bonifacio High Street, BGC, Taguig City, was made even more special with the presence of Xiaomi Country Manager Kenny Cheong, who led the ribbon-cutting ceremony together with Blue Lite Gadgets Inc. executive Leandro Poblete. Also present was Xiaomi brand ambassador and TV star Gabbi Garcia. Guests were treated to an exclusive in-store tour of the new Xiaomi concept store, giving them a first-hand look at the latest products from the global tech brand.

The opening of the new store saw shoppers take advantage of the discounts and freebies offered by Xiaomi. Depending on the purchase, customers received a variety of bonuses, such as a RoboVac, Vacuum Flask, umbrella, ceramic mugs, and more. Those who bought any of the top-of-the-line phones like the Redmi Note 11S, or 10 Pro were rewarded with an even bigger selection of freebies.

To learn more about Xiaomi’s new store at Bonifacio High Street and the company’s ongoing holiday promos, please visit the company’s official page.

High spirits, high notes, and high fives! Xiaomi fans cheered as the likes of Moira Dela Torre, Darren Espanto, and BGYO graced the stage with their high-energy performances, bringing the house down with music and fun at the Xiaomi Pop 2022 Concert.

Darren Espanto spread the holiday cheer with his signature upbeat tunes at the Xiaomi Pop 2022 holiday concert. With some of his most popular songs, the Canadian-Filipino singer and actor had the crowd singing, dancing, and feeling the holiday spirit.

BGYO lit up the stage and left the crowd starstruck with their electrifying setlist at Xiaomi Pop 2022. The group made sure to show love to fans by taking selfies and singing their best hits like “Magnet” and “Tumitigil Ang Mundo”.

 

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Bags the Golden Achievement Award in the Philippines

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines (SEMPHIL) bagged the Golden Achievement Award on November 27, 2022. The Golden Achievement Award, bestowed by the Philippine government, is regarded as the most prestigious award given to companies registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and presented by Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

(L-R) PEZA OIC-Deputy Director General for Operations Ms. Vivian Santos, DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, President and Head of Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines (SEMPHIL) Mr. Seoncheol Park, PEZA OIC-Director General Mr. Tereso Panga, and PEZA OIC-Deputy Director General for Finance and Administration Mr. Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal

Every year, the Philippine government selects and awards outstanding companies in four categories: export, employment, social contribution, and environment. The Golden Achievement Award honors the most outstanding company among the list of companies that have been elevated to the Hall of Fame in all categories.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics was also inducted into the Hall of Fame by receiving the recognition three times in each category leading to their win of the Golden Achievement Award this year. To date, Samsung Electro-Mechanics has received the Outstanding in Community Projects award in 2007, 2008, and 2009; Outstanding Employer in 2006, 2010, and 2012; Outstanding Exporter in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and Outstanding Environmental Performer in 2007, 2019, 2020. Since the inception of the Golden Achievement Award in 2012, only five companies, including Samsung Electro-Mechanics, have received this prestigious recognition.

Vice President and Head of SEMPHIL Park Seoncheol said, "It is an honor to be recognized as the most outstanding company in all categories: export, employment, and social contribution environment. We will continue to actively conduct social welfare programs for employees and local communities, preserve a healthy environment, and pursue sustainable development."

SEMPHIL has received high scores for obtaining certification for an environmental management system (ISO14001) from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and systematically improving the environment, such as energy conservation, reduction in consumption of chemicals, and compliance with standards to prevent water and air pollution.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines (SEMPHIL) situated in Calamba Premiere International Park in Calamba City of Laguna, started its operation from year 2000

In addition, SEMPHIL was also honored for leading the way in advancing social ideals and sustaining corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts through various activities like tree planting and coastline cleanup. SEMPHIL has also taken the initiative to find fresh talents among the low-income households and has provided them learning advice and scholarships in order to help them develop their skills. These promising individuals were given the chance to work for the company.

Since its founding in 1997, SEMPHIL has been manufacturing the MLCC (Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitor), the flagship product, as well as other passive components such as inductors and chip resistors. Its revenue increased by $1,153 million in 2021. In order to meet the demand for IT and automotive components, Samsung Electro-Mechanics is getting ready to use its Philippine Plant (SEMPHIL) as one of its primary production facilities in the future.

In August 2022, Samsung Electro-Mechanics CEO Chang Duckhyun met with Secretary Alfredo Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry to share about SEMPHIL's main activities, innovative technology cases, and contribution to economic growth in the Philippines. Through this meeting, Chang has also requested DTI’s support for Korea's bid to host the 2030 Busan World Expo where Samsung acts as a member of the public-private 2030 Busan World Expo bidding committee.

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About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

On Pricing & Promos: The Common Challenges of a Filipino Retailer

How can promotions drive profitability across distribution channels during the holiday rush?

A recent study by the World Remit found that Filipinos spend 100% of their salary on gifts for family and friends during the holiday season — creating sales opportunities for retailers recovering from the pandemic or starting new ventures. As consumers increasingly become more comfortable going to shopping malls, shop owners need to use strategic in-store and online promotions to effectively cut through the noise and catch customer attention.

RELEX Solutions, a global leader in supply chain and retail planning, breaks down retailers’ most common promotions questions and shares a few tips to generate sales during the holiday season.

Question #1: How can I test the effectiveness of my promotion?

Filipinos enjoy indulging during the holidays, but the Philippines is a very price-sensitive market when it comes to consumer goods., This makes it crucial to identify proper price points for products sold. In fact, recent research from IPSOS shows that Filipinos are even more concerned about rising commodity prices than the effects of the pandemic. These concerns put pressure on local retailers to continue to run promotions and keep their prices low to attract more customers and increase sales.

But how does one test the effectiveness of these promotions?

A good place to start is running an A/B test. Retailers can set up experiments across select stores and timeframes to collect data that will be used in analyzing the potential sales impact. Another more challenging solution involves building detailed models that compare baseline and promotional demand for each item and store. Brands can then observe alternative scenarios and measure the effects of running or not running a specific promotion. In turn, consumers can decide on purchases based on their budget, which translates to sales for brands. Regardless of the approach, what remains crucial is the ability to calibrate terms as needed.

Question #2: How can I convert first-time customers into loyal customers?

Consumers are exposed to endless promotions as the holiday shopping season comes into full swing. Alongside competitor brands, promos within the same brand also divide a customer’s attention. This results in low sales uplift that is often barely enough to compensate for the price reductions, eventually leading to a loss.

Retailers must ensure their omnichannel promotions complement each other to hit maximum profitability with minimal strain on resources — all while delivering the best experience for customers. Data analysis from past promotions can also be studied to understand which practices should already be stopped or started. This includes assessments on price, tactics, and other features that could generate the best results.

Question 3: How do I know if I’m running too many promotions?

Only data can tell. When products with weak promo potential are advertised too often, it can threaten profits and margins. Insights from previous promotions help, but there are also several factors that could make manual analysis tricky. Such factors include sales comparisons across the different seasons of the year, as well as the frequencies of discounts given during the pandemic.

Retailers need to keep a rapid pace to contend with their competitors, so running complex, cumbersome manual experiments can be a waste of valuable time and resources. This is why digitization has played a crucial role in trying to optimize sales and promotions for retailers.

“Promotions, as tough as they are, play a considerable role in increasing sales and store traffic,” shared Kristie Davison, Vice President of Sales for APAC at RELEX Solutions. “That’s why retailers need to embrace promotions despite the competition and market challenges. While the strategies listed above will help, integrating a dedicated promotions tool will unlock even more potential and provide a wealth of insight and analysis to position relevance and engage customers seamlessly.”

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About RELEX Solutions

RELEX Solutions helps retailers and consumer brands drive profitable growth across all sales and distribution channels by maximising customer satisfaction and minimising operative costs. Our market-leading, unified supply chain and retail planning platform helps retailers and consumer goods companies align and optimise demand, merchandise, supply chain, and operations planning across the end-to-end value chain. We drive record-high product availability, increased sales, improved sustainability, and the best return on investment in inventory, space, workforce, and capacity. Leading brands like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, Stokke, Rite Aid, Sprouts Farmers Market, AutoZone, and PetSmart trust RELEX to optimise their supply chain and retail planning.

Go to relexsolutions.com for more information

Community builders empowered to build better communities with Nas.io

From the online bulletin boards of local villages and cities, online marketplaces, fan groups, school associations, and even home improvement pages, Filipinos have continued to remain active in participating in their numerous online communities as a go-to source for discussing their favorite topics with like-minded netizens.

More and more companies, interest groups, and organizations are building communities to create deeper, more meaningful relationships with and among their users and members. According to market research company GWI, in 2020 alone, 76% of all internet users participated in an online community, a statistic that has annually increased by 2% over the past 3 years.

With the rise of online communities today, builders and innovators are expected to carry out the operational work of reaching members and managing offline and online events — all while nurturing genuine and authentic connections with their followers.

Today, community leaders can do away with using multiple platforms and save hundreds of hours on administrative work through streamlining various operations, made possible using Nas Company’s newest platform, Nas.io.

Founder and CEO of Nas Daily and Nas Company Nuseir Yassin awards Community Creator Jam Blauta of the Barangay Virtual Assistants (Barangay VA) for being the first community to gather 10,000 members in Nas Company’s newest community platform, Nas.io.

Nas.io is the latest tech platform released by global content creator and founder and CEO of Nas Company, Nuseir Yassin. Nas.io equips community leaders with modern, intuitive tech solutions that make it easier to start and manage a growing online community.

Connect and communicate with members

One of the biggest challenges community managers face is reaching their audience, especially with the ever changing algorithms of the most popular social media platforms. Community managers have turned to smaller niche groups on group chat platforms. However, this presents its own problems, such as it being easy for members to get lost upon joining.

Nas.io solves this by functioning as a management layer on top of existing chat platforms like Facebook Groups, WhatsApp, Discord, Telegram, or Slack. Managers can use it as a tool to provide community members context on what conversations to expect through a custom community landing page. Nas.io also includes a unique feature called Magic Reach that allows community managers to send emails and messages to their communities. This intelligent messaging feature automatically finds the best way to send messages to community members. The tool is designed to learn how users or members prefer to be contacted, and which platform they are most active in.

Create and manage events

Aside from consistent communication, community builders also aim to create perfect events both in-person and virtual for its members.

From setting calendar invites to creating virtual meeting rooms, to making an event page and setting up a registration form, Nas.io simplifies the process of creating and managing events. By filling up three basic fields, community managers can automatically generate a personalized Zoom link shared to its members, which will lead them to a customized event page. Through the platform’s feature of sending and saving notifications to the members’ calendars, emails, and the mobile app, community managers can expect higher attendance and engagement rates. The platform can also be programmed to handle the member authentication to ensure exclusivity. And, should there be an admission fee to join these events, a hassle-free payment processing system can also be set-up by the manager.

Make communities sustainable

All the longest existing communities include monetization. This is why Nas.io includes monetization features that allow community managers to earn in order to sustain their community.

From membership subscription fees, exclusive content access, and event participation, creators can set-up their communities to be free, paid or even NFT-gated. This means that members are given several payment options that can be fulfilled through credit or debit cards, PayPal, and even crypto.

Filipino Communities started using Nas.io in its early stages

Prior to its official launch, Filipino communities started using Nas.io in its beta stage and have demonstrated great potential in the market.

Philippine Country Head of Nas Company Jacqueline Maye Lim said, “We at Nas Company aim to enable the creators, entrepreneurs, marketers to add value to their members through our platform. We have seen early signs of this in our beta launch where we have amazing communities that help their leaders build a deeper connection with their audience enabling them to solve their problems and add value to them. Whether it’s about finding alternative employment, or simply saving on important life milestones, communities are everywhere.”

Barangay Virtual Assistants (VA), more commonly known as Barangay VA, is one of the largest communities on Facebook with over 30,000 members. Despite the number of followers, community leader Jam Blauta shares that he can’t reach all thousands of his followers.

“As a community manager, I need to easily secure my audience and reach them instantly whether through SMS or email. The reality is, the number of social media followers doesn’t matter anymore that when you post content, you only reach 10% or sometimes even less. This is why Nas.io is the best thing that has happened in helping me reach the community of virtual assistants.”

To date, over 10,000 aspiring virtual assistants are using Nas.io, where they are educated, trained and given free advice and online courses on how to get employed.

Founder and CEO of Nas Daily and Nas Company Nuseir Yassin recognizes Community Creator Camille Fornela of The Budgetarian Bride for reaching over a thousand followers in the beta stage of Nas Company’s newest community platform, Nas.io.

Another up-and-coming group is Camille Fornela’s The Budgetarian Bride, an online community of brides, grooms, and wedding planners, who come together to discuss budget-friendly nuptial options and real experiences on wedding planning. Today, The Budgetarian Bride’s community has helped almost 4,000 soon-to-be married Filipinos plan their dream weddings without breaking the bank.

“Having multiple content formats available in one platform and connectivity to existing ones is essential in growing my community,” said Fornela.

 Founder and CEO of Nas Daily and Nas Company Nuseir Yassin, together with his team from Nas Company in the Philippines, pose for a group photo with the attendees of the ‘Nas Daily Community Meet-up’ held last November 12, 2022 at the New Frontier Theater, Quezon City.

Yassin awarded community leaders Jam Blauta and Camille Fornela in an exclusive community meet-up held at the New Frontier Theater last November 12, 2022. He highlighted their success in engaging local audiences in their respective communities that are transforming Filipinos’ lives.

Visit nas.io to know more about how you can create your own communities today.

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About Nas Company

Nas means people. Nas Company is on a mission to build community products that bring people together. Nas Company has successfully built communities over the years and are now building tools and integrations that will allow others to manage engaged communities faster and better than ever before.

About Nuseir Yassin

Nuseir Yassin is the founder and CEO of Nas Company and Nas Studios with over 50 million followers across the world. Nas.io and Nas Academy are housed under Nas Company with the mission to Bring People Together by building innovative education and community tools for creators.

Eastern Communications promotes digitalization in the education sector, builds strong connections for the holidays

Eastern Communications and AMCHAM Foundation representatives in support of AMCHAM’s

Adopt A School Program

In this season of giving, premier telecommunications company and ICT solutions provider Eastern Communications carries out its high-touch initiatives to celebrate the significance of genuine human connections, particularly to the education sector.

In line with its "Emerge for a Stronger Tomorrow" campaign, Eastern Communications has continuously demonstrated its long-standing advocacy of supporting the education sector by promoting digital transformation and technological advancement. The company also aims to promote the intrinsic value of bayanihan that Filipinos share, encouraging everyone to give a helping hand.

Eastern Communications recently donated around 120 units of Cisco internet routers to the University of Sto. Tomas’ Faculty of Engineering. The department was selected to support the nation's future tech and innovation leaders. This endeavor will allow the school’s instructors and students to have the necessary tools for their UST Networking Laboratory, network protocol simulations, and other educational needs. As an advocate of democratizing digital solutions for all, Eastern is anticipating another round of router donations for more schools that are in need of connectivity tools. The telecommunications company has also been UST’s constant provider and longtime partner.

"By providing them with the tools they need for their digital learning, we hope to communicate our values to the next generation of innovators and leaders. These are not only gifts; this is our way of promoting technological literacy and uplifting both youth and educators,” Eastern Communications Head of Marketing Division Jed Estanislao said.

Moreover, Eastern Communications continuously achieves its goal of supporting the return to face-to-face learning by partnering with the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AmCham Philippines) Foundation’s Adopt-a-School Program.

Through AmCham’s initiative, Eastern Communications was able to provide for one of the program’s public school beneficiaries, Lunduyan na Pinagpala ng Panginoon Academy Inc. in Caloocan, by offering desktop units, as well as back-to-school health and hygiene kits for the whole student body.

With the Department of Education (DepEd) officially allowing schools the resumption of face-to-face classes, one of the biggest concerns identified by educational institutions is preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the classroom. The telco's donation of back-to-school kits includes sanitary and personal hygiene items like temperature scanners, alcohol, face masks, and hand soaps that will help both students and teachers maintain good health and curb the spread of the virus.

"The AmCham Foundation would like to thank Eastern Communications for their generous donation, which will assist in making our public schools a safer place for students this school year. Together with our partners, we hope to continue this effort in making an impact in people's lives," said Candy Angeles-Gabriel, American Chamber Foundation Philippines Inc. (AMCHAM) Events Manager.

Most recently, the telecommunications provider, together with other DMCI Homes Communities, supported DMCI's Community Outreach Program for the refurbishment of the educational facilities at the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS). The outreach program includes the renovation of UPIS' restrooms, playground, and the repainting of its building entry, among other areas. According to DMCI - Prisma Residences Condominium Corporation Area Manager Jayson Lucea, all of UPIS' students will benefit from this project, and they will have a more conducive learning environment through the facility upgrades.

“Our group strongly believes that students would be able to achieve greater education when they are put in a proper environment,” said Lucea.

“In the past years, we pushed for e-learning initiatives because many of our young educators and leaders were still getting used to taking classes online. However, now that we gradually return to traditional classrooms, we are happy to support our Filipino teachers and students in our own unique ways,” added Estanislao.

Through the years, Eastern has launched various programs in support of the academic sector. These efforts include providing connectivity for public educational sites like the Mind Museum and BGC Arts Center and the launch of its "Onward: Nurturing Fearless Educators" webinar, in collaboration with DepEd. The latter event distributed Teacher's Kits for a more effective online teaching experience. The company also launched its own "Eastern Playground", a virtual hackathon for students created in collaboration with the Philippine Society of Information Technology (PSITE).

Eastern Communications targets to further mount other educational initiatives, as it strongly believes in the value of uplifting the sector, sharing information to improve technical literacy, and will soon be providing connectivity access to more schools.

To learn more about Eastern Communications services, visit eastern.com.ph. Stay tuned as it unveils its new website soon.

Game Changer ‘til the final lap! narzo ends 2022 with a double sold out on Shopee

narzo Philippines closes its maiden year strong with another e-commerce achievement this December. During the 12.12 Mega Pamasko Sale on Shopee, the narzo 50A Prime sold out in less than an hour, selling six (6) units per minute on average at a flash price of only PHP 6,999.

Moreover, the narzo 50’s entire stock was also depleted within 39 minutes, selling four (4) units per minute on average at a flash price of only PHP 8,299. Both models have a 4.9/5 Product Rating on the platform, with satisfied customers pointing out the units’ high quality, good performance, and bang-for-your-buck factor.

Fans who missed out on 12.12 can still catch another wave of huge discounts and freebies this coming Payday Sale on Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, Zalora, and SM Online. They can also join the Quality Sulit Holidays offline promos, running until December 31 across all 58 narzo stores nationwide, for a chance to win exclusive prizes.

Have Joyful Moments In The Kitchen With Beko!

Everyone can easily describe the vibes during the Christmas season – it's filled with many bonding moments and shopping sprees in the mall. Most importantly, for Filipinos, Christmas is about spending time with loved ones and creating new memories, which makes the holiday season merrier.

And, of course, this includes Filipino families spending time together in their kitchens. So, we've rounded up what usually happens in a typical Filipino kitchen during Christmas and how to make these moments more memorable and unique!

Preparing Lots Of Food Happily In The Kitchen

When we talk about Christmas, one of the first things that come to mind is Noche Buena. Filipino families love gatherings and preparing food for their loved ones, and by preparing food, we mean lots of it!

 Beko BIR35400XMS

It's a good thing that the Beko BIR35400XMS is such a lifesaver in the kitchen. Need to prepare lots of food for your family and relatives? Worry no more because this multifunctional oven has more than enough space for you to prepare your food without the hassle of spending too much time. It offers an 82 L of cooking capacity, which lets you cook on up to six shelf levels simultaneously, all within the dimensions of a standard-sized oven.

You can even get a clear view of your food while it's being prepared. It seems amazing, indeed. With the Beko Sends Love promo price, you can get the Beko BIR35400XMS  for only Php 28,991. 

It's a given that kitchens are usually occupied during the Noche Buena preparation, so the Beko HIC64100 will also help you prepare your food.

You can cook your favorite healthy meals with ease using this vitroceramic hob. What's more fun about this is this hob heats all types of cookware so you can prepare more food efficiently!

Beko HIC64100

With the Beko Sends Love promo price, you can get the Beko HIC64100 for only Php 15,291.

Looking All Glammed Up While Washing Dishes

Of course, Christmas is also all about looking beautiful and all glammed up, even the Noche Buena has been over, and you're now ready to say hello to washing the dishes.

Beko DTC36811S

You can wash your dishes without the hassle of the Beko DTC36811S. Don't worry about losing your Christmas glam while doing the dishwashing chore, as this tabletop dishwasher allows you to stack up to 8 plates simultaneously and enjoy its features, including the 6 Wash programs and water overflow safety system.

With the Beko Sends Love promo price, you can get the Beko DTC36811S for only Php 19,791.

Making Your Food Stored And Last For A Longer Time

Beko GNO480EHFGBPH

Well, Christmas and New Year's Eve are only a few days apart, and since Filipinos tend to prepare lots of food during Christmas, having the Beko GNO480EHFGBPH is essential to your kitchen!

Stock lots of food in your fridge with ease since the Beko has a NeoFrost Triple Cooling technology that has 2 separate cooling system that allows you to keep your food fresh for a longer time without having food odors mixed altogether.

Got some vegetables and fruits that you want to keep until the new year? This fridge also has HarvestFresh that uses innovative 3 colour light technology in the crisper drawer to cleverly mimic the 24-hour sun cycle, preserving vitamins in fruits and vegetables for longer. So you can enjoy a healthier lifestyle with more nutritious meals than ever.

Beko GNO480EHFGBPH

With the Beko Sends Love promo price, you can get the Beko GNO480EHFGBPH for only Php 54,892 from its original SRP of Php 60,990.

Christmas is indeed a wonderful and joyous season for everyone. With Beko, you can make your holiday kitchen moments memorable and filled with steps toward a healthy and sustainable lifestyle for the upcoming year ahead.

For more information about Beko in the Philippines, go to http://beko.ph or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bekoph and their Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/bekoph/.