COMCO Mundo ignites epic 7 years celebration with staff awaydays in Greece, movie event with media, APAC agency award win, and office expansion in Manila and Dubai

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Global award-winning communications group COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises marked its epic 7^th anniversary with a milestone staff awaydays in Greece, a special media movie event, a major APAC award win, and the expansion of its Manila and Dubai office.

The COMCO Mundo Awaydays in Greece and Singapore 

Staying true to its commitment to nurture talent through diverse cultural experiences, COMCO Mundo’s staff awaydays, after Japan in 2018 and Australia in 2019, had the team flying to Europe! Mythical ruins and cultural sites greeted the COMCO Mundo employees on the sunny shores of Greece as the COMCO Mundo team explored the country that scholars deemed the land of the gods, the cradle of Western civilization, and the birthplace of democracy.

Ancient legends came to life over their week-long stay with stops at the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, where one could imagine the hustle and bustle of Athenian citizens as they shopped, traded, and worshipped among the remnants of the temples of their gods. Further exploration took the team to the Temple of Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea, and to the idyllic Greek islands of Agistri, Aegina, Hydra, and Poros. The team also enjoyed a rendezvous with sea and sky with a swim in the Mediterranean. A quick stop in Singapore brought them face to face with another creature of fantasy – the Singapore Merlion at One Fullerton, before they capped their trip with a food feast and an iconic Singapore experience, tasting the culinary delights of this foodie capital at an iconic hawker centre, Lau Pa Sat.    

The company also commemorated its 7^th year with a movie night with its COMCOmigos, treating its valued media, blogger, influencer, content creator, and digital activator partners and friends to an evening of fun games and a screening of the blockbuster Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in Ayala Mall’s Glorietta 4 Cinema.   

COMCO Mundo’s Movie Night with COMCOmigos featuring Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

COMCO Mundo kickstarted the year with a team dinner in Tagaytay

These were certainly celebrations as the company also welcomes accolades and a bigger home for the COMCO Squadron both in Manila and Dubai.

COMCO SEA was once again recognized for its landmark people programs and campaigns as it took home the Medium Consultancy Award at the prestigious and highly coveted PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards 2023. The company was lauded for effective business results, community leadership, and innovation in its operations.

The COMCO Squadron celebrating the company’s PRCA APAC 2023 win

Meanwhile, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises also recently unveiled the second phase of its office expansion on Ayala Avenue right at the heart of Makati City’s Central Business District. It houses the newly launched digital and integrated communications agency TARO AOX Inc., the group’s parent company COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, the New PR and Smart Social unit COMCO Southeast Asia, and Southeast Asia’s regional publication SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio.

New COMCO Mundo headquarters in Makati City, Philippines

Meanwhile, COMCO Middle East & Africa is also enjoying meteoric growth, having successfully concluded the Middle East Film and Comic Con or MEFFC 2023 with record-breaking numbers and continuing to be the agency partner of choice of top leisure, hospitality, and food brands. They have also recently found their home at the prestigious address of Ibn Battuta Gate at Jebel Ali, Dubai.

The COMCO Middle East and Africa team based in Dubai, UAE 

“It has certainly been an epic 7 years for us in COMCO as we’ve continued our meteoric growth in the Middle East & Africa, launched our digital and integrated communications agency in Southeast Asia, and expanded our offices on both shores to serve as the craftsmanship vessel for our new talents. What better way to commemorate these wins and our COMCO Squadron who has been with us in this journey than with overseas team travel,” shared Ferdinand Bondoy, COMCO Mundo Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder.

“We invest in overseas team travel because we invest in our people. As storytellers, travel widens the team's perspective about the world and life in general; the shared discovery, journey, and experience strongly connects the team; and the one-of-a-kind immersion further cultivates our workplace culture.”

As its epic 7th celebration continues, COMCO Mundo looks forward to sharing more surprises, major announcements, and a big event in the last quarter of the year. To know more about COMCO Mundo and its initiatives, visit comcomundo.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comcomundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo, and @comco_mundo on Instagram.

 

 

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About COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is the parent company and umbrella group for all of COMCO’s existing and upcoming ventures and initiatives, a collective of agencies and programs dedicated to advancing the communications profession and related disciplines such as digital, media, advocacy, training, and education, and entrepreneurship, among others; to be a force for social change; to nurturing talent growth and workplace community culture; and to championing borderless collaboration. The COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is comprised of COMCO Southeast Asia with network of affiliates in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, COMCO Middle East & Africa, TARO AOX Inc. Digital + Integrated Communications, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program and Alumni Society, and Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program.

COMCO been awarded PRCA APAC Medium Consultancy of the Year in Asia Pacific,  thrice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Quill Awards; Agency of the Year – Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards; Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, Marketing Interactive’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, and the global CIPR Excellence Awards; and 150 metals from various local and international award-giving bodies.

 

Entravision MediaDonuts Reports Strong Growth in 2022, Poised for a Solid 2023

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Entravision MediaDonuts, an advertising, media, commerce, and ad-tech solutions company with world-class commercial partnerships with Twitter, TikTok, Spotify, Criteo and other tech platforms in Asia-Pacific, is gearing up to fast-track growth and expansion in 2023.

Speaking during a media gathering at Shangri-la The Fort, Pieter-Jan de Kroon, CEO of Entravision MediaDonuts, said that the company continues its strong growth trajectory and expansion in the region, which has only accelerated further since the acquisition by Entravision in July 2021.

“2022 is shaping up to be a stellar year for our company, and the Philippines plays an important role in this growth story,” de Kroon added.

The Philippines is a dynamic and high-growth economy–and the growth rate of the advertising industry, especially digital, is proof of that. A study by eMarketer in March 2022 projects digital ad spend in the Philippines to total USD 585.7 by end of the year. The amount is expected to rise to USD 631.9 in 2023, representing an almost 8% increase year-on-year.

Says de Kroon, “The Philippines continues to be one of the markets driving marketing spend and growth in the region. Filipino advertisers are always open to learning new advertising platforms for that competitive advantage, and that has contributed significantly to this growth.”

Entravision MediaDonuts is firmly founded on 3 pillars

The Entravision MediaDonuts business is built on three main pillars: Social Media, Retail Media, and Performance Marketing.

Social Media continues to command the majority of time spent online by users, and therefore also the majority of investment by advertisers. Entravision MediaDonuts is uniquely positioned as the Exclusive Sales Partner of Twitter in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as TikTok Marketing Partner in SEA. Through geographical expansion, new partnerships, and social commerce capabilities, Entravision MediaDonuts’ expertise can help customers drive success on social media platforms.

Retail Media is expected to grow to a USD 160-billion industry by 2027. Through exclusive partnerships with Criteo, the largest commerce media platform for the open internet; Carousell Media Group, the number 1 recommerce marketing platform in Greater Southeast Asia; and ShopBack, the leading shopping and rewards platform in Asia-Pacific, Entravision MediaDonuts is uniquely positioned to help its clients build sophisticated retail media strategies that drive GMV growth.

Performance marketing remains a major component in the business, and it has evolved towards a mobile app performance business in APAC, driving app installs at scale for fintech, e-commerce, edutech, and gaming apps optimized towards lower funnel goals such as account opening, sales, and in-game purchases.

“We’re seeing strong demand from advertisers to drive online sales both through marketplaces as well as direct-to-consumer,” de Kroon says. “With our Social Commerce capabilities as well as Retail Media solutions, we’re well positioned to help advertisers ride this new wave in digital advertising that is designed to drive actual business outcomes for brands.”

On top of being awarded several high-profile contracts, Entravision MediaDonuts’ operations also expanded in 2022 to include Bangladesh and Cambodia, in addition to its current markets in Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

“We’re very excited to expand into new markets and are very bullish on our prospects in Cambodia and Bangladesh. In 2023, we will continue our geographical expansion with new openings in APAC.”

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About Entravision MediaDonuts

Entravision MediaDonuts is a leading advertising, media, commerce, and ad-tech solutions company with world-class commercial partnerships with Twitter, TikTok, Spotify, Criteo, and other tech platforms serving 9 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Entravision MediaDonuts is a business unit of Entravision, a leading global advertising, media and ad-tech solutions company connecting brands to consumers by representing top platforms and publishers. Learn more about our offerings at www.mediadonuts.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

ABS-CBN, TV5 reach partnership deal

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ABS-CBN Corp and TV5, the two giant stations in the country, have reached a new partnership deal where ABS-CBN has acquired shares from TV5, which is majorly owned by MediaQuest.

PLDT and MediaQuest Chairman Manuel Pangilinan, ABS-CBN Chairman Mark L. Lopez, and ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak sign a partnership deal for the two media companies.

Paving the way for a "strengthened partnership" between the two giant stations in the country, according to a joint statement, ABS-CBN Corp will acquire 6,459,393 primary (new) common shares in TV5, representing around 34.99% of the total voting and outstanding capital stock of TV5 for PHP2.16b.

The deal also sees MediaQuest, which is owned by the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund, its stake reduced to 64.79 percent after the deal is finished. ABS-CBN can also acquire additional shares in TV5, which may increase the Kapamilya network’s stake in the Kapatid network to 49.92% after 8 years.

As part of the partnership deal as well, cable and satellite TV subsidiaries of ABS-CBN and PLDT also entered into a similar deal. Cignal Cable Corp, under MediaQuest, said it was acquiring 38.88% of Sky Cable Corp, under ABS-CBN, for PHP2.862b.

“The investment of Sky Cable by Cignal Cable is expected to benefit the former’s existing customer base consisting of over 300,000 cable subscribers and close to 350,000 broadband subscribers as of the end of June 2022,” MediaQuest said.

The company also added, “The proceeds of the sale of the Sale Shares, the Convertible Note and the issuance of the Debt Instrument in the total amount of PHP7.5b will be used to repay certain obligations of ABS-CBN and Sky Vision and to fund the investment of ABS-CBN in TV5.”

ABS-CBN Chairman Mark L. Lopez said the partnership was an opportunity to help TV5 grow, strengthen its free to air network, and take it to the next level.

“For ABS, it presents a fantastic platform for us to achieve synergies in production content and talent management as well as maximizing our content delivery. We look forward to be of greater service to the public as we come together in taking TV5 to the next level,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, Manny Pangilinan, chairman at MediaQuest, commented, “ABS-CBN has always been the leading developer and provider of Filipino-related entertainment content not only in the Philippines but overseas as well. Our companies have always had these cherished values of providing top and quality programs in the service of the Filipino people and together we believe we can achieve this in greater measure and success.”

Last year, the ABS-CBN network began showing popular primetime programs of ABS-CBN such as ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’ as well as the long-running variety show ‘ASAP Natin ‘To’ on TV5.

Better than Best: Friends turned business partners Chari & Rose's pandemic boom and beyond

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COVID-19 paved way for a new normal. Streets quiet, malls closed, with people afraid of leaving their homes prompting the boom in online shopping. The indoors provided solace and its interface is digital. 

This was the formula that kickstarted Rose and Chari’s ventures. “The pandemic was the great equalizer. It gave new opportunities to those whose eyes are constantly seeking,” said the company’s leading Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rose Tolentino. While many slowed down, the duo went the opposite direction and launched not just one but multiple brands from personal and men’s care to food.

“2020 was the year. We felt the consumerist landscape was changing so to adapt was imperative for survival,” said Rose. “We were fueled to see the opportunity lying ahead so we really did our best, and have been continuing to do so. We felt it would be an injustice to God not to do well. That was really our motivation and push,” said Chari.

OMO! White

OMO! White, the company’s first successful brand scaled when it closed a partnership with the country’s biggest household cosmetic company, Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc (EBCI). What once was a Korean-inspired product line is now manufactured in Korea. “The best of korean technology with the Filipino skin in mind,” Creative Chief Officer (CCO) Chari Trinidad-Mendoza, says. OMO! White is now in nearly 2,000 doors nationwide in all leading beauty & department stores.

Building a team that runs 100% online, the duo found the system worked to the advantage of their millennial team. No longer bound by the regular ‘8-5’ office demands meant clockwork capacity for their members’ optimum hours. “You know creativity can spring at 3 A.M. I guess you can call it ‘structured flow,’ says Rose.

Oh Crop! Is an adlai brand to serve the ballooning health-conscious consumer market. It is as an alternative to the Filipinos staple white rice, packed with nutrients, low in glycemic-index (GI) and high in fiber. Partnering with celebrity restaurateur Marvin Agustin, the company has hectares of personally-owned and contracted land whilst pioneering the first adlai-financing system with UBX and multiple LGUs to further encourage sustainable livelihood for their partner farmers. The brand is currently available at The Marketplace under the Robinsons Retail Group.

Rosie Posie

Halal-certified with a core philosophy of ‘beauty is kindness,’ Rosie Posie is a 4-step skincare kit made specifically for the Filipino women in Visayas and Mindanao. it is a brand promoting gentle and natural ingredients that aims to take care of you, while you take care of the Earth. The brand is available in Rose Pharmacy in Cebu, Iloilo and Bacolod.

Alike

Aside from their products in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) category, the ladies own the media company Alike Media. Similar to OMO! White, Alike was founded before the pandemic but its pivotal year was in 2020. An originally digital media company, expanded into an omni-channel that now has both digital and print. They were ranked as part of the top 10 digital media companies in the country.

Best friends since they were 10 the two are now in their 30s. Two decades of friendship have evolved and formed them, but never separated. The pandemic taught them simplicity, grit, but above all - what truly is ‘essential.’

Respect. Trust. Dreams. Love.

TikTok Strengthens Resources to Help Filipinos Make Informed Decisions During the 2022 Philippine Elections

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●      TikTok and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) join forces to guide local users on accessing credible election information

●       TikTok also partners with GMA News and Public Affairs to educate Filipinos to discern between mis- and disinformation in the lead up to the 2022 Philippine Elections

Manila, Philippines - March 2, 2022 - TikTok, a leading destination for short-form mobile video, today announced its partnerships with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and GMA News and Public Affairs to provide access to authoritative election information ahead of the Philippines 2022 elections. These important partnerships support TikTok's commitment to protect the integrity of its platform and combat election misinformation.

"At TikTok, our top priority is to ensure that users are able to consume authentic and verified information on our platform. To strengthen this commitment, this partnership with COMELEC and GMA News and Public Affairs will provide Filipinos credible, fact-based content and recognise mis- and disinformation. Through our 2022 Philippine Election Guide we also hope to provide Filipino voters with easy access to credible information about the elections process and make informed choices," said Kristoffer Rada, TikTok Head of Policy, the Philippines.

TikTok and COMELEC Extends Partnership

The partnership between TikTok and COMELEC kicked off last year, with the #RightInformationThisElection campaign, providing users with easy access to reliable and authoritative election information, including how to vote. This year, TikTok extends its partnership with COMELEC through a dedicated on-platform election microsite. In addition to the removal of violative content, the 2022 Philippine Election Guide banner found on the Discover page will house a repository of accurate and reliable videos via the verified COMELEC TikTok account, to provide Filipinos with the information they need to take part in elections. We have also included leading global news agency, Agence France-Presse, to help verify harmful misinformation so that it can be removed from our platform.

TikTok and GMA News and Public Affairs Launches its #eLeksyonSerye campaign

TikTok has also teamed up with GMA News and Public Affairs, one of the country’s foremost organizations for the coverage of the 2022 elections, joining 50 other partners comprised of the most respected names in the fields of telecommunications, media, education, business, law, and public service in the country, all of which have pledged their support to keep a close watch on the electoral process and help voters make informed decisions on Election Day.

The partnership enables GMA News and Public Affairs to take on a new approach in educating Filipino voters, beginning with the #eLeksyonSerye campaign, which officially begins on March 1, 2022. The campaign will feature a series of informative content leading up to the elections, including an interactive Online E-Leksyon Quiz that helps people determine how well they know their voter rights and responsibilities, and the country’s political system.  The E-Leksyon Quiz will also feature pillars and senior reporters from the GMA News and Public Affairs team, who will pose multiple choice questions to their followers on TikTok. Viewers will have 3 seconds to answer each question, and their final score at the end of the quiz will show users whether or not they are #Eleksyon2022-ready.

TikTok's mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy, and it is in that spirit that it has chosen not to allow political advertising. This has been the platform's position since October 2019. Any paid ads that come onto the platform must fit the standards that TikTok has set, and the nature of paid political ads is not something the platform believes fits its experience. More specifically and as outlined in TikTok's advertising policy, it does not permit ads for the promotion, reference, or opposition of: a candidate for public office, a current or former political leader, political party, or political organization, content that advocates a stance (for or against) on a local, state, or federal issue of public importance in order to influence a political decision or outcome.

To learn more about the upcoming elections, visit https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSenwpbuM/ on TikTok today! Download the app on your iOS and Android devices to get started.

 

COMCO Southeast Asia Bags Diamond and Silver ASEAN PR Excellence Awards and Gold Marketing Events Award

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As COMCO Southeast Asia culminates its Blazing Sapphire 5th Anniversary celebration with the launch of COMCO Middle East & Africa and COMCO AOX League of Enterprises, the trailblazing regional integrated communications agency also bags Best PR Agency in Southeast Asia - Silver Award and Best COVID-19 Response - Diamond Award for its work with Jobstreet Philippines at the 2021 ASEAN PR Excellence Awards, and a Gold Award for its work with Eastern Communications at the Marketing Events Awards 2021.

The agency’s work with brand partner Jobstreet Philippines for the #TogetherAhead initiative won a Diamond Award in COVID-19 Response in the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards for its efforts in supporting job seekers and hirers during the pandemic, while COMCO SEA’s longtime partner, Eastern Communications, won a Gold Award in Best B2B Brand Experience Category in the Marketing Events Awards for its Link VIP Club Loyalty Events which featured an educational webinar series, online magic show series and virtual thanksgiving event to help businesses learn about digital transformation and uplift their spirits during the pandemic.

COMCO Southeast Asia's Write to Ignite Blogging Project is also a finalist at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards for Best Comm Use of Social Media and Best PR Campaign in ASEAN while Jobstreet's #TogetherAhead initiative is also a finalist as Best PR Programme in ASEAN.

In its 5 years, COMCO Southeast Asia has won recognition from various prestigious local, regional and international award-giving bodies, garnering a total of 85 awards and has worked with over 70 brands in diverse industries including Eastern Communications, JobStreet, Sunlife ASCP, Teleperformance, Xiaomi, Defensil, Lista.ph, World Vision, WWF, Lenovo and Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz plus its recently won accounts from inter-agency pitches such as global bioresearch and pharmaceutical company Takeda, well-loved milk brand Alaska, international footwear Skechers, global technology company Emerson’s Copeland, development organizations United Nations (UN) Office for Project Services and United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA) and premium artisan chocolate Theo and Philo.

In 5 years, COMCO Southeast Asia has worked with 70 brands or accounts and has won 85 awards from local and international award-giving bodies

The ASEAN PR Excellence Awards is a biennial event organized by the Jakarta-based ASEAN PR Network (APRN) in collaboration with World Communications Malaysia (World Comm) and Institute Public Relations Malaysia (IPRM). As a globally recognized organization, the APRN’s ASEAN PR Excellence Awards serves as a distinctive badge to recognize and celebrate achievements in public relations practice in the ASEAN region.

The Marketing Events Awards is organized by leading Asian news agency Marketing-Interactive. Designed to discover, recognize and reward the very best in event marketing, the Marketing Events Awards is open to entries from across Southeast Asia, South Asia and ANZ regions.

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

About COMCO Southeast Asia

COMCO Southeast Asia is a powerhouse and global award-winning integrated communications agency formed by the coalition of premier brand architects, inspired storytellers, and communication trailblazers in the region. Based in the Philippines and with affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, COMCO SEA takes the lead in the innovation of premier brands and growth of up-and-coming businesses through the emerging global disciplines of New PR – a strategy based, content-driven, and channel-agnostic way of doing PR, and Smart Social – a holistic, authentic and integrated approach in the maximization of digital and social channels.

At the core of COMCO SEA is its unique brand of Meaningful Storytelling based on its corporate mantra and the mission to Ignite Brand Love, Social Change, Talent Growth and Regional Collaboration. In just 5 years, the Agency has done groundbreaking works for more than 70 local, regional and international brands including reputable development and humanitarian organizations. COMCO SEA has been awarded twice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards, Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year in Asia at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, Best PR Agency in Southeast Asia - Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards, and 85 metals from various local, regional and international award-giving bodies.

TV5 x ABS-CBN Partnership Boosts Primetime Audience Shares

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In recent months, the Philippine broadcasting industry has seen one of the most unexpected developments that dramatically changed the way Filipinos watch their favorite TV shows -- the unprecedented collaboration of Cignal TV and ABS-CBN for the airing of select Kapamilya programs on TV5.

The collaboration proved to be beneficial to Filipino viewers all across the country, as they now get to watch the simulcast of ABS-CBN’s No. 1 teleserye FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano on TV5, along with other Kapamilya primetime shows such as Huwag Kang Mangamba, Init Sa Magdamag, and La Vida Lena.

“TV5’s airing of ABS-CBN’s primetime programs has significantly boosted our audience shares not only in Mega Manila but in the southern regions as well. For this, we are extremely grateful for the Cignal TV and ABS-CBN content collaboration which made all this possible,” shared Media5 Chief Operating Officer Dino M. Laurena. “It all boils down to what the viewers want and need, and we believe that they were able to find the right programming mix as we added ABS-CBN’s shows to the TV5 lineup.”

SM Supermalls joins businesses, media groups, for Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat campaign

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Integrates safe malling efforts, sets up vaccination sites to boost PH’s vaccination drive

SM Supermalls allied with the country’s top businesses and media groups to help build up vaccine confidence during a press conference and launch held via Zoom last Friday, May 14.

SM continues its multi-mall vaccination program in partnership with several LGUs nationwide.

IN PHOTO. Front liners get vaccinated at SM Center Pulilan

Called “Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat”, the private sector-led multimedia campaign aims to boost the country’s COVID-19 vaccine drive by highlighting the benefits of getting vaccinated. Under the campaign, SM Supermalls, along with its campaign partners, will focus on helping build confidence in the available COVID-19 vaccines, sustain the momentum for vaccine demands, and ensure the completion of doses.

According to SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, over 37 SM malls nationwide are being used as vaccination sites, contributing to over 50,000 Filipinos being vaccinated in its communities. As of this writing, the number of participating SM malls have increased to over 40 with more than 90,000 vaccinated. Numbers continue to grow, with Megamall’s and MandaVaxx opening a 2,000 capacity Mega Vaccination Center at the mall's Mega Trade Hall yesterday.

SM Supermalls president Steven Tan

Only 2 weeks ago, SM also launched the Giga Vaccination Center of Pasay City at the Mall of Asia that can accommodate more than 2,000 persons a day. “We are happy to provide support, a comfortable and safe venue, as well as vital backup generators needed for cold chain storage of the vaccines in case of power outages,” Tan furthered.

SM and Pasay City join hands to open Giga Vaccination Center at the Galeon in MOA Complex as part of its “Vacc to the Future” program that can accommodate 2,000 persons per day.

Senior citizens get vaccinated at the MandaVax Mega Vaccination Center located at Mega trade Hall in SM Megamall.

Tan also affirmed SM’s full commitment to make the campaign a complete success. “This program will benefit our families and loved ones, and will mean the full reopening of our restaurants, shops, and services, and ultimately, the rebounding of MSME partners in particular and our economy, in general,” said Tan.

In addition to this, Jon Jon San Agustin, senior vice president for Marketing at SM Supermalls said that the 76 malls of SM have continued to provide support to the program to help reduce hesitancy and to strengthen willingness amongst Filipinos. He mentioned that the mall chain will integrate the Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat initiative in its already established #SafeMallingAtSM campaign to further strengthen the need to keep the public aware.

SM Supermalls senior vice president for Marketing Jon Jon San Agustin

“To further educate our people on the vaccines’ facts and benefits and to be able to reach out and encourage everyone to participate, we are glad to share that we have close to 300 digital screens in our malls that will be displaying the various campaign materials. Moreover, we will share the message to our 30 million strong followers on social media and also utilize our 16 million direct marketing assets," Agustin said.

To know more about SM Supermalls’ efforts to combat COVID-19, check out www.smsupermalls.com or, you can visit https://www.ingat-angat.com/ to download COVID-19 vaccine toolkit and other relevant materials which can further drive up vaccine confidence in PH.

First-ever Digital PR Congress Opens with Reality Check on PR, Business and Media Landscapes

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(Manila, Philippines, 17 February 2021) — The 27^th National Public Relations Congress kicks off its three-day run today with plenaries looking into the new realities for Philippine PR and the business and media sectors. Presented by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), the country’s premier organization for public relations and communication practitioners, this year’s conference is the first time the National PR Congress is being held online in its 27 years and the first time it will run for three days instead of the usual two.

From February 17 to 19, 2021, PR and communication practitioners from all over the nation – and the world -- will come together to examine the current PR landscape and find ways to move forward as one industry. Local and international experts from different fields will share their insights with more than 1,400 registrants for the three-day conference.

The first day, which sets the context and tone for the congress, will tackle the shifts in the PR industry as it is impacted and bounces back from the challenges of the past year, foremost of them being the pandemic. The sessions will look into the state of PR in the country and outside, the role of PR in the new dynamic, Filipinos’ post-pandemic profile, changes in the business terrain and how companies are adjusting, and the challenges for the media and PR in the perspective of the Philippine media.

With the theme “Transcend,” the annual event aims to inspire PR and communication practitioners to break through traditional boundaries, rise above themselves and focus on the bigger issues the nation is facing. The congress hinges on the PRSP’s theme of “PR for Good” to put a spotlight on serving the community better and making a lasting impact through PR.

Each day of the congress is designed to highlight a specific topic of focus. On the first day, participants will deep dive into the state of Philippine PR. The second day will focus on the power of technology and how it is reshaping the practice of PR and communication. Finally, the third day will encourage conversations on critical issues that are shaping business and communication narratives today.

Opening the discussion on the state of Philippine PR is Managing Director of Grupo Agatep and PRSP President Norman Agatep, APR, followed by May Lwin, chair and professor at Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information and director of the University Scholars Programme at the Nanyang Technological University Singapore, who will talk about the state of PR in Asia. Nitin Mantri, group CEO of Avian WE and president of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), will then provide an overview of world PR.

Ron Jabal, APR, CEO of PageOne Group, will shed some light on the role PR plays in the new dynamic, followed by John Januszczak, president and CEO of UBX, the fintech venture studio created by UnionBank of the Philippines, who will talk about how the pandemic has changed the consumer behavior of Filipinos. Tommaso Di Giovanni, VP for global communications of Philip Morris International and recognized by PRovoke Media as one of the 20 Global Rising Stars in PR and Communications for 2020, will share about business agility, grit and community commitment.

A panel of veteran journalists will close the first day of the congress, providing insights on ensuring accurate and truthful communication. Joining the conversation are Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist John Nery, Board of Trustees of the Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility member Vergel Santos and TV5 journalist Ed Lingao.

“It is important that as we forge ahead and adjust to the new normal, we do not lose sight of what PR is all about. This is what we want to remind practitioners through this Congress: that we also serve the community even as we work with brands and organizations in sharing their messages to the public,” said Agatep.

The congress gathers together participants from industry organizations, SMEs and large corporations, government agencies, NGOs, LGUs and the academe all over the Philippines.

Congress Chair Ana Pista shared, “With Transcend as our theme for this Congress, we hope to enjoin PR and communication practitioners and all delegates to rethink our role and responsibility and in our work contribute to the solution instead of the problem. This Congress theme is about moving forward to create a better normal for all.”

For more information about the 27th National Public Relations Congress, visit the event website or Facebook page or contact Lessa Azcarraga at lessa.azcarraga@ardent.com.ph.

 

'FPJ's Ang Probinsyano' and other favorite Kapamilya shows return on cable and satellite TV

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Cardo Dalisay and other iconic Kapamilya teleserye characters are returning to TV to bring entertainment, inspiration, and relief to Filipinos as some of the well-loved ABS-CBN shows will be shown on Kapamilya Channel, which will be available on cable and satellite TV nationwide beginning June 13.

Kapamilya Channel will be available on SKY, Cablelink, G Sat, and most member-cable operators of the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) nationwide.

While Kapamilya Channel will initially be seen by cable and satellite TV viewers only, ABS-CBN will find more ways to reach more Filipinos and bring news, public service, and entertainment to every Kapamilya around the world.

Viewers can watch Cardo’s adventures in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” starting with a ten-episode recap of this season’s story before the new episodes are released. Also on weeknights, the mission of brave soldiers in “A Soldiers” Heart” will continue while weekdays will unveil the family drama in “Love Thy Woman.”

“Magandang Buhay” momshies Jolina Magdangal, Melai Cantiveros, and Karla Estrada will continue their heartwarming discussions on weekday mornings, while the new season of “The Voice Teens” will feature talented teen singers and superstar coaches Apl.de.ap, Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo, and Lea Salonga on weekends.

“TV Patrol” will continue to deliver the most relevant news and information to viewers every evening. More movies and classic TV shows will also be aired on the channel to provide relief and inspiration to viewers.

Besides the many well-loved programs that will be going back on air, some new shows will also be launched.

Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo will be seen every Saturday in the new show called “Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan,” while Angel Locsin will be hosting “Iba ‘Yan” every Sunday. Both of these are public service programs that will put the spotlight on stories and experiences of real people and the life challenges that they face.

“The World of a Married Couple,” the highest-rating cable Koreanovela, also makes its debut on Kapamilya Channel on June 15.

Filipinos from all over the world, meanwhile, will not be left out because they will be able to watch all Filipino programs on Kapamilya Channel, including the new episodes, on TFC.

Encouraged by the overwhelming love and support of the public, ABS-CBN remains committed to serving its audiences even after it was ordered to stop operating its radio and television stations on May 5 by the National Telecommunications Commission.

The cable and satellite TV channels that will carry the Kapamilya Channel are owned and operated by other companies and are not covered by the cease and desist order issued by the NTC to ABS-CBN.

Welcome your favorite Kapamilya shows on Kapamilya Channel on SKY, Cablelink, G Sat, and most member-cable operators PCTA nationwide beginning June 13.

House Speaker Cayetano files bill giving ABS-CBN provisional franchise until October

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MANILA - House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday filed a bill giving ABS-CBN Corp. provisional franchise until October 2020, citing the need for Congress to focus on addressing the coronavirus crisis before tackling the network's "controversial" application for a fresh 25-year franchise. 

"Through this measure, we hope to strike a balance between the immediate needs of the people amid this crisis and the duty of Congress to ensure accountability to our present laws," read the bill, which cited government's need 

House Bill No. 6732 grants ABS-CBN provisional franchise to operate until October 31, 2020, before Congress deliberates on long-pending bills giving the media giant license to broadcast for another 25 years. 

The interim license will "give both the House of Representatives and the Senate [time] to hear the issues being raised for and against the renewal, and assess, with complete impartiality and fairness, whether or not the network shall be granted a franchise for another 25 years." 

"We cannot, in good conscience, sweep the accusations under the rug," read the bill's explanatory note. 

ABS-CBN earlier answered questions on alleged franchise violations and tax liabilities before the Senate, saying it has not violated any law. 

The bill was co-sponsored by Representatives Neptali Gonzalez, Raneo Abu, Roberto Puno, Dan Fernandez, LRay Villafuerte Jr., Ferdinand Romualdez, and Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado. 

It was brought before the chamber's committee of the whole. 

The House Speaker earlier said starting hearings on ABS-CBN franchise bills would not mean an "automatic" grant of a fresh broadcast license. 

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered ABS-CBN to stop broadcasting on May 5, a day after its franchise expired. 

The directive went against NTC's earlier commitment of giving "provisional authority" for the network to operate beyond its franchise validity. 

The House franchise panel last Monday ordered NTC to justify its cease and desist order against ABS-CBN, calling the telecoms regulatory body's halt directive an "undue interference on and disobedience to the exercise of the power of the House of Representatives."

Solicitor General Jose Calida was also accused of pressuring NTC to order the shutdown of ABS-CBN, based on a document obtained by ABS-CBN News.

ABS-CBN's halt in broadcast last week was the first time it was forced to sign off since the Marcos dictatorship. The shutdown imperils an estimated 11,000 jobs. 

It has asked the Supreme Court to stop the NTC shutdown order.

The network, which reached millions of Filipinos through its television, radio and online platforms, said it did not violate the law in its 65 years of service.

ABS-CBN goes off-air after NTC order

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In the midst of the country’s battle against the coronavirus pandemic, news broke about ABS-CBN‘s cease and desist order to operate.

On May 4, the franchise to operate by the country’s largest television network expires. 

ABS-CBN goes off-air on Tuesday evening, May 5, to comply with the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission

We see a flurry of verbal tussles among our lawmakers and legal luminaries on whether the giant network can continue to operate beyond May 4. The question at hand: can the Kapamilya network operate on the strength of a provisional authority issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) pending the renewal of the network’s franchise by Congress or not?

Last Sunday, the government chief lawyer, Solicitor General Jose Calida has warned the NTC against issuing a provisional authority in the absence of a Congress-approved franchise. A mere letter from leaders of the House of Representatives nor a resolution from the Senate would suffice to save the telecommunications regulatory body from possible legal responsibility.

And Solicitor General Calida minced no words in his warning that NTC commissioners could be liable under the country’s anti-graft and corruption laws should they grant ABS-CBN the provisional authority to operate without a franchise from Congress.

No less than former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has made it clear in the past on what the law says—a law crafted by the same institution that wants to violate it or wants the NTC to infringe it.

“I don’t think the House or a committee of the House can compel the NTC to issue a provisional authority. There is no basis to give a provisional authority because there is no franchise,” Justice Carpio said in his past interviews.

Every franchise is a law because Republic Act No. 3846 requires all broadcasters to obtain a franchise from Congress before they are allowed to operate. And a provision under the law says a recipient of a franchise must obtain permits and licenses from the NTC in order to operate.

Another legal luminary, Congressman Edcel Lagman, said that only a full-fledged franchise for ABS-CBN can it be allowed to operate. What does this mean? The long and short of it is that Congress, where all broadcasting franchises emanate, should begin hearing the franchise application of ABS-CBN if it wants the network to continue airing. And this is the only solution.

ABS-CBN has remained steadfast in giving assistance to underprivileged Filipinos, rolling out fundraising campaigns and info drives, while its talents voluntarily help, enlighten, and comfort their fans, even as the network’s franchise’s supposed expiration.

ABS-CBN’s Pantawid ng Pag-ibig program, initiated to help families whose livelihood is affected by the community quarantine, has already turned over food and other basic necessities to 17 LGUs in Metro Manila. It has also expanded to reach beneficiaries in Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal provinces.

The network has also been arming Filipinos with relevant information on how to fight the COVID-19 disease through the Ligtas Pilipinas campaign.

Kapamilya stars like Kathryn Bernardo, Mica Javier, Ivana Alawi, and Iza Calzado are actively supporting the cause, promoting the importance of wearing masks using their own social media platforms.

While many are facing desolation under the community quarantine, ABS-CBN stars have continued to express their support—with live performances from their own homes, messages of comfort through the music, or donation drives to bring assistance to families suffering the most.

There are also Kapamilya artists who led projects of their own accord, such as Angel Locsin for #UniTENTWeStandPH and Bela Padilla who raised funds to buy food for informal workers. Sisters Alex Gonzaga and Toni Gonzaga meanwhile provided relief goods to indigent families.

Other celebrities like Bea Alonzo, Pokwang, Ejay Falcon, and Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo prepared meals and distributed them to front liners, while the likes of Enchong Dee, Ria Atayde, and Vice Ganda used their own earnings to purchase masks, PPEs, and other medical supplie s for health workers.

The question on whether the network deserves a new franchise seems superfluous, now more than ever, given how it has given priority to serving the public and extending help outside of its core services.

With ABS-CBN’s reach all over the Philippines and overseas via TFC, it has helped bond the nation in this time of turmoil, empowering its viewers to lend a helping hand and promoting the value of compassion along the way.

It is the Filipinos who will win big if ABS-CBN’s franchise is renewed. It is the audiences who will gain from the network’s news, entertainment, and public service projects. Its franchise renewal will ensure that the public can benefit from all these services.