Help the victims of Typhoon Paeng via Shopee

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Shopee users can choose to donate to UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, Waves for Water, and GMA Kapuso Foundation by purchasing donation vouchers in-app

MANILA, OCTOBER 30, 2022 - To provide support to Filipinos affected by the heavy rains and gusty winds brought about by Typhoon Paeng across the Luzon, Visayas, and most especially the Mindanao region, Shopee launches its Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Paeng Support initiative together with partner charity organizations. Through the initiative, users can purchase donation vouchers from Shopee’s partner charities on the app. These efforts are part of Shopee Bayanihan, the company's umbrella CSR arm that seeks to provide support for communities in need through partnerships with various humanitarian organizations.

From October 30 up to November 13, Shopee users can purchase the donation e-vouchers that will be used to provide victims of the typhoon with water kits, health, and sanitation stations, and other essentials such as food and clothes from partner charities UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, Waves for Water, and GMA Kapuso Foundation. Users can access e-vouchers for Typhoon Paeng through https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan and purchase them via Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, ShopeePay.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are deeply saddened by the vast impact that Typhoon Paeng has brought to our Filipino communities across the country. Now more than ever, we will continue to maximize our platform and resources to provide immediate relief to our fellow Filipinos in need. With this initiative, we hope to provide our kababayans with the support they need to recoup and recover.”

To donate to those affected by Typhoon Paeng, users may:

1. Head to the microsite https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan.

2. Choose the e-voucher of your preferred charity.

3. Click “Buy Now” to purchase the donation vouchers using ShopeePay.

With its heavy rains and strong winds triggering floods and landslides, Typhoon Paeng’s adverse effects were felt throughout the Philippines’ different regions, particularly in areas across Mindanao, such as Cotabato and Maguindanao. Through Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee is committed to making e-commerce accessible for everyone by helping communities benefit from the power of digital transformation wherever they are in the Philippines.

To know more about Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Paeng Support, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan.

 

Shopee partners with Charity Organizations to support victims of Typhoon Karding

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 Users can donate to GMA Kapuso Foundation, Unicef, Habitat For Humanity, and Waves For Water by purchasing donation vouchers in the Shopee app

To help the Filipinos devastated by the torrential rains and fierce winds brought about by Typhoon Karding across Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon, Shopee launches its Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Karding Support initiative wherein users can buy donation vouchers from Shopee’s partner charities on the app. This initiative is part of Shopee Bayanihan, the company's umbrella CSR arm that seeks to provide support for communities in need through partnerships with various humanitarian organizations.

From September 28, 2022, to October 9, 2022, Shopee users can purchase the donation e-vouchers that will be used for water kits, health, and sanitation stations, and other essentials such as food and clothes from partner charities GMA Kapuso Foundation, Unicef, Habitat For Humanity, and Waves For Water. Users can view Typhoon Karding Support vouchers through https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan and purchase them via Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, ShopeePay.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are incredibly saddened by the immense devastation that Typhoon Karding has brought to our fellow Filipinos across Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon. Shopee remains committed to using our platform and resources to benefit the local communities we operate in. Through this initiative, we hope to support our kababayans in times of need.”

To donate to those affected by Typhoon Karding, users may:

1. Head to the microsite https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan.

2. Choose the e-voucher of your preferred charity.

3. Click “Buy Now” to purchase the donation vouchers using ShopeePay.

Typhoon Karding is the 11th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this 2022 affecting major areas in Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon such as Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and more. With Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee is committed to making e-commerce accessible for everyone by helping communities benefit from the power of digital transformation wherever they are in the Philippines.

To know more about Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Karding Support, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan.

PayMaya pays it forward to mental health frontliners

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PayMaya pays it forward to the National Center for Mental Health by giving out 100 Christmas food baskets to NCMH Crisis Hotline responders and ER and Psychiatric Acute Unit staff.

Digital financial services leader PayMaya recently paid it forward to the frontlines of the National Center for Mental Health. The company distributed 100 Christmas food baskets to the NCMH Crisis Hotline responders and the Emergency Room and Psychiatric Acute Unit staff.

"Promoting mental health is important, especially among our young people during this pandemic. We are paying it forward to our mental health frontliners who have been helping fight this silent battle. We admire them for bravely dedicating their time and effort to help those suffering from mental health issues," said Nick Wilwayco, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at PayMaya.

According to NCMH, the average volume of monthly calls they received during the pandemic nearly quadrupled versus pre-pandemic numbers. PayMaya's gift to NCMH is part of PayMaya's initiative under the MVP Group's Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko campaign, which aims to keep the Christmas spirit alive amid the pandemic.

Early this year, NCMH was also a beneficiary of the PayMaya It Forward Flash Donation Drive for COVID-19 frontliners.

Share in the Spirit of Giving with ShopeePay this Holiday Season

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This holiday season, easily send money, scan to pay for your gift purchases,

and donate with ShopeePay

This holiday season, ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, makes giving easier and more convenient. With ShopeePay, enjoy meaningful holiday traditions by showing generosity and expressing gratitude through gifts, and donating to chosen charitable organizations. Here are ways to go cashless this holiday season with ShopeePay.

Send money with Christmas-themed Virtual Greeting Cards

Filipinos are all about traditions, especially during Christmas time - from attending Simbang Gabi, hanging parols, and giving and receiving aguinaldo with family members. ShopeePay keeps this Christmas tradition alive by letting users send money for free to other ShopeePay users. Users can personalize their ShopeePay aguinaldo with virtual Christmas cards. Here’s how to send money via ShopeePay:

1. In the ShopeePay Wallet, tap ‘Send Money’ and select ‘To Shopee User’

2. Enter the phone number or Shopee username of the person you want to send money to

3. Input the amount to be transferred, and select from the different virtual cards to personalize the transfer

4. Enter ShopeePay PIN to confirm the transaction.

To send money to other ShopeePay users, you must have a verified ShopeePay account. 

Buy holiday gifts and Scan To Pay with ShopeePay  in over 15,000 stores nationwide.

This Christmas, have a seamless gift shopping experience with ShopeePay. Enjoy cashless transactions and score exclusive cashback or discounts when you scan to pay via ShopeePay QR in over 15,000 partner merchant stores nationwide. For your fashionista friends, shop for gifts at Penshoppe, Plains & Prints, Olympic Village, OXGN, Regatta, and Anello. Workaholic or tech-savvy family members can enjoy gifts from National Bookstore, Digital Walker, MemoXpress, or Power Mac Center; all of which accept ShopeePay as an in-store payment method. 

Christmas baskets are also great to give during the holidays, which can be purchased at Puregold, Family Mart, Newstar Shopping Mart, and other grocery and convenience stores. Something even better than physical presents is quality time; with ShopeePay, you can treat your loved ones at BonChon, Mary Grace, Papa John’s Pizza, Fruitas, and many more food and beverage establishments. Stretch that budget, even more, this Christmas with ShopeePay P1 Deals, to get discounts at restaurants, for food and beverage items, groceries, and more. 

Share your blessings when you Donate with ShopeePay. 

Through ShopeePay, you can also conveniently give to your preferred charitable organization. Among the many NGOs you can donate to include, ABS-CBN Foundation, Gawad Kalinga, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Save Philippine Seas, UNICEF, Virlanie Foundation, World Vision, and more.  To see the full list of charities and their QR codes visit https://shopee.ph/m/scan-to-pay#anchorId-Donate. 

There are two ways to donate via ShopeePay:

Scan the Charity’s QR Code

1. Go to the ShopeePay homepage and select “Scan.”

2. Scan the charity’s QR code. 

Note: This can be found on the Shopee app or website (https://shopee.ph/m/scan-to-pay#anchorId-Donate) or on the charity’s social media page or website

3. Enter the donation amount and proceed to pay using ShopeePay.

Upload the Charity’s QR Code

1. Go to the ShopeePay homepage and select “Scan.”

2. Select the image icon found on the top right of the screen

3. Upload the image of the charity’s QR code from your phone’s gallery

4. Enter the donation amount and proceed to pay using ShopeePay.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of ShopeePay Online, Philippines, said, “We want ShopeePay to be a meaningful part of the holidays for our users. We are committed to being a platform for good, providing our users with seamless and easy access to digital financial services, especially during this happiest time of the year.  As 2021 comes to an end, we will continue to improve our features to serve the local community to the best of our ability, and help more Filipinos access the benefits of ShopeePay.”

Buy Load, Pay Bills, and Scan to Pay with ShopeePay for safe and cashless transactions this Holiday season. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Defensil's Donation Drive to Vaccine Sites Helps Filipinos to Live Safe Now

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In line with their commitment to help Filipinos live safe now, Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol donated reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) and Defensil 70% Isopropyl Alcohol to several vaccination sites in Muntinlupa, San Juan and Pasig.

As more and more Filipinos get their vaccines, Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol is here to help ensure that frontliners and priority groups remain protected through proper sanitation.

Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol donated 600 PPE’s and 264 1-liter bottles of isopropyl alcohol to vaccination sites such as the Pasig Sports Center, Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan as well as at the Festival Mall and Ayala South Park in Muntinlupa, creating a safer environment as more and more Filipinos get their jabs.

“We are committed to supporting the government’s vaccination efforts to help more Filipinos to live safer. We hope that the PPEs and isopropyl alcohol we donated to the different vaccine sites can give fellow Filipinos a higher level of protection as they get vaccinated and will serve as a reminder of the importance of always disinfecting when they go out and start to go back to their regular activities,” said Nikko Cruz, Brand Manager of Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol.

With Filipinos returning to the workplace and slowly resuming outdoor activities like shopping, dining, and working out, regular disinfection of hands and high touch surfaces using rubbing alcohol remains a key solution to help prevent the spread of germs. Recommended by the Philippine Society for Microbiology, Defensil’s 70% Solution Isopropyl Alcohol allows Filipinos to live safe now as it kills 99.9% of germs. It also helps Filipinos to quickly and effectively sanitize as it starts to kill germs on contact and provides up to 12 hours of protection upon constant use.

On top of this, Defensil is hypo-allergenic and contains moisturizer, so Filipinos can sanitize as often as they need to, as they go back to their regular activities.

With vaccination sites given a higher level of protection, Filipinos can live safe now and have greater peace of mind as they get vaccinated.

For more information on how to live safe now, visit the Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol’s Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/defensil.philippines

*Defensil 70% Isopropyl Alcohol was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli or E. coli and Candida albicans

Fisherfolks from Daet receive new boat engines from PLDT

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Over 150 fishermen from Barangay Bagasbas in Daet, Camarines Norte received newly upgraded boat engines from PLDT, in a bid to aid the residents' fishing activities for their livelihood.

In partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress, PLDT turned over boat engines that are more superior in quality, as recommended by the beneficiaries themselves. The Super Kaiao KA 192F model will allow them to sail and navigate towards the deep parts of the sea where big fishes are more likely to be found, which will lead to increased income to support their families, especially during this difficult time. 

“We are committed to equip our fisherfolks in far-flung communities through our boat engine donations. We hope that this will enable them to utilize livelihood opportunities amid the pandemic,” said PLDT Public Affairs Head Ramon Isberto.

PLDT also donated two sets of personal computers each at Barangay Bagasbas and the Municipality of Mercedes, Camarines Norte. Its wireless subsidiary Smart turned over a School-in-a-Bag, a portable digital classroom that uses mobile technology, while the PLDT-Smart Foundation donated Sack-of-Joy or school supplies kits to Bagasbas Elementary School in Daet and San Roque National High School in Mercedes.

Last year, PLDT also turned over a rescue boat to Daet Municipal to aid the community in case of calamities, and established a Service and Sales Center to accommodate the connectivity and customer needs of the residents. The PLDT and Smart business offices are collocated in Daet. These initiatives and more are part of PLDT’s continuing community assistance efforts for residents in the far-flung community of Daet, where the company's cable landing station is located. 

The boat engine donations were from PLDT’s Balik-Baterya funds from the PBSP-Motolite Balik-Baterya Program. Launched in 2006, the program involves the collection of used lead-acid batteries (ULAB) for proper recycling and production of new automotive and industrial batteries. These are also used to support various corporate social responsibility projects.

Helping the Frontliners in the fight against COVID-19 : MVP Group provides assistance to health workers, communities

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The Tulong Kapatid, the corporate social responsibility consortium of companies, foundations and affiliates under the leadership of Manuel V. Pangilinan, conducted a series of relief efforts and activities to help frontline health workers, government response teams as well as some underprivileged and homeless families in Metro Manila.

“We are fully committed to supporting our frontline health workers who are working tirelessly to save lives and to combat this pandemic. We will continue to pour in resources to address the needs and demands of our frontline workers, including PPEs and relief packages,” said PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

To date, here are some of the efforts of the Tulong Kapatid:

• Frontline health workers and government hospitals also recently received 14,000 Liters of 70% Ethyl alcohol donation from the Tulong Kapatid. The ethyl alcohol donation was from the Roxol Bioenergy Corporation, a company under the Roxas Holdings, Inc. These were transported and distributed to Metro Manila through the assistance of the Metropac Movers, Inc., PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) and the Makati Medical Center Foundation. 

• Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), along with Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF), provided personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as nitrile gloves, goggles, and coveralls, as well as boxes of vitamins to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the Philippine Genome Center. Initial donation of 500 units of 1,000 virus specimen collection tubes were also turned over to RITM.

• 200 PPEs, 100 boxes of Clusivol, and 10 Tulip Tabletop Water Filters were also donated to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

• MPIC and MPIF will also provide 1,000 full PPE kits containing surgical face masks, N95 face masks, disposable head caps, disposable shoe covers, disposable coveralls, disposable surgical gowns, and anti-fog goggles to frontliners in several hospitals and healthcare centers within the region.

• One Meralco Foundation (OMF) turned over their PPE donation which consisted of goggles, surgical gloves, face shields and face masks to the Rizal Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Lourdes Hospital and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.

• PSF and Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc. (AKFI) turned over hygiene kits and care packages which included N95 and surgical masks to frontline health workers at the Philippine General Hospital and East Avenue Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital and Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

• PSF in partnership with Makati Medical Center Foundation (MMCF) also turned over 12,500 reusable facemasks to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and hospital health workers and 14,400 pcs of Ascorbic Acid to the Lung Center of the Philippines. Along with that, PSF and MMCF decontaminated facilities of AFP General Headquarters and LCP.

• PSF is continuously preparing to distribute grocery packs, hazmat suits, ascorbic acids and reusable face masks to several hospitals and communities in Metro Manila and other regions.

• Subscribers of PLDT, Smart, Sun and TNT also continue to convert their MVP Rewards to donations to the PSF.

• AKFI distributed relief packs, hygiene kits and bottled water to street dwellers and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

• In coordination with the Philippine Marine Corps, AKFI distributed almost 3,800 servings of cooked food and water bottles from Maynilad to various hospitals and troops.

• AKFI also provided over 4,000 eggs to various communities and hospitals through the Ronald Mcdonald House of Charities. Through various donors, AKFI also turned over several relief packs, masks and plastic rolls to several hospitals in Metro Manila.

• OMF also partnered with AKFI to provide relief packs to homeless families in Quezon City and in Baseco Compound, Manila. Food packages were also provided to marginalized families in Brgy. Buting, Pasig City, in partnership with the Philippine National Police, and in Bacoor and Ternate, Cavite; Las Piñas City, Malabon and Pateros.

• Meralco provided flood lights to illuminate the parking area of the Lung Center of the Philippines that has been converted into patients’ triage and queueing area.

• Meralco’s electric vehicle subsidiary eSakay also supported Pasig City by providing and operating six electric jeeps to help transport healthcare frontliners to and from Pasig City General Hospital. The initiative began last March 19, 2020.

• Meralco employees raised P1M and has turned over the funds to PDRF’s Project Ugnayan to help feed homeless families in Manila through Caritas Manila’s Project Damayan.

• To help in the mission of the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), Meralco through OMF donated 20 desktop computers to the organization. In order to provide scientists with crucial information to mitigate the spread of the disease, the PGC is sequencing samples from COVID-19 patients admitted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), The Medical City, and PGH. PGC will also serve as the operations center of a bayanihan effort of various groups within the University of the Philippines system to help respond to the COVID crisis. Around 200 volunteers are expected to participate in this effort.

• Maynilad also provided around 27,000 bottled water to frontline workers from the Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police, Metro Manila Development Authority, National Capital Region Police Office, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, Lourdes Hospital, several local government units, and to various checkpoints in the metropolis. Maynilad also partnered with DPWH in the disinfection of national highways by providing watering points for its disinfection tankers.

• Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, through NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX and CALAX, continues to do its work to ensure unhampered movement of goods and transit of personnel of industries allowed to operate amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.  It has also supported and cooperated with the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force Covid-19 SHIELD in the set ups and smooth operations of its checkpoints. MPTC also continuously provides shuttling services to health workers of various hospitals.
   

The Tulong Kapatid continues to do its part in empowering Filipinos in the time of the COVID-19 crisis. Its commitment to provide a nationwide service is anchored on its core value of malasakit. The Tulong Kapatid fuels sparks of hope as it reaches out to various sectors and communities, including frontline health workers, government response teams and the underprivileged.

Above all, these efforts are ultimately inspired by the frontline workers who are working tirelessly to combat this pandemic. The commitment to serve is now seen through the lens of every frontline worker – a doctor, a nurse, a checkpoint officer, a janitor, a food delivery personnel. Each one of them changing the narrative of what resiliency means into something deeper – one that encompasses bravery and strength. One that can only be aptly described as being a hero. 

Here’s to our frontline heroes.  

GCash's #FightCOVID19 raises P4.5M for 7 partners

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Experts all over the world believe that to mitigate the effects and end the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), all sectors of the society must work hand in hand to fight the deadly virus.

It is not the sole responsibility of the government to stop the global pandemic, and it is imperative for people to join in the efforts and collectively stop the virus from further infecting anyone.

This rings true in the Philippines, where the Spirit of Bayanihan is slowly being revived amid the onslaught of natural and man-made catastrophes that struck the whole country during the first three months of 2020.

Various non-government organizations and even individuals have started calling on Filipinos to help in the war against the pandemic, whether it's through volunteerism or through monetary donations.

Donation drives have been launched by various groups to help protect frontline healthcare workers from the virus. These came amid the reported scarcity of personal protective equipment (PPEs) in hospitals.

Likewise, groups and individuals are seeking support to fund relief goods for the families that are in need of food and personal hygiene kits, as major cities and provinces impose their own community quarantine protocols.

For instance, friends Shary Laiz, Erika Jean Ente, and Alyana Singian are encouraging the Twitter universe to donate P20 to their mobile wallets to purchase hand sanitizers and soaps for the homeless. They are part of religious group Agape Christian Church International.

Quezon City-based professional alliance Save San Roque is seeking both donations in cash and in-kind to help the community of Sitio San Roque cope with the effects of the viral threat. The group aims to gather as many goods as they can to distribute to the citizens of the barangay.

People for Accountable Governance and Sustainable Action, a group of friends, also took to social media the call for donations for the purchase of a weekly “survival pack” communities in Tatalon, Talayan, Pinyahan, and Payatas as well as for the mothers in Tondo and Commonwealth. Each pack includes rice, canned goods, coffee, powdered milk, sugar, bread, and vegetables.

Youth-led movement Zero Hunger Philippines is also gathering monetary donations to provide food bags to over 10,000 families in select provinces in Luzon.

Tulong Kabataan, a youth movement, is also building up funds to supply food and hygiene kits to relocation sites and urban poor communities in Tacloban, Quezon City, and Manila.

Medical interns of Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center have also launched their social-media-based donation drive for the staff of the hospital, which is in need of masks, caps, alcohol, gloves, and disposable gowns for frontline employees that are treating suspected COVID-19 cases.

Other non-profits such as Project Tanglaw, Caritas Manila, and Tayo Kabataan are pooling donations to provide food and hygiene kits to the less fortunate and those who are most hit by the threat of the virus, as well as donate PPEs to hospitals in need.

There are hundreds more donation drives that are happening across the Philippines today, signaling the strong revival of the Filipino culture of Bayanihan — only that with the strict implementation of community quarantines and social distancing protocols, donations are facilitated through mobile phones.

GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, has been seeing spikes in the number of money transfers from one mobile wallet, as people collectively fight COVID-19 through digital donation drives.

Caritas Manila, for instance, has so far collected almost P850,000 in individual donations through GCash.

“It’s heartwarming to see firsthand how the uniquely Filipino Spirit of Bayanihan works. Since day one, we have envisioned the GCash platform to be a channel of good, and now we are seeing individuals and organizations maximizing the GCash app to efficiently facilitate donations for noble causes. We hope that as we further develop our platform, we continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need,” GCash President Anthony Thomas said.

Mobile digital finance has made it easier for individuals to support causes, as they now have an avenue to practice their generosity through their mobile phones, anytime and anywhere.

GCash and its partners the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), World Vision, UP Medical Foundation, PGH Foundation, Inc., ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, and Ayala Foundation have their own digital donation drive, dubbed #FightCOVID19, which aims to help provide medical gears to hospital workers in the country.

To send their support, GCash users simply have to click on the “Pay Bills” icon on their GCash apps, choose the “Others” tab, and click on “FightCOVID19.” GCash users then have to enter their name and the amount that they are donating to confirm their donation.

So far, #FightCOVID19 has raised roughly P4.5 million in individual donations.

“While we encourage GCash users to support our fundraising, it is encouraging for us to see our mobile digital wallet being used by individuals and other organizations as a conduit of good, especially during trying times. We hope that as Filipinos digitally band together as a nation, we can quickly eradicate the virus and go back to normalcy,” Thomas said.