Do it now! Here’s what happens if you fail to register your SIM

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Home Credit’s #SIMguradoAko campaign aims to support the government in pushing for SIM Registration

Since the announcement of mandatory SIM registration last year, many have been confused about what is it for and why is it important for us Filipinos.

Surely, you have read some articles, heard radio commercials, and even seen TV ads encouraging you to go to your telco’s website or app and register your SIM. Still, you and your friends refuse to comply with the government mandate thinking how something as simple as an unregistered SIM can disrupt our lives.

In this article, we will tell you why it is relevant and what will happen if you fail to register your SIM before the April 26 deadline.

Your SIM will get deactivated

Yes, the very SIM you use to text and call your loved ones when times are tough, the SIM that contains the number you use to send and receive money, pay bills or make other transactions through mobile apps will get deactivated. As mobile phones become more valuable and intertwined with everyday life, so do SIM cards.

But what does it mean to have your SIM deactivated? This means you’ll entirely lose your prepaid load balance and receiving OTPs for e-wallet and bank transactions would be impossible.

Receiving updates from the government on your benefits, loans, etc. is another problem. You might need to contact each agency and undergo a long process to update your contact details. Also, following up and hearing back from your employment application can be more than tricky. Just imagine applying to your dream job only to lose your slot because your future employer cannot reach you.

Having your SIM deactivated means you will become unreachable not only to your bank but to your contacts list as well. Colleagues, friends, and family who contact you using that SIM number won’t be able to do so once that SIM gets deactivated.

So no incoming nor outgoing calls. You won’t be able to send or receive messages either.

Your broadband and prepaid SIM-powered mobile internet will not work

If you have been using or recently bought prepaid internet, you might wonder why it’s not working even after powering it up several times, loading the SIM, and reading and rereading the manual, even doing a little troubleshooting to make sure you started it correctly. The answer is this: your new SIM is not yet activated.

As existing SIMs need to be registered, so do the ones you’re going to buy. Likewise, existing SIMs used for internet have to be registered or you risk rendering it useless.

You will have problem accessing your online accounts

Most of us use our contact numbers as login details on our social media accounts. In any case you logged out of your account or need to log in to a separate device, it will be troublesome for you to receive OTPs for two-way verification authentication.

Yes, you’re sure to come up with a workaround for these. However, it will require you to go through a long process to resolve this issue.

You can try contacting the applications’ help center and prove to them your identity through a series of authentication documents. You could also try personally going to the offices of these platforms. Or you can just register your SIM to avoid these hassles altogether.

Fighting security and data breach

Security and data breach are the top concerns of Filipinos about SIM registration, especially with the rising incidence of text and other mobile-related scams.

Interestingly, these – security and data breach -- are the very same issues the SIM Registration Law wishes to address. It aims to minimize the risk of users falling victim to scams perpetrated through calls, texts, and online messages. It hopes to make device owners more accountable and responsible users of technology. The law likewise hopes to lessen the occurrence of crimes and make it easier to track down perpetrators of cybercrimes and fraud.

#SIMguradoAko, Register now!

When you’re ready to register, simply go to your telco’s registration website, input your info, upload government ID and selfie, wait for the SMS confirmation and that’s it! You have now registered your SIM.

Reaffirming its commitment to be every Filipino’s partner Para Sa Life, Home Credit Philippines is urging everyone to register their SIM cards to comply with the SIM Registration Act through the #SIMguradoAko campaign, to help protect Filipinos against text and other phone-related scams.

Through its Wais sa Home initiative, the country’s leading consumer finance company has been actively campaigning against cyber fraud such as phishing, pharming, and spoofing to protect its customers.

In line with its goal of promoting financial literacy and education, Home Credit aims to raise awareness on the basics of saving and budgeting and wise financial management. Amid the widening adoption of e-commerce, it encourages Filipinos to be digitally wise in investing and using the right money apps and to protect themselves against online risks and scams.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are also encouraged to download the My Home Credit App on Google Play to learn more about the latest promos and see what’s new in the Marketplace.

COMCO Marks Epic 7 Years with the Launch of TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications

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From a Disruptive PR Agency Start-Up to a Powerhouse Group of Communication Companies

In just seven years, COMCO Southeast Asia, from being a trailblazing and disruptive PR Agency start-up, has transformed into COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, a global award-winning powerhouse group of communication companies and is now marking its seventh year with the official launch of TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications.

TARO AOX Rises

TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications is the newest addition to the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, alongside COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA), COMCO Middle East and Africa (MEA), and SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, among others, and it specializes on digital marketing, integrated communications, and technology and digital PR. It also offers social media management, influencer marketing, content marketing, digital activation, media planning and buying, video storytelling, multimedia arts, virtual event staging, and website and platform development.

TARO AOX is already in full swing and has been servicing clients such as Samsung Mobile, Sun Life Asia Service Center Philippines, Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz Anti Head Lice Shampoo, and APLGO.

COMCO Southeast Asia’s Epic 7^th Year

COMCO SEA, the PR and events company of COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, continues to champion New PR and Smart Social and also offers services such as Events and Activation, Branding, and Special Advertising Executions. The multi-awarded agency continues to make waves in the region as it recently won inter-agency pitches and acquired accounts such as Sony Philippines, Uratex Mattress, Uratex Monoblock, Alaxan, Century Tuna, and LaLiga. COMCO SEA also continues to manage a portfolio of highly regarded brands and organizations like Jobstreet, Remy Martin, Teleperformance, AXA, European Union, Eastern Communications, ASEANA City, Philusa Corporation, Babyflo Cotton, RHEA Generics, RHEA Vitamins, World Vision, and WWF-Philippines.

COMCO Southeast Asia is also gearing up for the prestigious and much coveted PRCA APAC (Public Relation and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards as it has been cited as a regional finalist for the Medium Consultancy of the Year Award; the PR / Communications Leader Award for Ferdinand L. Bondoy, the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder; the Media Relations Award for the Agency’s Meaningful Storytelling with COMCOmigos initiative; and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award for COMCO’s long-time client/brand partner Teleperformance.

The Growth of the COMCO Brand in Middle East and Africa

Established in 2021, COMCO Middle East and Africa led by its Managing Director / Partner and Co-Founder, Tricia Cusi-Jimenea, has successfully brought the COMCO brand into this market and has been regarded as among the major players in the region’s PR and marketing industry.

In a span of two years, the Agency has serviced a total of 30 brands which includes Empire Entertainment, Middle East Film & Comic Con, Metacon, Central Park, Dubai London Hospital, Shop Electric Pawn, Ezra, Hyde and The Wizarding World in the Mall of Emirates, to name a few.

An Industry Leader

COMCO has a major role in the PR and Communications industry here in the Philippines, in Asia-Pacific and across the globe. COMCO Mundo’s Ferdinand L. Bondoy is currently serving as the Corporate Secretary and PR and Digital Committee Head of the International Association of Business Communications (IABC) Philippines, Regional Board Member as well as Workplace and Culture Committee Member of the Public Relations & Communications Association Asia Pacific (PRCA APAC) based in Singapore, and Online Events Head and Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) International headquartered in the United Kingdom.

“In just 7 years, we have already garnered 100 brands and 150 metals and have produced 110 graduates from our long-running and award-winning Camp COMCO Mentorship Program. We thought we’ve already done it all, but as they say, we’re just getting ready for the most exciting part. We are empowered to do more and bigger things for the industry and with my great team beside me, we are definitely up for the challenge. Our 10-year master plan is just in its second phase and there’s still a lot of bigger things in the pipeline, to be unveiled very soon,” stated Ferdinand L. Bondoy, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder.

“As COMCO grows exponentially in its seventh year, its success also means the growth of its people, a value that inspired the company to create a benefits and compensation program upgrading for its team which includes health benefits extended to dependents, wellness allowance, leave conversion and acquired leaves for critical illness or long-term hospitalization, group insurance, retirement fund, overseas team travel, stock options, and partnership leadership opportunities, among others, which can be considered as the most comprehensive in the industry,” shared Joan Icotanim-Maslang, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Corporate Services Director and Comptroller / Partner.

To learn more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

To learn more about COMCO Mundo, go to comcomundo.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/COMCOmundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo, and @comco_mundo on Instagram.

GCash rolls out ‘DoubleSafe’ to arrest account takeovers

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Intensifies information campaign vs scams through GSafeTayo

GCash, the Philippines’ number one financial app, rolls out ‘DoubleSafe’, a game-changing security feature to safeguard its users from account takeovers.

DoubleSafe strengthens the security of GCash’s 76 million users as it prevents unauthorized account access. Before DoubleSafe, GCash already required two levels of authentication or 2-Factor Authentication. The first level of security is the OTP (One-time PIN), a unique number combination sent only to the user’s mobile number. The second level of authentication is the MPIN (Mobile PIN) which is a 4-digit passcode that only the customer or GCash owner should know.

To reinforce the security of customers’ accounts, starting March 2023, GCash will now require all users to activate DoubleSafe in order to add an additional layer of security to their account. This feature will be activated for every first login to a new mobile phone to ensure the continued protection of its users. The feature uses facial recognition, which means that even if a user inadvertently shares their MPIN and OTP to fraudsters, their account cannot be accessed from another device without scanning the owner's face – ultimately preventing account takeovers.

Beyond this security feature, GCash is also closely working with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) in going after fraudsters and scammers. This was formalized by the signing of a memorandum of agreement with PNP-ACG in 2022.

“GCash is one with the PNP-ACG in making sure that these cybercriminals are put behind bars while reminding the public on how to safeguard their accounts,” GCash Head of Fraud Management Miguel Geronilla said. “Together with the authorities, other relevant government agencies and our users, we can ensure that GSafeTayo.”

Along with the launch of Doublesafe, GCash is intensifying its GSafeTayo campaign through a series of awareness and education materials that will help customers identify and avoid fake sellers, suspicious links, as well as other common forms of scams.

Through the campaign, customers are equipped to join the fight, together with GCash, for true account security.

The campaign focuses on providing prevention tips to help the public avoid being scammed:

Don’t open unfamiliar links. Scammers often send messages with links, luring recipients with enticing “prizes” or a chance at a high-paying position. To counter this, GCash has stopped sending links via SMS, emails, and other messaging apps.

Never share personal information. It’s common practice for scammers to call individuals and pose as GCash representatives to gather personal user information. GCash will never ask its customers for MPINs and OTPs and will only reach out to customers through official channels.

Double check before buying. Fake online sellers and shops offer too-good-to-be-true deals to lure individuals into purchasing their products. GCash recommends double checking online offers, as well as checking reviews to ensure authenticity.

“At GCash, the safety and peace of mind of our customers are very important to us. With DoubleSafe and our intensified GSafeTayo campaign, our users will be protected from scammers and account takeovers,” said Geronilla. “But aside from security measures, we are also ramping up reminders to our 76 million users on how they can safeguard their accounts.”

To report scams and other suspicious activities, users can go to the the GCash Help Center via the GCash app or at https://help.gcash.com/, Chat with Gigi, and choose “I want to report a scam.”

Through GCash’s unrelenting efforts to protect its users’ hard-earned money and the collective cooperation of its customers and partners, we can make sure that with GCash, #GSafeTayo.

PLDT Home’s Madiskarte Moms PH wins the most prestigious Grand Anvil at the 58th Anvil Awards

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The entrepreneurship advocacy has helped thousands of mompreneurs succeed in their online home businesses amidst the COVI9-19 pandemic

PLDT Home’s Madiskarte Moms PH community won the Grand Anvil Award. In this photo (L-R): PRSP President Harold Geronimo, Stratworks Managing Director Mark Christian Parlade, PLDT Home’s Head of Digital Content Marketing Mabie Encarnacion, PLDT Home’s Manager for Fixed Wireless Postpaid Kat Yulo, PLDT Home’s AVP for Product Marketing (Digital Services) Janice Lagaso, PLDT Home’s Senior Manager for Marketing Communications Linette Garcia-Perez, PLDT Home’s Product Manager for Entertainment Tin Rementilla, PLDT Home’s PR Manager and Community Lead for MMPH Daphne Gripal, PLDT Home’s Digital Content Specialist Elaine Lara, Former DTI and DepEd Secretary and Alliance Global Group Independent Director Jesli A. Lapus, AVP and Head of PLDT Home Public Relations and Influencer Management Cheryl Maxine Loyola, PRSP Trustee and 58th Anvil Awards Chairperson Georgina “Joji” Banzon, and Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management President and CEO Justin Green

PLDT Home’s Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) online community won the prestigious Grand Anvil Award, the highest honors at the 58th Anvil Awards this year. The community’s first ever annual awards that celebrates exceptional mompreneurs, Gawad Madiskarte 2022, was also a recipient of a Gold Anvil Award under the PR tools category.

“We are humbled to have won the prestigious Grand Anvil Award for an advocacy that our brand truly believes in, and it’s made even more meaningful to have received the recognition on International Women’s Day,” said Cheryl P. Loyola, Assistant Vice President and Head of Public Relations and Influencer Management at PLDT Home.

“It is our privilege and honor to empower and support our hardworking, dedicated, and passionate mompreneurs. We are always committed to help them be financially independent and succeed in life by providing the fastest and most reliable PLDT Home broadband to power their online businesses,” she added.

MMPH is an online community launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic which had gravely affected many working Filipino women; some lost their jobs while some were forced to leave their work in order to focus on their domestic duties. Understanding the increasing financial responsibilities that their families face, PLDT Home and a group of Filipino moms launched Madiskarte Moms PH in September 2020. A Filipino term for someone resourceful, “madiskarte” fittingly captured the spirit of Filipino moms who took on the challenge of digital entrepreneurship amid the pandemic.

An online community for aspiring, starting, and experienced mother entrepreneurs or mompreneurs, MMPH aims to educate moms on how to successfully start, manage, or grow their business by providing them with information and resources; build a strong support system with like-minded moms in a safe online space; and empower them to succeed in their entrepreneurial journey through technology and skills training in partnership with industry leaders as well as providing them with business starter kits.

Madiskarte Moms PH also launched the first ever Gawad Madiskarte 2022: A Tribute to Outstanding Filipina Mompreneurs on Women’s Month last March 2022, which also won a Gold Anvil Award. It is an awards ceremony that recognizes exceptional mompreneurs who thrived despite the hardships brought about by the pandemic. MMPH honored mompreneurs who overcame challenges and flourished during these trying times.

Madiskarte Moms PH also previously won a Silver Stevie Award for Innovation in Community Relations or Public Relations at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

The Anvil Awards, presented by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, is the "Oscars" of public relations in the country where they recognize the most excellent and outstanding PR programs and tools every year.

The Stratworks, Inc. and Playback team along with the PLDT Home PR and Influencer Management team

PLDT Home also bagged eight Anvil Awards for their impactful and meaningful campaigns and advocacies.

New PLDT Home Fiber Plans now with 2x more speeds at the same price

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What would you do if you have more speed to power your digital lifestyle? What if you could have the opportunity to experience up to twice the speed you’re getting now? That can be a reality now as PLDT Home rolls out the biggest speed upgrade with the newest Fiber Plans this February.

Faster Fiber Plans Yet

The new PLDT Home Fiber Unli Plans are double the previous speed offers and can now reach up to 600 Mbps for as low as P2699 monthly.

What’s more, all these new Home Fiber plans get faster speeds with the same price as previous plans. Now, that’s a treat especially for the new subscribers. Meanwhile, existing subscribers will need not apply for any plan upgrade to get the same faster speeds as they will automatically get the new Fiber plan speeds starting this month.

Fiber Unli Plan	Previous speed	New speed
Plan 1699	100 Mbps	200 Mbps
Plan 2099	200 Mbps	400 Mbps
Plan 2699	400 Mbps	600 Mbps

What does it mean for PLDT Home Fiber customers?

Families at home with dynamic digital lifestyles will highly benefit from the faster internet speeds of the new PLDT Home Fiber plans:

● For those who like to surf the Internet: Fiber Unli Plan 1699, 2099, and 2699 with the new speeds of 200, 400, and 600 Mbps respectively, allow users to load websites and pages within seconds, making browsing an even more enjoyable experience.

● For those who love to stream their movies and TV series: Fiber Unli Plan 1699 with 200 Mbps makes streaming SD and HD content on a few devices smooth and seamless. Fiber Unli Plan 2099’s 400 Mbps allows smooth streaming of HD and Ultra HD content on more demanding devices like smart TVs and PCs. The full power of Fiber Unli Plan 2699’s 600 Mbps speed makes streaming up to 4K HD and even 8K on the latest smart TVs easier than ever.

● For those who need to work online: The 200 Mbps from Fiber Unli Plan 1699 makes video conferencing easier with none of the dreaded lagging and dropping out, and users can also download all the files they need in minutes or even seconds. Fiber Unli Plan 2099’s 400 Mbps is there for bigger download demands, and for those who need to work with the largest files all the time, Fiber Unli Plan 2699 is the ideal setup.

● For those who demand better gaming support: Fiber Unli Plan 1699’s 200 Mbps will give a lag-free gaming experience on one or two devices such as a PC and/or gaming console. For more devices at home, 400 Mbps from Fiber Unli Plan 2099 will maintain that low latency. For those with the biggest gaming setups at home with multiple devices, Fiber Unli Plan 2699’s 600 Mbps will easily power it all.

● For those into content creation: Fiber Unli Plan 1699 allows for quick and easy content uploading to platforms like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more. For streamers on platforms like Twitch, Fiber Unli Plan 2099 and 2699 ensure a consistent livestreaming experience at all times.

Whole-home coverage with Fiber Plus Plans

On top of the improved Fiber Unli Plans, PLDT Home has also upgraded its Fiber Plus Plans, which come with three Mesh WiFi devices to eliminate wi-fi dead spots in larger homes.

Fiber Plus Plan	Previous speed	New speed
Plan 2399	200 Mbps	400 Mbps
Plan 2999	400 Mbps	600 Mbps

Mesh WiFi creates a wider wi-fi coverage within the home, with devices only needing to connect to one network no matter where they are in the area.

The fastest fixed network in the Philippines

The launch of the new PLDT Home Fiber Plans plays a big role in PLDT Home’s status as the fastest broadband in the Philippines. PLDT Home has consistently received this recognition in global internet testing firm Ookla’s regular rankings.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has also steadily climbed up the Speedtest Global Index over the past year, jumping two places higher in the January 2023 edition with a median download speed of 88.13 Mbps. This rise is due in part to PLDT Home’s contributions to the constant improvement of the country’s network infrastructure.

Experience the possibilities of even faster fiber internet with PLDT Home’s upgraded Fiber Plans. Visit this link today to find out more.

Start your holiday shopping early this 11.11 Lazada’s Biggest Sale with PLDT Home Rewards!

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November is finally here and that means you can score the best deals on 11.11 Lazada’s Biggest Sale! With the infinite selection of stuff that you can get from the leading ecommerce platform, there’s no shortage of gifts for your family and friends—and rewards for yourself, too. After all, getting into the Christmas spirit of giving and sharing is the best way to kick off the holiday season.

Luckily for PLDT Home Rewards members, five P100,000 Lazada gift cards are up for grabs in this month’s Grand Giveaway promo, and joining the raffle is fast and easy.

If you are a PLDT Home subscriber but not yet a member of the loyalty program, you can simply enroll your account to PLDT Home Rewards and start earning Crystals and raffle entries. If you are an existing member, just pay your PLDT bill in full and on time, upgrade your plan, apply for paperless and auto-charge payment, or pay via digital channels to start earning Crystals and raffle entries.

You can also exchange 10 Crystals for a Lazada voucher that gives you P100 off for a minimum spend of P1,000 during Lazada’s Biggest sale from today until November 13— for which you’ll also automatically get two raffle entries to the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway this month.

Here are some of the awesome finds that you can get with your P100,000 Lazada gift cards on the most awaited sale:

1. Fashion

Update your wardrobe or give your family and friends some stylish clothes that you can get at a discount this 11.11. From fashion essentials like jeans and shorts, stylish and colorful tops, to the most trending sneakers, you can express yourself creatively without breaking the bank.

For those looking for great deals on fashion essentials, a cute pair of Levi’s denim shorts or these elegant and chic ZANZEA khaki chinos look good in your OOTDs. You’ll also want to look good in stylish tops and dresses, which is why getting a dress like a pretty Crissa woven dress or a fashionable Plains and Prints vintage top gives you great style options for parties and reunions this holiday season. If you want something sporty, get a pair of the Fila Lite Matrix Run or the timeless Adidas Stan Smith.

2. Home essentials

Looking to level up your house? There’s a whole range of home improvement choices available online, such as furniture, accessories, decorations, and other unique pieces. If you saw it on social media like Facebook and TikTok, you’ll most likely find it on Lazada.

You can give your living room an upgrade by getting a piece like a new BAIERDI luxury sofa bed set perfect for a cozy holiday movie night with the family. Try something new for your dining room at home like the 16-piece Corelle dinnerware set that can add more flair to your Noche Buena. If you want a comfier holiday sleeping experience over the break, then getting a new Uratex foam mattress is definitely the perfect choice.

3. Games, consoles, and accessories

Holidays mean long breaks and more quality time to spend with family and loved ones. Bond over action-packed and fun video games.

Playing the hottest games of 2022 on a brand-new Sony PlayStation 5 will surely be the highlight of your family’s holiday season. Don’t forget to add one or more extra PS5 controllers to your cart for fun multiplayer sessions with more family members. For solo players, you can get a copy of Elden Ring, one of the best PS5 games right now. You can also buy other gaming accessories and peripherals during the 11.11 sale, like the HyperX Alloy Origins mechanical keyboard, which is a great gift idea for PC gamers who are also keyboard enthusiasts.

4. Work and study at home essentials

Grab productivity essentials like office and study tools, gadgets, electronics, and more at great deals in the 11.11 sale.

For the hardworking go-getter in your life, the Infinix INbook X1 is one of the best value-for-money laptops available right now. If they prefer to work or study on a device that’s more portable, another good option is a reliable tablet like the Huawei MatePad T10. Meanwhile, you can also upgrade your home workstation with the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2337 3 in 1 Printer, which gives you and the family an easier and more hassle-free time in printing important documents for school or work.

5. Beauty must-haves

Feel great, beautiful, and confident this holiday season without breaking the bank. Lazada also offers a wide variety of health and beauty products from makeup to skincare.

Score nice deals on effective skincare products like the Garnier Sakura All Star Kit, which can give you dazzling glass skin in one week. A set of RP Frozen Collagen Face Masks can also keep your face clean, cool, and healthy all the time. For gift ideas to give your friends or family, you can’t go wrong with something like the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser bundle.

There’s an infinite number of deals to score in this year’s Lazada 11.11 sale! So, don’t forget to register to PLDT Home Rewards, pay your PLDT bill in full and on time, upgrade your plan, apply for paperless and auto charge payment, or pay via digital channels to get a chance to win a Lazada gift card in PLDT Home Rewards’ Grand Giveaway Promo this month.

It doesn’t stop there—your raffle entries serve as your tickets to win the grand prize: a whopping P5 million pesos! Make the most of PLDT Home Rewards and join the Grand Giveaway Promo today. 

Visit https://pldthome.com/grandgiveaway to find out more.

COMCO Southeast Asia’s Group Chief Executive elected to global PR bodies PRCA APAC Regional Board and CIPR International Committee

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COMCO Southeast Asia’s Group Chief Executive and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy has been elected to prestigious international PR industry groups, the Public Relations & Communications Association Asia Pacific (PRCA APAC) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Mr. Bondoy was named as one of the newest Regional Board Members of PRCA APAC based in Singapore and the only Filipino to be elected in the position. The Board provides a formal mechanism to consult with the industry’s most senior practitioners on the issues PR and communications face and to act as a think-tank for the industry in the Asia-Pacific Region. Alongside his duties as a Board Member, he will also play a vital role in the organization’s Workplace and Culture Committee.

Going beyond his work in Asia-Pacific, Mr. Bondoy was also appointed anew to be part of the London-based CIPR’s International Committee, representing not only the Philippines but also Southeast Asia and the rest of Asia-Pacific. The committee is one of the largest sectoral groups of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and it brings members together to discuss and attend to issues facing communicators working internationally.

PRCA is the world’s largest professional PR body representing more than 35,000 PR professionals in 70 countries worldwide and a global advocate for excellence in public relations. Meanwhile, CIPR is the world’s only Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners, with nearly 10,000 members across the globe.

A winner of the PR Champion of the Year Gold Award at the recent PR Awards for Asia-Pacific, Ferdinand L. Bondoy is a multi-awarded communications practitioner with extensive communications work, regional collaboration, and international training throughout his journey as a storyteller. He co-founded COMCO Southeast Asia, a global award-winning inter-regional integrated communications agency headquartered in the Philippines with affiliate network presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, which champions the practice of the emerging global disciplines of New PR and Smart Social. He also led the creation of COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, the parent and umbrella organization for trailblazing and game-changing companies and programs such as COMCO Southeast Asia, COMCO Middle East & Africa, TARO Digital AOX, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program, and Camp COMCO Mentorship Program Alumni Society.

“I am both humbled and honored to work with the most distinguished global PR professionals of the PRCA and CIPR. These are opportunities that I not only consider as a milestone for myself but for the PR industry in the Philippines as a whole and I commit to champion the causes and projects of these organizations. As issues are not restricted geographically and all of us are interconnected wherever we are in the world, we need to go beyond borders to reach out to more stakeholders and ultimately, ignite social change through the practice of our discipline,” said Mr. Bondoy.

Ferdinand started young in the communications field having been an academic scholar of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Bachelor of Mass Communication. As a way of giving back to the industry, he created the award-winning Camp COMCO Mentorship Program which has been recognized for training and producing a new breed of young communications practitioners. He also serves as the Corporate Secretary and Chair of the Digital Communications and Public Relations Committee and Youth Programs of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.

To know more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

Grander, more thrilling prizes up for grabs in the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway Year 2

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PLDT Home shows love to its loyal customers with the return of the Grand Giveaway promo! From September 1 to December 31, 2022, over 200 new and existing PLDT Home customers can take home grander, more thrilling rewards and prizes during the monthly draws, and a chance to win Maya credits and P5 million cash (tax-free) in the grand draw. Winners for the grand draw will be announced on January 30, 2023.

Christmas sure came early because PLDT Home will be giving away P100,000 Philippine Airlines e-gift cards to five lucky winners, plus a host of exciting prizes including Apple iPads, Nintendo Switch OLED consoles, Samsung Galaxy A32 5G phones, TP Link Wifi 5 Mesh devices, and e-vouchers from Shopee and GrabFood.

Joining the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway is simple! Follow these easy steps.

1. Enroll your PLDT Home account in the PLDT Home Rewards Program by clicking this link or by visiting pldthome.info/grander2022.

2. Earn Crystals. For every five Crystals earned, you get one raffle entry.

3. You can also use these crystals to redeem discounts from the following brand partners

PLDT Home Rewards goes #Grander with new video

To kick off the Grand Giveaway promo, PLDT Home Rewards is also launching a new video featuring Filipino actress, singer, model, and Home ambassador, Gigi De Lana.

In the new video, Gigi shows how subscribers can do it better and get a shot at a grander life by simply being a member of the PLDT Home Rewards program.

You can watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/9M5ko3llrP4

It’s really rewarding to be a PLDT Home subscriber with all these grander prizes and rewards! Be a member by signing up, earn Crystals and get a chance to win P5 million cash (tax-free) and more!

You can’t miss this Limited-time Easy Speedboost offer from PLDT Home!

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PLDT Home drops Easy Speedboost, the most affordable and fastest Fiber plans upgrade promo you shouldn’t miss!

All PLDT Home Fiber subscribers are in for a treat as they get three (3) grand gifts: free speedboosts, hassle-free upgrade, and a chance to enjoy the fastest speeds with the biggest price-drop offer until September 26!

Upgrading your speeds is now easier than ever! All eligible subscribers will be notified via email and SMS on the free speedboost.  Simply reply YES and enjoy upgraded speeds with a minimal add on of P50.00 or P100.00 monthly.

“We continuously innovate our products and services to address the evolving needs and increasing demand for bigger bandwidth of families at home. The Easy Speedboost is a way to make our fastest internet speeds more accessible and affordable to our customers as we enable them to do things better in their work, study, and entertainment activities at home,” said Patrick Tang, First Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Customer Management.

PLDT Home powers homes to be smarter as it delivers internet speeds up to 10 Gbps with equal upload and download speeds for multiple devices. With strong connectivity in every part of the home, families can keep all their devices – from security cameras to smart appliances – running without interruption.

For parents working at home or for kids who are now back to school with a hybrid study set-up, PLDT Home Fiber provides the fastest and most reliable connection for their daily essentials. What’s more, with a seamless connection, families can enjoy wider entertainment activities with access to the best digital contents from Lionsgate Play, Viu, HBO Go, Cignal, and NBA League Pass.

Philippines’ Fastest Broadband

PLDT Home remains the undisputed fastest broadband in the Philippines for five consecutive years as it was once again awarded in the Ookla® Speedtest Awards™ Q1-Q2 2022. PLDT bested all major internet providers in the Philippines, achieving a speed score of 77.91. It also logged the fastest download and upload speeds at 210.83 Mbps and 234.21 Mbps, respectively.

Ookla® is the global leader in internet testing and analysis. The Ookla® Speedtest Awards™ recognizes network operators worldwide that have delivered exceptional internet performance and coverage within a market. The award is based on Ookla’s rigorous analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with Speedtest™.

Know more about the Easy Speedboost at www.pldthome.com.

 

COMCO SEA Wins Big in the 19th Philippine Quill with 3 Top Awards and 30 Metals

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Trailblazing and global award-winning communications agency COMCO Southeast Asia has accomplished yet another milestone after winning 3 Top Awards and 30 metals from the prestigious 19th Philippine Quill Awards organized by the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC) Philippines.

For the much-coveted Communication Management and COVID Communications categories, COMCO Southeast Asia bagged both Top Awards for its landmark initiative “Dear Survivor: The COMCO Southeast Asia Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2” besting over 800 entries nationwide. The “Write to Ignite Blogging Project” is an initiative of ComCo Southeast Asia championing the triumph of the human spirit through inspiring stories during these challenging times. “Dear Survivor: The COMCO Southeast Asia Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2” was co-presented by Eastern Communications and Jobstreet, sponsored by AirAsia and Xiaomi, and supported by Teleperformance. Beneficiaries of the program include Gawad Kalinga, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Save the Children, World Vision, and WWF.

Moreover, the “Camp COMCO House Wars: The Force of Learning in New PR and Smart Social”, COMCO Southeast Asia’s award-winning intensive and comprehensive talent incubation initiative, industry linkage course and apprenticeship program, also won a nomination for the Top Award in Communication Training and Education, alongside Awards of Excellence for Communication Training and Education and Communication Management – Internal Communications. Camp COMCO House Wars has partnered with various brands and organizations such as Unilab Foundation, Starbucks, FWD Insurance, Theo & Philo artisan chocolates, CARA Welfare Philippines, and ABS-CBN among others, to deliver this landmark initiative. Camp COMCO Mentorship Program started with its first cycle in 2016 and continuously growing as it reaches its 18th Cycle this year, with over 100 graduates in a span of 6 years.

In total, COMCO Southeast Asia won an overwhelming number of 30 Quill Excellence and Merit Awards together with its partner brands in various industries and sectors such as JobStreet, Teleperformance, Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz, Defensil, Unilab Foundation, and World Vision, as well as SEA Wave magazine, which made them the Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up.

Since its creation in 2016, COMCO Southeast Asia has already won a total of 137 awards and citations from various local and international award-giving bodies such as IABC Quill Awards, MarCom Awards in USA, Mumbrella Awards, Marketing Event Awards, Spikes Asia, Anvil Awards, Kidlat, ARAW Advertising Values Awards, The Filipino Times Awards in UAE, ASEAN PR Excellence Awards, Marketing Interactive Asia’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards, CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) Excellence Awards in the United Kingdom, Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia in Hong Kong, The Gold Standard Awards, APAC Tambuli Awards, and Stevie Awards.

"Together with our client partners, our mission is to continue igniting social change with real and impactful campaigns. While our main goal for the programs we create and implement is to touch lives and make a difference, we are truly grateful that our authentic projects have been recognized with awards from reputable organizations like the IABC and this just inspires us to continue with our mission of #MeaningfulStorytelling," said COMCO Southeast Asia's Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director Ferdinand L. Bondoy.

The Quill Awards is organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), and it is one of the world’s most prestigious awards programs in the field of business communication. For two decades, the Quill Awards have only been bestowed to the most reputable organizations and corporations in the Philippines that are making a difference in business and society. To win a Philippine Quill means being recognized as achieving the highest Global Standard for business communication practices.

To know more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.