Manny Pacquiao and Hidilyn Diaz dared one another at the Alaxan Showdown of the Year, share trusted companion in their triumphs through the years

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Notwithstanding difficulties as world-renowned athletes, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz showcased their determination as they challenged one another at the recent Alaxan’s Showdown of the Year held at the Unilab Bayanihan Center.

To celebrate the coming together of Pacquiao and Diaz for Alaxan FR, the duo challenged each other by switching roles—Diaz challenged Pacquiao to lift weights while Pacquiao dared Diaz to spar. Aside from the challenges, the top-notch athletes also shared about their recent professional and personal endeavors and reveals their companion in their triumphs through the years.

Together with the pain relief medicine brand Alaxan FR, Pacquiao and Diaz, aim to empower hardworking Filipinos–the everyday champions–who continuously persevere and push their limits to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Moreover, as they continue honing their craft to level up with their respective sports, Pacquiao and Diaz, likewise demonstrate the same passion in their other endeavors.

Pacquiao recently unveiled his housing project called “Pacman Village” in Saranggani Province after he was named "ambassador for the homeless and vulnerable" by international organization Spring Rain Global. He is also dedicating his time in supporting young boxers including Mark Magsayo who held the WBC featherweight title in 2022. Pacquiao juggles these social projects with his training as he gears up for an upcoming match this 2023 in Japan.

Hidilyn Diaz, on the other hand, is undergoing rigorous training as she transitions to the 59-kg division for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics in her attempt to defend the gold after snatching it in the last Olympics in 2020. Named the Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), Hidilyn strives to promote weightlifting and empower young aspiring athletes, especially women, to reach their dreams.

While busy with both professional and personal ventures, Pacquiao and Diaz ensure they are accompanied by their tried and tested pain relief partner which helps them focus on being champions without worrying about body pains and without fear of any serious side effect.

Since 2001, Pacquiao has been taking Alaxan FR in fighting body pains not only from trainings but also from his non-athletic activities and endeavors.

“Alaxan FR ang naging kaagapay ko for the past 22 years. Ngayong 44 years old na ako, masasabi kong malusog at malakas pa rin ako, at ‘di ako nangangamba kapag nakararanas ng sakit ng katawan dahil sinusunod ko ang correct dose,” Pacquiao shared.

[Alaxan FR has been a reliable companion for the past 22 years. Now that I am 44 years old, I could say that I am perfectly healthy and have nothing to worry about when experiencing and treating my body pain because I always follow the correct dose.]

“Kilala ang mga Pinoy bilang masisipag kaya talagang isinasabuhay ko ‘to hanggang ngayon. Kapag weightlifter ka, hindi talaga maiiwasan ‘yong sakit ng katawan. I’m sure marami rin sa atin ang nakakaranas ng ganito sa araw-araw kaya importante na mayroong trusted companion gaya ng Alaxan na tumutulong labanan ang body pain at magpatuloy sa laban,” Diaz said.

[Filipinos are known for being hard-working and it is a value that I always keep in mind until now. As a professional weightlifter, body pains are inevitable. I’m sure many of us also experience this in our daily lives so it’s important to have a trusted companion like Alaxan that will help us beat body pains and continue moving forward.]

Trusted by many Filipinos for 50 years, Alaxan has not caused serious side effects with regard to taking this pain relief medicine. That is because it combined a lower level of Ibuprofen & Paracetamol (200mg Ibuprofen and 325mg Paracetamol). In fact, in a systematic analysis done by Cochrane in 2015, they found that “there were fewer side effects for people taking ibuprofen plus paracetamol than those taking placebo (a pretend treatment).” The study highlighted only Ibuprofen Paracetamol as having a good safety profile among all other common pain medicines that were included in the study.

“Pacquiao and Hidilyn have been icons and testaments that attaining your dreams is possible through determination. We’re very honored to have these champions who are very discerning about their health trust Alaxan, and we’re looking forward to seeing them achieve bigger things in life and in their career without worrying about body pains,” said Valerie Ifurung-Siquian from UNILAB Consumer Health.

For more information about Alaxan FR, visit their Facebook Page at @AlaxanFastRelief or visit their website: more about Alaxan. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

Nicole Borromeo of Cebu was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2022

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Cebu’s Nicole Borromeo was crowned as Binibining Pilipinas International 2022 during the 2022 Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night with 40 candidates who battled out to be Miss Globe, Miss Intercontinental, and Miss Grand International, held this Sunday, July 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City hosted by beauty queens Catriona Gray, Nicole Cordoves, and Samantha Bernardo.

Winners of the other titles are: 

Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2022: 

Roberta Angela Tamondong, San Pablo, Laguna

Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2022: Chelsea Fernandez, Tacloban

Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2022: 

Gabrielle Basiano, Borongan, Eastern Samar

Runner-ups include Angono, Rizal’s Herlene Nicole Budol as 1st runner-up and Stacey Daniella Gabriel from Cainta, Rizal as 2nd runner-up.

The following are with Special recognitions / special awards: 

Best in National Costume - Graciella Lehmann (Oriental Mindoro)

Bb. Talent - Ma. Isabela David (Mexico, Pampanga)

The Face of Binibini - Yllana Marie Aduana (Laguna)

Bb. Friendship - Eiffel Janell Rosalita (Catanduanes)

Bb. Philippine Airlines - Roberta Tamondong (San Pablo Laguna)

Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice Award - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Shein - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Moist Diane Shampoo - Karen Laurrie Mendoza (Iloilo City)

Bb. Pizza Hut - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Kumu - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Jag Queen - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Silka – Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Ever Bilena - Chelsea Fernandez (Tacloban City)

Bb. World Balance - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Best in Swimsuit - Gabrielle Basiano (Borongan, Eastern Samar)

Best in Evening Gown - Gabrielle Basiano (Borongan, Eastern Samar)

This year’s edition of the beauty pageant was hosted by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves and featured performances from Maymay Entrata and SB19, one of the country's top P-Pop idols. 

Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Bernardo and fellow “Pinoy Big Brother” alum Edward Barber served as the live chat hosts during the event.

Photos: Bb Pilipinas Facebook

PLDT Home, Google launch Be Internet Awesome online series

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New kid-oriented show aims to teach kids how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online

Be Internet Awesome’s lead characters - Sam Elora (L) and Robo-berto

Following its partnership announcement to further strengthen efforts in educating Filipino kids and families about internet safety and digital responsibility, the Philippines’ leading home broadband and digital service provider PLDT Home and Google joined forces in creating a kid-oriented video series online.

The Be Internet Awesome online series combines animation and live action — featuring Gen Alpha whiz Sam and his trusty friend Robo-berto in fun-filled yet enlightening adventures on how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online. The series is based on the values of Google’s Be Internet Awesome global program and is directed by Manny Angeles, an award-winning director and producer of kid-oriented and animated shows.

Available in both English and Filipino in the Philippines, Be Internet Awesome aims to teach children the fundamentals of leading a digital life which includes what kind of information to post on social media and how to deal with cyberbullying among others. This is part of the many efforts of Google to help keep people safe online.

(L-R): PLDT Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Business Home Group, Jeremiah de la Cruz; Google Philippines Marketing Head, Gabby Roxas; First Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Product Management and Marketing, John Henri Yanez

“Our children are true digital natives. They grew up with the internet and everything the digital world has to offer. But as they broaden their horizons for discovery and learning, it also exposes them to risks and dangers,” said Jeremiah de la Cruz, Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Home Group, PLDT Inc. “Through this original series, we at PLDT Home want to translate the teachings from Google’s Be Internet Awesome program into an entertaining and practical show that children can enjoy watching while learning about online safety early on.”

“PLDT Home’s partnership with Google for Be Internet Awesome aligns with our larger group-wide commitment: to strengthen customer-centricity. At PLDT, we not only find ways to simplify technology and experience for our customers, but we also strive to do business responsibly by putting their safety and well-being at the forefront of all our products and services,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT Inc. And Smart Communications, Inc.

In 2021, PLDT also invested over P2 billion in cybersecurity and protection filtering. The country’s largest integrated telco has since been very active in detecting, responding, and preventing both domain and content-level access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) within the network. PLDT’s Child Protection Platform has blocked almost 300,000 URLs linked CSAM by the end of May and prevented more than a billion attempts to access these illegal sites from November last year to May this year.

“After launching Be Internet Awesome in 2021 in the Philippines, we are glad to have found a like-minded partner in PLDT who champions the same values when it comes to protecting kids online. Through PLDT and more potential partners in the future, we hope to scale Be Internet Awesome and provide more families with a practical way of teaching digital safety and wellness to their children so they can become responsible, confident explorers of the online world,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director of Google Philippines.

Actor and TV host KC Montero and family

Stratworks PR Director Mark Christian Parlade and sons

Edu-preneurs and media personalities Edric and Joy Mendoza with their family

(L-R) Actor, singer and writer Franco Laurel and daughter with PLDT Assistant Vice President and Head of Marketing PR

The Be Internet Awesome online series will premiere on the PLDT Home YouTube channel on July 8, 2022.

5th Ortigas Arts Festival paints broader stroke of Philippine art with film, dance, and visual arts

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Ortigas Art Festival returns for its 5th year with a month-long celebration of Filipino art in forms.

“This year’s festival paints a broader stroke of Philippine art where we encompass more art forms from visual art, film, dance, and even pottery,” said Renato “Mang Ato” R. Habulan, head curator of Ortigas Art Festival. “We want to show the diversity of talents across many disciplines Filipino artists have and we are honored to present all of those–and more–through this year’s exhibit and festivities.”

Launched in 2018, the Ortigas Art Festival was created with the goal of making art accessible to everyone. From featuring over 60 local artists during its first run, the number of artists who participated in the festival reached more than 200 and even included artists from Southeast Asia, America, and Europe in 2020.

Running from July 7, 2022 (Thursday) until August 7, 2022 (Sunday), the festival will showcase a wider variety of Filipino arts and culture across five pillars: Painting & Sculpture, Film and Photography, Dance and Fashion, ArtisTree, and Workshops.

“We believe that art has the power to connect people and uplift their spirits especially at trying times. We’ve proven that when we ran the festival during the two years under a pandemic. Now that we’re slowly recovering and embracing the new normal, we believe that there is no better time to show that Philippine art is alive and well and is for everyone to enjoy,” said Arch. Renee Bacani, Vice President of Ortigas Malls. “Through the Ortigas Art Festival, we reiterate our mission in bringing art to a wider audience and supporting the local art scene and community by including art in all its forms in this year’s celebrations.”

Painting and Sculpture will feature works from local galleries–Agos Studios, Bastedor Art Project, Vmeme Contemporary Art Gallery, Linangan Art Residency, Red Lab Gallery, Thombayan Art Space, and Makiling Art Studio; and celebrated visual artists Rita Bustamante and Rico Lascano.

Film and Photography will be led by The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Born in Film who will be hosting retrospectives and late-night screenings of restored Philippine films, and from National Artists for film during the festival. FDCP will also be holding its 2nd Vertical Cinema Contest during the festival.

Performing Arts and Fashion will see Ballet Works Manila hold special performances during the Vernissage on July 7 and on July 31 while the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines will be presenting some of its best designs and creations throughout the month-long event.

ArtisTree will have the Learning Tree Child Growth Center that will showcase some of the masterpieces of its alumni, teachers, and students from Preschool, Grade School, and High School. They will also be holding several workshops such as painting, 3D art, paper cutting, paper sculptures, pottery, and oil pastel drawing for children and adults alike.

FDCP and Born in Film will conduct workshops such as Cinematography, Storytelling, and Film Editing while Born in Film will be conducting Creative Visual Storyline and Mobile Photography workshops, perfect for Film buffs and photography enthusiasts. They will also feature 2,000 inspiring photos from around the world. Meanwhile, those interested in getting their hands into pottery can also join the pottery sessions led by Big Mac for both adults and children as part of its Workshops, which will be exclusive to Ortigas Community Card members.

Ramon Santos, pride of Pasig City for being a National Artist for Music, will be holding a special exhibit on the second floor, showcasing a wide variety of art forms and artistry to foster appreciation for Filipino art and artists.

Mr. Santos is a composer, conductor, musicologist, and is currently the country’s foremost exponent of contemporary Filipino music.

“What we want in this year’s iteration is to introduce Filipinos to the works of some of the country’s best while stoking their interest and appreciation for Philippine art,” said Helen Mirasol, art patron and one of the co-founders of Ortigas Art Festival. “This is a month-long celebration of our art and artists where everyone is invited–no matter if you’re an art connoisseur or a regular person who wants to find the art form that will speak to their soul. Everyone is welcome at Ortigas Art Festival.”

The Ortigas Art Festival runs from July 7 to August 7 at the Estancia East Wing, Capitol Commons, Pasig City. Admission is free. To get the full festival schedule, follow Ortigas Art Festival on Facebook and visit ortigasmalls.com for the latest info on upcoming events and activities. Sign up for the Ortigas Malls Community Card by downloading the Ortigas Malls Mobile App and unlock your access to the amazing perks, privileges, and workshops during the festival.

GCash enables young professionals, MSMEs to unlock financial goals

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GCash, the Philippines’ number one financial super app, is enabling young professionals and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to unlock their financial goals through the many accessible digital financial services it offers like savings, loans, insurance, and even investments.

GCash recently shared that young professionals are becoming more independent, budget conscious, and open to trying simple ways to earn more while owners of MSMEs struggle to find accessible financing to expand their business and reach more customers.

That’s why GCash has been ramping up its line-up of financial services to help individuals achieve financial freedom while giving micro to small entrepreneurs the lifeline they need to keep their business afloat or the additional funds to support their expansion.

GCash has a slew of services which help users manage their wealth and gain financial security. For one, GSave, a digital savings account, offers a higher savings rate of up to 2.6% per annum than traditional banks, and that lets users access their money 24/7 anytime, anywhere.

GInsure is a one-stop shop for insurance products that’s easy to understand, has a low premium but comprehensive coverage like personal accidents, medical services, car insurance, income loss, and even online shopping, bills, cars, and pets.

The super app also enables individuals and MSMEs to have access to credit. GGives is an easy pay-later option that allows users to purchase gadgets, appliances, furniture and even plane tickets, among others worth up to P50,000 from 85,000 partner stores nationwide and pay for them later up to 24 gives over 12 months; and GLoan, which offers easy and fast cash loans up to P50,000 repayable up to 12 months with low interest rates and are suitable for digital entrepreneurs with growing online businesses.

The mobile app can also help users manage their finances as it provides a real-time record of their digital transactions which can be accessed 24/7 on their smartphone.

Financial literacy and customer engagement through social media

Aside from introducing various digital financial solutions, GCash is also maximizing the use of social media in its drive to educate and engage the youth on the benefits of using the app and learning more about its financial services.

Users can find GCash’s educational content on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram where they can learn from financial and medical experts, inspirational celebrities and other social media influencers. These include tutorials, life-goal hacks, and personal stories. They also answer frequently asked questions on finances and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of certain financial products, offer tips to develop the right mindset and behaviors toward money to avoid financial mistakes.

GSave’s Ipon Challenge also engages GCash users to post their Savings Tracker on Twitter to help show the ease and importance of saving for their future. Recently, GCash launched “Payaman Series”, video episodes of inspiring personal stories on how GCash ambassadors struggled financially and eventually got back on track with the help of GCash.

With GCash services and its financial literacy projects, Filipinos can start early on growing their wealth, upgrading their lifestyle and future-proofing their finances.

GCash has been a trusted digital financial platform by millions of FIlipinos especially as its operations is approved and regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Since its launch in 2004, GCash users have increased to over 60 million, covering 83% of the Philippine population. Among them are at least five million merchants using the mobile app to accept digital payments from customers. In 2021, there were five times more active monthly users of GCash than the second largest competitor’s.

To know more about GCash and its financial services, visit https://www.gcash.com.

GSMI leads World Gin Day celebration in PH with ‘Gin Bar Crawl’ challenge

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After more than two years of pandemic disruptions, Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI), the maker of the world’s no. 1 selling gin, returns to celebrate World Gin Day (WGD) in true Ginebra fashion. The celebration consists of month-long activities, highlighted by a media launch on June 10 to kick off the nationwide Gin Bar Crawl challenge that starts on June 11.

Held every second Saturday of June, WGD was first celebrated on June 13, 2009, in Birmingham, England. GSMI led the first WGD celebration in the Asia Pacific region in 2014, coinciding with the 180th anniversary of its flagship brand, Ginebra San Miguel. Since then, the WGD celebration in the Philippines has become a much-awaited, month-long event for gin enthusiasts.

On June 10, four of the country’s top professional mixologists take centerstage to craft one-of-a-kind cocktails based on GSMI’s gin products. It promises to be an unforgettable gin experience, stirring up the senses.

GIN BAR CRAWL

People who are trooping back to the bars after a long hiatus are in for an exciting and unique experience with the Gin Bar Crawl challenge. Gin lovers are invited to try five specially-concocted signature drinks made with GSMI gin products (Ginebra San Miguel, GSM Blue, GSM Premium Gin, and 1834 Premium Distilled Gin) or buy a GSMI featured product at any of the 30 partner establishments nationwide on June 11, 17, 18, 24, and 25 from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

Participants will be given a Gin Passport with five sticker slots. All they need to do is buy the five different signature WGD cocktails from the partner bars and have their Gin Passports stamped with five corresponding stickers. One drink is equivalent to one sticker. Those who complete five stickers will receive a WGD Finisher Pack, consisting of three GSMI products, and a finisher T-shirt.

GIN IS IN: COOL, CLEAR, AND VERSATILE

The gin-drinking culture is very much alive in many countries, especially in Europe. Gin has been around since the 17th century but it has remained popular, hip, and loved by many to this day. The enduring fame of the drink can be attributed to its cool vibe.

The rise of the craft gin movement has also spurred a collection of unique blends that everyone — especially the young, can enjoy. Gin’s clear, pure quality is derived from a rigorous distillation process that brings out its best flavors. Gin is also an ideal drink for its versatility, as it can be enjoyed straight or mixed with other ingredients in a cocktail. With an abundance of flavors and accessibility, gin continues to be an all-time favorite among spirits.

In the Philippines, gin is synonymous with brand Ginebra San Miguel. It is the country’s pioneering gin and the oldest consumer brand still in the market today.

The brand, already an award winner as early as the late 1900s, was originally a drink for the wealthy—popular among both peninsulares and insulares. To this day, Ginebra San Miguel continues its legacy of excellence. Its white spirits line has been a consistent Gold Quality Label awardee of the Monde Selection International Quality Institute.

Reaping accolades both locally and internationally, Ginebra San Miguel is the epitome of excellence. Every bottle of Ginebra San Miguel goes through a stringent production process to ensure optimal quality. As a testament to the strength of its brand name, variants such as GSM Blue, GSM Blue Flavors, and Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin, have been introduced to cater to different market segments.

NEW INNOVATIONS

GSMI continues to innovate and cater to the varied tastes of its different markets.

Among its latest creations is the 1834 Premium Distilled Gin. Infused with classic juniper berries, and unique Philippine botanicals such as Sampaguita and Calamansi, 1834 appeals to sophisticated tastes.

Another exciting new product from the GSM Blue Flavors is the GSM Blue Cosmopolitan. This new flavor is a mix of sweet and tangy notes from Cranberries and Lime. Patrons of the GSM Premium Gin will also have a more exquisite experience with its new look and enhanced flavor of natural ingredients such as juniper berries, botanical essences, and citrus flavors.

GSMI also previously released the Ginebra San Miguel Hari, a 1-liter version of the flagship brand, Ginebra San Miguel that is designed for group drinking. Packaged in a bigger Frasco or Kwatro Kantos, the Hari is the perfect size for a barkada or family of four to five. The Ginebra San Miguel Hari also bears the Ginebra San Miguel label with the iconic St. Michael logo made by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

“Through our World Gin Day activities, we hope that more Filipinos will gain a deeper appreciation of gin and enjoy a unique gin-drinking experience made more special by GSMI’s world-class products,” said GSMI Marketing Manager Ron Molina.

Apart from the Gin Bar Crawl challenge, other WGD activities include online videos on the gin attributes and gin-drinking experience as well as pocket events on June 11 in Baguio, Naga, Cebu, and Davao to drum up the celebration.

GSMI is the producer of Ginebra San Miguel, the world’s largest-selling gin according to leading global drinks journal Drinks International. GSMI’s other quality distilled spirits include GSM Blue Light Gin, GSM Blue Mojito, GSM Blue Margarita, GSM Blue Gin Pomelo, Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin, 1834 Premium Distilled Gin, Antonov Vodka, Añejo Gold Rum, Primera Light Brandy, and the Philippines’ no. 1 Chinese wine Vino Kulafu.

World Vision Celebrates 65th Anniversary by Launching the Childhood Rescue Campaign

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In celebration of its 65th year milestone, World Vision Philippines shared over six decades’ worth of providing better future for vulnerable children through a virtual media launch held last May 30, 2022. The event featured an impactful campaign launch for “Childhood Rescue” with Bianca Umali as the campaign’s lead celebrity ambassador.

(From Top Left) World Vision Advocacy and Campaign Specialist Caroline Veronilla, World Vision Resource Development Director Jun Godornes, World Vision Field Operations Manager in Mindanao Beth Delgado and World Vision Operations Director Ajab Macapagat

World Vision’s “Childhood Rescue” aims to focus on the most dangerous places where children and their communities have been greatly affected by armed conflicts such as Marawi.

The Marawi siege in 2017 has caused thousands of young Filipinos to live amidst armed conflict, political unrest, and ongoing instability even until today. It has displaced at least 350,000 people, including at least 200,000 children, according to the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DREAMB).

In these places, children are extremely vulnerable to violence, poverty, and abuse. The Childhood Rescue Campaign advances World Vision’s purpose— protecting the lives, welfare, and rights of children, especially those who are living in the most dangerous places.

World Vision representatives and media attendees show their support for the Filipino children and World Vision’s Childhood Rescue Campaign with a symbolic photo op

As part of the national initiative Task Force Bangon Marawi, World Vision’s Childhood Rescue campaign responds to these urgent and arising challenges with effective interventions, and crisis recovery programs to address the needs of internally displaced families and children since 2017.

World Vision hopes to increase support and raise more donations for its ongoing child welfare projects, “Bangon Marawi” and “Child Protection”. Both programs aim to cover a total of 10 barangays with 6,559 children as target beneficiaries this 2022.

Jun Godornes, Resource Development Director of World Vision, said during the official media launch, “Given the challenging situation of dangerous areas in the Philippines that may take a very long time to resolve, there is a constant threat that a Filipino child's life can change for the worst in an instant. Despite this situation, World Vision is doing its best to ensure that these children don’t miss out on having a joyful childhood and a hope for a peaceful future. We invite everyone to support our Childhood Rescue campaign. Let’s help these vulnerable children living in Philippines' fragile locations. Together, let's bring hope, joy and justice to all children."

Aside from the Childhood Rescue program launch, World Vision also unveiled its new campaign, and future projects in time for its 65th Anniversary celebration. With the mission to bring “Hope, Joy and Justice for All Children”, World Vision aims to reach the most vulnerable children and transform their lives.

Bianca Umali, a World Vision Ambassador, recalls her experience in Marawi and the significance of her support for World Vision's advocacies

Kapuso star and actress Bianca Umali shared her experiences as a World Vision ambassador and expressed her support for the Childhood Rescue campaign through a video message shown during the media launch.

“World Vision has given me the opportunity to become an ‘ate’ to these vulnerable children. Every small effort in helping them goes a long way,” Bianca shared as she recalls her trip to Marawi with World Vision. “Every child deserves to have a childhood. Let us all come together for these children because I believe that they are the future.”

With a total of 47,302 individuals including 16,875 children assisted by the organization’s efforts, World Vision remains committed to serving more affected families and assisting in rebuilding communities to help provide a safe place for children.

For more information and how you can support World Vision’s Childhood Rescue please visit www.worldvision.org.ph

Attracting world-class talent with world-class challenges, and innovating nonstop for a greener intelligent world

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[Shenzhen, China] Huawei kicked off its 19th annual Global Analyst Summit in Shenzhen. Huawei's Rotating Chairman Ken Hu said that the company will continue to boost investment in innovation to build new products and enhance and accelerate new technologies.

Ken Hu, gave a keynote on Huawei's approach to innovation and building a greener intelligent world. "At Huawei, when we talk about innovation, the first thing we think is people. We hope to attract world-class talent with world-class challenges, and work together to push the limits of science and technology," said Hu, referring to the Top Minds recruitment program that the company launched on its website yesterday.

"We don't care where you’re from, where you graduated, or what you studied,” he continued. “As long as you have a dream for the future and believe you can make it happen, we want you to come and join us. We provide world-class challenges, a powerful platform, and all the resources you need to explore the unknown."

Ken Hu, Huawei's Rotating Chairman, speaking at HAS 2022

Hu went on to discuss the specific initiatives that Huawei is working on to realize its vision for the future. "We are currently focusing on three areas: strengthening our approach to innovation, equipping all industries with the tools and knowledge they need to go digital, and helping build a low-carbon world."

The following is a summary of these three initiatives.

Innovating nonstop and advancing the industry:

• In terms of connectivity, Huawei continues to drive the industry forward. The company announced its vision to enable 10 Gbps connections everywhere with 5.5G and F5.5G, the next evolutions in wireless and fixed networks. Together, these will support a broader range of niche network requirements, including a more immersive experience in homes as well as the low latency and high reliability needed for industrial control scenarios.

• In terms of computing, Huawei is redefining system architectures for individual nodes, foundational software, and data centers in an effort to significantly increase system performance and energy efficiency.

• In cloud services, Huawei is building MetaStudio, a cloud-based, end-to-end digital content pipeline that will greatly expedite digital content production.

• In terms of devices, Huawei aims to provide consumers with a user-centric intelligent experience in all aspects of their lives – what the company calls a Seamless AI Life experience – effectively accelerating the convergence of the physical and digital worlds.

Diving into digital transformation to create new value for customers:

• Huawei is adapting its products and product portfolios to different industrial scenarios. At the same time, it will start pre-integrating and pre-verifying products, doing all the complex work beforehand to make digital transformation easier for its customers and partners. With Huawei Cloud as the foundation, Huawei aims to provide "Everything as a Service", turning infrastructure, technology, and expertise into cloud-based services, and making cloud migration easier for customers in different industries.

• Huawei is also building integrated teams that focus on specific industries, bringing a specialized group of experts closer to customers' business challenges and more tightly incorporating horizontal resources, i.e., products and capabilities from partners. The goal is to provide targeted digital transformation solutions for each industry and respond more rapidly to customer needs.

Optimizing power supply and consumption with digital technology to enable low-carbon development:

• Huawei is redefining the PV sector with AI, cloud, and other capabilities to boost the generation of renewable energy.

• Huawei is also developing system-level low-carbon solutions for green ICT infrastructure, focusing on wireless base stations and data centers.

Moving forward, Huawei is taking active steps to boost its business resilience and ensure steady development. "We have to keep the ball rolling through nonstop innovation, creating value for customers and society," said Ken Hu. "We look forward to working more closely with our customers and partners to build a greener intelligent world."

In addition to its innovation strategy, Huawei also shared its far-reaching vision for the future and some of the exploration it's doing to get there. Dr. Zhou Hong, President of Huawei's Institute of Strategic Research, said that "everything we imagine today is very likely to be too conservative – too little – for tomorrow. We have to meet the future with bold hypotheses and a bold vision, and throw caution to the wind as we push to break through bottlenecks in theory and technology. This is the only way forward."

Here in the Philippines, Huawei also had several programs for cultivating the local ICT talents, such as ICT Academy, Seeds for the Future, covered the Philippines for years, benefited over 9000 ICT students, according to Daniel Guo, the Vice President of Huawei Philippines.

In the event, Dr. Zhou outlined ten challenges that Huawei hopes to address moving forward.

Two scientific questions:

• How do machines perceive the world, and can we build models that teach machines how to understand the world?

• How can we better understand the physiological mechanisms of the human body, including how the eight systems of the body work, as well as human intent and intelligence?

Eight tech challenges:

• New sensing and control capabilities, e.g., brain-computer interfaces, muscle-computer interfaces, 3D displays, virtual touch, virtual smell, and virtual tast

• Real-time, unobtrusive blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart monitoring, and strong AI-assisted discoveries in chemical pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, and vaccines

• Application-centric, efficient, automated, and intelligent software for greater value and better experience

• Reaching and circumventing Shannon's limit to enable efficient, high-performance connectivity both regionally and globally

• Adaptive and efficient computing models, non-Von Neumann architectures, unconventional components, and explainable and debuggable AI

• Inventing new molecules, catalysts, and components with intelligent computing

• Developing new processes that surpass CMOS, cost less, and are more efficient

• Safe, efficient energy conversion and storage, as well as on-demand service

GCash Digital Excellence Awards Recognizes 40 key pioneers in the Enterprise and MSME sector

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The pandemic has forced both consumers and businesses to change how they conduct their transactions. Business owners have had to adapt and innovate their services to cater to the growing needs of the “new normal.” This is why GCash has been committed to improving its digital products to cater to both the needs of Filipino customers and local businesses and enterprises who need future-ready solutions.

The GCash Digital Excellence Awards is an opportunity to highlight real-time and real-life innovation in the Philippine market. GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the country, wants to recognize the institutions that have taken significant steps towards revolutionizing digital solutions and implemented programs that help protect transactions and the delivery of their services.

Beginning last year, GCash has started recognizing partners in the public sector along with key individuals who have made impactful contributions in building a financially inclusive country. This year’s GCash Digital Excellence Awards extended the honors to innovators in the enterprise and MSME sectors for their various programs and initiatives promoting digital excellence.

The GCash Digital Excellence Awards was held last March 31, 2022, through an exclusive virtual event. The evening’s festivities were hosted by Gelli Victor, a seasoned host and fitness enthusiast, and Chito Maniago, VP for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs of GCash. Martha Sazon, GCash President and CEO, Winsley Bangit, G-Xchange President and CEO, along with Luigi Reyes, GCash VP & Commercials Sales and Operations Head also graced the occasion and addressed the awardees their special messages. 

Rico Blanco also dropped by to celebrate the winners with iconic anthems Pinoy Tayo, Antukin, and Your Universe

Three main awards were given this year to a total of 40 GCash partners. These awards include the Industry Pioneer Award, the Innovation & Growth Award, and the Transformative Ecosystem Award.

The Industry Pioneer Award was given to partners who embraced digitization, and changed the game with GCash in the early stages of its journey. The Industry Pioneers that were acknowledged believed in what GCash could be right from the beginning and have proven to pave the way in democratizing financial services for Filipinos.

Institutions recognized as industry pioneers include Max's Group Inc, Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (RRHI), Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc, ACADOPS (Academy of Operations Excellence and Services Inc), National Book Store Inc, Lalamove, Villarica Pawnshop, Inc., NCCC, Mega Q Mart, Farmers Market Araneta City, Puregold Price Club, Inc., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, REGCRIS GROUP OF COMPANIES, Tulay sa Pag-Unlad, Inc (TSPI), and Paynamics Technologies, Inc.

The Innovation & Growth Award recognizes organizations that have established revolutionary programs together with GCash. These programs have successfully delivered best-in-class solutions for GCash users. Companies who were given this award are institutions that have stood strong amidst challenges and continued to contribute to the exponential growth of Filipinos that utilize digital products services.

For this award, McDonald's Philippines (Golden Arches Development Corporation), DMCI Holdings, Inc. (Semirara, DMCI Constructions & DMCI Homes), Robinsons Supermarket Corporation, Nestlé, Philippines Inc., Chris Marr Corporation, Suyen Corporation, Angkas (DBDOYC Inc.), Pay&Go (BTI Payments Philippines, Inc.), New Las Pinas Market (New Las Piñas City Public Market), Ministop, Appboxo Pte Ltd, Concentrix Daksh Services Philippines Corporation, and BDO Unibank Inc. were recognized by GCash because of the specific initiatives and programs they spearheaded that stood the test of time.

Lastly, the prestigious Transformative Ecosystem Award was given to companies who have fully imbibed the digital lifestyle by integrating the various solutions of GCash into their ecosystem. These companies have quickly responded to changing needs of customers and are proven advocates of digital transformation. From MSMEs to Enterprise partners, the Transformative Ecosystem Awardees have revolutionized the way of life for millions of Filipinos together with GCash. Through this award, GCash recognizes the pioneering efforts in the use of digital financial products. Puregold Price Club, Inc., Classic Savory, Ayala Corporation, Unilever Philippines, Inc, Cebu, People's Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CPMPC), The SM Store, foodpanda, Direct Agent 5, Inc (DA5), Star Market, Generika (Actimed Inc), Booky, and ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PAYMENTS (EC PAY) INC. were given the Transformative Ecosystem Award in this year’s GCash Digital Excellence Awards.

Congratulations to all the awardees for successfully innovating their services to help uplift the lives of more and more Filipinos and inspire other institutions to follow suit.

Celebrate Fierce Females and Everyday SHEroes at Market! Market!

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Check out the awesome lineup of activities at the mall this March for International Women’s Month!

Manila, Philippines - March 31, 2022 - March has been all about her at Market! Market!, as the community celebrates International Women’s Month. An exciting mix of activities centered on self-care, wellness, and fun, have been lined up, each aimed at empowering and honoring the wonderful women in our lives.

Wellness for SHEroes: Empowered Body, Empowered Mind

Free legal, and medical advice were offered to women who dropped by the Serendra Wing on March 26, 2022, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Sweat It Out

Market! Market! partnered with Jumpfest Ph to offer free jump rope sessions to anyone looking for a fun new way to stay in shape. This took place at the Playzone on March 13, 20, and 27 at 8:00 AM.

GIRLpreneur

Show your support and shop at the various booths run by female entrepreneurs at the G/F of Market! Market! from March 21 to April 4, 2022. GIRLpreneur is a project of Alagang Ayala in partnership with CDPEAP.

GRL PWR Raffle Promo

Get the chance to win a mini beauty fridge when you join the GRL PWR Raffle Promo, which runs from March 11 to 31, 2022.

Showcase Your Talents!

Post a video on TikTok of you singing, dancing, acting, or doing anything under the sun that shows off your talents, for the chance to win special prizes! Be sure to follow

@ilovemarketmarket, tag the account, and include the hashtag #StageActAtMarketMarket when you post!

For more information on mall activities, schedules, and promotions at #iLoveMarketMarket, like and follow Facebook.com/MarketMarket, @ilovemarketmarket on Instagram and TikTok, and @MarketMarketBGC on Twitter. You may also visit www.ayalamalls.com.

Shopee Celebrates Filipino Shoppers this 3.15 Consumer Day TV Special with Top Celebs and Over ₱8 Million Worth of Prize

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Enjoy discounts and promos such as Free Shipping with ₱0 min. spend,  ₱1 Deals, and 10% off vouchers at Shopee’s first mega sale of the year! 

Shopee gives you more reasons to celebrate on its first mega sale of the year with an afternoon filled with captivating performances and can’t miss prizes at the 3.15 Consumer Day TV Special this March 15, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM on GMA-7 and Shopee Live. Filipinos stand a chance to win over ₱8 million worth of prizes, ranging from cash, motorcycles, and a brand-new car. While waiting for the TV Special, you can shop your way and enjoy Free Shipping with ₱0 min. spend,  ₱1 Deals, and 10% off vouchers this 3.15 Consumer Day. 

Shopee will entertain and delight viewers this 3.15 Consumer Day TV Special. Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect:

Over ₱8 million worth of prizes await Filipino consumers

• Three lucky Shopee Shake players can win brand new motorcycles from Honda. They can get either the Supra GTR150, a speed aggressor bike that boasts performance, stability, and comfort, or the AirBlade150 which has cutting edge design and advanced features.

• One lucky Shopee Shake winner will receive a brand new MG 5 Core sedan, an extraordinary British ride that is big in features and big in comfort. 

• You can also look forward to Shopee Milyonaryo where three lucky contestants will be playing live during the show, and one of them takes home ₱1 million in cash. 

 The country’s biggest celebrities and performers come together on one stage

Shopee’s Primetime Queen Marian Rivera and her husband, fellow Shopee brand ambassador Dingdong Dantes, will headline the TV special, bringing the fun alongside your favorite local stars. Tune in to see your favorites celebrities such as Pia Wurtzbach, Carla Abellana, Xian Lim, Andrea Torres, Glaiza De Castro, Victor Anastacio, Luane Dy, Juancho Trivino, Gloc-9, Rayver Cruz, Rodjun Cruz, Sef Cadayona, Rita Daniela, Aegis, Kokoy De Santos, Kate Valdez, Tuesday Vargas, Pekto, and Buboy Villar. 

Shopee celebrates YOU this 3.15 Consumer Day

This 3.15 Consumer Day, go all-out and maximize the irresistible discounts and promotions such as Free Shipping with ₱0 min. spend,  ₱1 Deals, and 10% off vouchers at Shopee’s first mega sale of the year, the 3.15 Consumer Day. To keep yourself updated on all activities and deals, visit https://shopee.ph/m/consumer-day 

On March 15, Shopee has irresistible hourly flash deals. Get items for as low as  ₱1, exclusive branded price drops, and electronics deals. Don’t forget to set your alarm for Shopee’s rush hour deals happening throughout the day. There’s something for everyone to check out during the Big Midnight Sale at 12:00 AM until 2:00 AM, Big Morning Sale from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Big Lunchtime Sale from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Big Price Drop Sale at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Last Chance Sale starting from 9:00 PM until 11:59 PM. 

Add amazing deals to your cart and checkout with ShopeePay to get free shipping and cashback vouchers with no minimum spend! This March, enjoy 20% cashback when you scan to pay at ShopeePay’s partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Puregold, National Bookstore, The Generics Pharmacy, Browhaus, and more. On 3.15, take advantage of 50% off on load across all networks and up to 100% cashback on bills payment. Aside from big discounts, you also get a chance to win ₱100,000 when you send money to any bank or to any Shopee user via ShopeePay’s free transfers feature. If you’re a new user, you’re in luck as you’ll receive free ₱100 on your first-ever transfer (promo runs until March 17). Don’t miss out on the excitement and activate ShopeePay now!

Get up to 90% off from your favorite brands Unilever Beauty, Promil, Lanbena Philippines, Deerma, Johnson & Johnson, OPPO, Abbott, Nestle, Adidas, Havaianas, Enfagrow, and GSK. Shoppers can also look forward to exciting deals and discounts from Coocaa Home, Logitech, Dreame, Seagate, Gamextreme, EZVIZ, OPPO, FB Home Buddies, MetroSunnies, INSPI, Cetaphil, Mikana, Eurochef, Powerhouse PH, NIDO, and Huawei.  

Have an even more rewarding shopping experience when you level up your Shopee Loyalty tier to Gold and Platinum so you can avail for unlimited Free Shipping vouchers. For more info, visit https://loyalty.shopee.ph/ in the Shopee app.  

Looking for the best customer care on all things Shopee? For all your questions and concerns, Shopee Cares PH is here to help. Follow @ShopeeCaresPH on Twitter and Facebook, where you and the rest of the Shopee Fam can come together to find answers and get the care you deserve.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play