Cathay Pacific unveils Aria Suite, a new way to experience air travel

Tweet

Showcasing a whole new cabin experience in Business, Premium Economy and Economy onboard the airline’s retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft

SINGAPORE  - Cathay Pacific is once again raising the bar for customer experience with the official unveiling of its all-new Business class, Aria Suite, together with its new Premium Economy and refreshed Economy onboard its retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Cathay Pacific unveiled the new Aria Suite at an exclusive event presented by special guest Fala Chen (fourth from left), Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam (third from left), Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau (third from right), Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan (second from right) and Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Sharpe (second from left).

The airline's retrofitted 777-300ER debuted on its Hong Kong-Beijing route today (18 October) before progressively being deployed on other regional and long-haul routes. The new cabin experience was introduced at a special ceremony for distinguished guests, valued customers and Cathay members, members of the media and Cathay employees at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited's (HAECO) hangar facility at Hong Kong International Airport on 16 October.

Cathay Group Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: "At Cathay, we believe in moving people forward in life. This purpose goes beyond simply flying customers to their destinations; we are deeply woven into Hong Kong's identity as a global aviation hub. To solidify our role in both the industry and the community, we've committed a significant investment of over HK$100 billion over the next seven years into our fleet, cabin products, lounges, and digital and sustainability leadership, reflecting our confidence in Hong Kong's long-term growth and its position as a key player in global aviation.

"As part of this evolution, we are excited to introduce new seat products over the next three years, each designed to elevate the inflight experience for our customers. First, we are launching our all-new Business and Premium Economy cabins, and a refreshed Economy cabin on our retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER. These will be followed by a new world-leading First class experience onboard our 777-9s, and a brand-new flat-bed Business class product on our Airbus A330s. Through our investments in cutting-edge aircraft, innovative technology and groundbreaking facilities, we are dedicated to moving beyond expectations – in the air, on the ground and in every experience we create."

In the highly anticipated Aria Suite, Cathay Pacific has placed customer experience at the heart of the design and conception of its new Business class. Artistry and craftsmanship have gone into every detail to create a holistic and immersive experience where comfort, privacy and a sense of personal space are completely reimagined for customers. The result is an inflight journey that is intuitive and effortless.

For more information on Aria Suite and the retrofitted 777-300ER cabin experience, please see the accompanying fact sheet, here.

#CathayPacific

Pru Life UK employees continue to take part in life-saving initiative

Tweet

Pru Life UK’s commitment to supporting communities goes beyond financial education and inclusion. The leading life insurer also advocates health and safety protection, especially for families in need. In partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, Pru Life UK employees are engaged in blood donation drives, contributing to a safe and quality blood supply for the Filipino community.

Pru Life UK employees at the blood donation drive with the Philippine Red Cross

The blood donation drive has been an integral part of Pru Life UK's community investment programs since 2016. To date, close to 500 [MFA1] bags of life-saving blood have been donated by PRU employees and agents. Sustainability Changemakers, Pru Life UK’s volunteerism program, engages its people to take part in supporting communities in need.

Pru Life UK Employee Blood Drive Jonel Yulas

“My younger brother needed to get immediate surgery during pandemic. Imagine the feeling of being helpless with hospitals saying no to my brother's surgery. People experience this most of the time, so I want to help even with the simple gesture of donating blood. Since then, I've donated four times through Pru Life UK's employee blood donation initiative. More than just donating, bloodletting reminds me of how fragile life is and that we should take care of our health in any way we can.” PRULifer Jonel Yulas shared following the company’s recent blood donation drive.

The activity is the first of three[HDLA2] [MFA3] [HA4] [HDLA5] planned legs for the blood donation drive this 2024. Know more about Pru Life UK’s community investment initiatives at www.prulifeuk.com.ph/en/corporate-social-responsibility/

[MFA1]471 exact number per Hannah

[HDLA2]Confirmed for this year.

[MFA3]Changed the last sentence to be a CTA to website @Hannah Desiree L. Aman

[HA4]@Maria Feliza Agodon website page still needs to be updated, reco to remove

[HDLA5]This is a local program. PF was not directly involved.

Start your business journey with Pru Life UK

Tweet

Pru Life UK ramps up its recruitment efforts to empower ambitious individuals from all walks of life to build a long-lasting business with the leading life insurer. 

Through a series of Build Your Business (BYB) sessions—held online and in person in key cities across the country—seasoned PRU business builders share their success stories and tips to encourage attendees to pursue their own business goals.

“By choosing Pru Life UK, aspiring financial advisors can be confident that they are backed by the #1 life insurer in the country with strong market presence and solid financial results,” said Marylin Detalla-Averia, Chief Agency Officer of Pru Life UK.

The company ranks number one in the life insurance industry in the Philippines, garnering the highest New Business Annual Premium Equivalent based on the Insurance Commission’s report as of 31 December 2023.

“Our financial advisors are provided with all the support they need to help build their business. They have access to digital tools, development programs, hip offices, and attractive rewards and incentives with unlimited earning potential. This allows them to be their own boss and live their ideal lifestyle while helping clients achieve theirs.”

Celebration of success with #BuildYourPRUBusiness

While BYB sessions are held year-round, the company leads an energetic approach to recruitment this May.

Themed Paint the Town Red: It’s PRUFiesta time, Recruitment Never Stops!, BYB sessions will be held in  Metro Manila (Makati, Ortigas, QC), Pampanga (Clark, Sta. Rosa), South (Alabang, Lipa), North (Baguio), and VisMin (Cebu, Davao, CDO).

Attendees will receive mentorship on becoming a business builder with Pru Life UK’s 40,000-agency force, the largest in the industry.

A virtual BYB session will happen on May 22 featuring “Pambansang Wealth Coach” Chinkee Tan, who will talk about financial management and business development, further highlighting the importance of financial planning and empowering entrepreneurial mindset.

Pru Life UK also holds its weekly Facebook live Q&A sessions for budding and experienced business builders. Held every Thursday at 7:00 p.m., these online sessions offer a glimpse into the world of financial advisors. 

Seeking a meaningful and rewarding business opportunity? Visit bit.ly/JoinPRU2024 to join Pru Life UK's BYB sessions.

Digido wins 11 awards, including two ‘Best’ accolades from Global Banking & Finance Review

Tweet

Digido, multi-awarded consumer finance company has ended the first three months of the year with 11 award recognitions from four esteemed global finance and business publications.

The digital lending service was named by the Global Banking & Finance Awards® as the Philippines’ “Best New Online Lending Services” for the second year in a row, as well as the country’s “Best New Fintech Company”.

Digido bagged a trio of wins from the World Economic Magazine Awards, winning in the “Best Customer Service Company For Finance Philippines 2024”, “Best Personal Loans Provider Philippines 2024” and “Best New Online Lending Services Philippines 2024” categories.

The Global Financial Market Review named the platform the “Best Digital Lending App in the Philippines” while the Gazet International Awards recognized Digido in five categories: “Best Digital Lending Firm Philippines 2024”, “Most Customer-Friendly Financial Solutions Philippines 2024”, “Most Innovative Digital Lending App Philippines 2024”, “Best Digital Loan App Philippines 2024”, and “Best Digital Lending Platform Philippines 2024”.

Earlier, Digido announced that it has served over one million Filipinos through its safe, reliable and inclusive digital lending services.

Commenting on the 11 awards, Digido business development manager Rose Arreco said: “We recognize the unprecedented nature of this series of recognitions from these prestigious finance and business publications and feel incredibly humbled. We at Digido have been striving to ensure we remain a trusted financial partner for the Philippines’ underserved, and these awards are stark reminders to do so with the consumer at the forefront.”

An earlier commissioned survey by Digido revealed that personal loans were the most popular formal credit option, with 54% of respondents having one in 2023 due to its flexibility and variety of use.

Digido offers a First Loan For Free service, where first-time borrowers can avail up to PHP 4,000 with 0% interest and a standard Personal Loan up to PHP 25,000 for repeat clients. It can be accessed through its official site digido.ph, its apps in Google Play and the iOS App Store, and Lazada Loans.

Pru Life UK solidifies its leadership position as 2023’s top life insurer in the Philippines

Tweet

Pru Life UK ranks number one in the life insurance industry in the Philippines, garnering the highest New Business Annual Premium Equivalent (NBAPE) as reflected in the recently released Insurance Commission (IC) report as of 31 December 2023.

The life insurance company's NBAPE amounted to a total of Php 10.54 billion for 2023

The report shows that Pru Life UK achieved an impressive NBAPE of Php 10.54 billion for 2023 representing 11% growth. The company broadened the gap with the closest competitor by a margin of Php 472 million. NBAPE serves as the universally accepted performance metric used to assess sales performances of the life insurance industry in the Philippines.

Owing to the company's innovative offerings, Pru Life UK also leads in total premium income from variable life insurance products, amounting to over Php 45.7 billion as of 31 December 2023.

With over 42,000 digitally empowered agents and 1.7 million lives assured, Pru Life UK strengthens its market leadership reflecting the company’s unwavering commitment to being the most trusted partner and protector of many Filipino families.

More than numbers, Pru Life UK also attributes its industry success to good corporate governance which guides the business to lead with transparency and integrity. A Golden Arrows awardee for five (5) consecutive years since 2018, Pru Life UK has cemented itself as a beacon of responsible business practices in the Philippines.

"It is with great pride and honor that we achieved the country’s number one life insurer position in 2023, " said Francis Ortega, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pru Life UK. "We express our heartfelt appreciation to our customers, partners, employees, and agency force for their collective efforts that have driven us to achieve this significant milestone. Our purpose, "For Every Life, For Every Future," guides us in providing innovative and accessible solutions to every Filipino. We aim to be the most trusted partner and protector for this generation and generations to come by providing simple and accessible financial and health solutions.”

The consistent growth of Pru Life UK is aligned with that of its parent company, Prudential plc, which recorded a 45% increase in new business profit to USD 3.1 billion as of 31 December 2023.

As it further strengthens its commitment to providing financial solutions addressing the evolving needs of Filipinos, the company recently launched PRULove Wealth, a single premium product designed to provide Filipinos life insurance coverage while also allowing them to earn returns with rates comparable with those from high-yielding time deposits. The plan uniquely offers 4% guaranteed annual cash payout, 100% cashback, and up to 125% insurance coverage.*

*Product terms & conditions including on cash back apply.​ Limited time offer and subject to availability.​

Company sees 42% subscription revenue growth in 2023 and the end of the year realizing the 66th quarter of consecutive ARR growth

Tweet

RELEX Closes 2023 with Record Customer Growth

RELEX Solutions announced closing 2023 with remarkable growth across annual recurring revenue (ARR), customer net promoter score (NPS) satisfaction, and new customer signings. Overall, RELEX saw 42% year-over-year growth of reported subscription revenue in 2023, and in Q4 2023 realized its 66th quarter of consecutive ARR growth. This growth is attributed to new and expanded customer signings across the globe, as a variety of retailers and consumer goods companies recognize the deep value inherent in the company’s supply chain and retail planning solutions. RELEX delivers quick time to value, and has a flawless track record of successful implementations in the company’s decade-plus history.

“The bedrock of our customer promise lies in delivering measurable, impactful results, very quickly. We stand by the premise of ‘doing what we say we’re going to do’ which not only instills trust, but confidence,” said Mikko Kärkkäinen, group CEO and co-founder, RELEX Solutions. “I’m very proud of our growth this year, which is directly attributed to the lasting relationships we form with customers from day one.”

In 2023, RELEX closed nearly 200 customer deals, of which 73 were net-new customers. Some of the new customers RELEX signed in 2023 included A.F. Blakemore & Son, bp, Casey’s, Fressnapf, Koala Furniture, Obramax, OXXO, PriceSmart, United Natural Foods, US Foods® CHEF’STORE™ and 7-Eleven Australia. RELEX also saw a 31% increase in customers that chose to expand their business with RELEX to capture additional business value in 2023, which speaks to the measurable results and value customers gain working with RELEX, as evidenced by a company-high NPS rating of 61 globally. The average NPS score for a SaaS company is 41; RELEX consistently scores well above the industry average each quarter.

With the recent acquisition of Optimity, RELEX also welcomes 80+ customers across highly complex manufacturing and food and beverage industries including Blendwell, Bubbies Ice Cream, Vita Coco, and Finsbury. These customers join the roster of consumer goods companies at RELEX including Altia, Angulas Aguinaga, Atria, Hennig-Olsen, Maag Group, and Saarioinen, among others. Across retail, wholesale distribution, and manufacturing, RELEX currently has a portfolio of over 500 happy customers.

Bayad strikes alliance with Pisopay.com, powering bills payment services

Tweet

Bayad, the pioneer brand in the outsourced payment collection system in the Philippines, beefs up its partnership with Pisopay.com Inc., a cloud-based financial application provider taking a more aggressive stance in the e-commerce industry through its remittance and bills payment services.

CHAMPIONING DIGITAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION: In photo from left to right are Pisopay.com CEO Ariel Surca, Pisopay.com Chairman Jae Jung Jang, Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer, and Bayad Chief Marketing Officer Dennis Gatuslao.

Under the partnership, Pisopay.com will integrate its biller brands with Bayad, allowing Bayad’s physical and digital touchpoints to accept payments for government institutions like Bureau of Quarantine, LTFRB, and selected LGUs nationwide, academic institutions like Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, National Maritime Polytechnic, Baliwag Maritime Academy and Scuola Maria in Batangas, e-commerce business like Palengke.PH, and many others.

Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer shares “We value the way people do payments, and we make sure to highlight security and convenience in our collection service. This is why we are constantly maximizing our cybersecurity measures and upgrading our real time posting features to enhance end to end transaction processing. Through our partnership with Pisopay, we believe that we will be able to serve Filipinos from all walks of life as we elevate their payment experience”

Pisopay.com Chairman Jae Jung Jang also shares: "Pisopay is your worry-free financial partner, powering businesses with fast, secure payments, collection, and remittances. We're a one-stop shop, simplifying complex finances through trusted technology. Let us handle your money worries so you can focus on what matters. We respect the value of your hard work, and the least of your worries will be how your transaction is treated, and with our partnership with Bayad, we are assured of double security and a wider reach to our clients nationwide, especially to communities that are unbanked, providing a seamless service, wherever and whenever.”

 

For fintech institutions like Pisopay.com that are interested to be part of Bayad’s extensive bills payment collection network, you may send an email to partnerships@bayad.com. Bayad enables partners to attain nationwide presence and provides end-to-end support services for efficient payment and collection processing. 

 

Y Combinator-backed stock trading platform Cera rolls out in the Philippines

Tweet

Cera, a US stock trading platform backed by Y Combinator, in partnership with Fireblocks, announced its Beta launch, allowing Filipinos and anyone anywhere in the world to invest in US stocks using stablecoins.

Cera enables users to invest in US stocks using stablecoins such as USD Coin, Tether (USDT), and Binance USD. Each of these coins is pegged to a value of $1, ensuring stability and eliminating the hassle of complex account setups and international transactions.

Users are now able to buy and trade a wide range of stocks, including energy companies, healthcare providers, and tech giants such as Tesla Inc. (TSLA), Apple Inc. (AAPL), and Microsoft Corporation (MSFT).

“Cera is revolutionizing the entryway to the US stock market through a seamless deposit, purchase, and trade process. Our core values of stability, transparency, and accessibility ensure that diverse global communities including Filipinos can confidently engage with the market," Cera’s Product Lead, Daniel Phan said.

Cera's platform makes the US stock market accessible as it allows investing as little as $2. The platform supports investments in fractional shares, offering increased flexibility to users.

As part of its launch, for a limited time, Cera offers up to $50 for new sign-ups that make eligible deposits. Their attractive referral program is also available for users who introduce friends to the platform.

“We aspire to empower anyone in the world with global investment opportunities, emphasizing ease and user fund security. Our partnership with Fireblocks ensures that our users always have control over their investments,” Phan said.

Cera app is available on Google Play and Apple Store.

DoubleVerify Strengthens Operations in The Philippines with New Hire

Tweet

Appoints Tinee Cruz as Senior Sales Director 

Tinee Cruz as Senior Sales Director, Philippines

DoubleVerify a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data, and analytics, today announced the appointment of Tinee Cruz as Senior Sales Director, Philippines. In her new role, Tinee will work closely with local partners to initiate, implement, and create new partnerships with a focus on business growth.  Leveraging her extensive industry experience, Tinee will play a pivotal role in elevating DoubleVerify’s extensive suite of measurement solutions to brands and agencies to drive effective advertising spend outcomes.

The appointment is a testament to DoubleVerify’s commitment to regional growth with a focus on increasing in-market resources in the newly launched markets in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

“The Philippines is a unique market with a huge potential for advertisers to drive ROI for their media investments, and Tinee’s appointment is timely for forging new partnerships focused on performance for media buys,” said Conrad Tallariti, Regional Vice President of Sales, Asia. “Tinee has a track record of driving growth leveraging her exceptional leadership skills in developing strong client relations and delivering service excellence. Her expertise covers multiple functions and markets in the region which will be invaluable as we continue our expansion across Southeast Asia.”

With nearly 10 years in the marketing, media, and sales industry, Tinee joins DoubleVerify from InMobi, where she was the Country Sales lead for the Philippines, and played an instrumental role in localizing InMobi’s platform in the Philippines. Her career spans the gamut of the advertising ecosystem - agency, brand, publisher, and platform.

Commenting on her new role, Tinee Cruz said, "Digital ad spending in the Philippines is on the rise, being projected to reach 1.6 million USD in 2023, as customer preferences and habits continuously evolve. With emerging technologies, particularly AI, also set to make its mark, the Philippines advertising market is poised for long-term changes. I look forward to nurturing relationships with our customers and meeting their needs with DoubleVerify’s cutting-edge solutions, to drive a significant impact in the Philippines advertising market."

----------------------------

About DoubleVerify

DoubleVerify (“DV”) (NYSE: DV) is a leading software platform for digital media measurement and analytics. Our mission is to make the digital advertising ecosystem stronger, safer and more secure, thereby preserving the fair value exchange between buyers and sellers of digital media. Hundreds of Fortune 500 advertisers employ our unbiased data and analytics to drive campaign quality and effectiveness, and to maximize return on their digital advertising investments – globally. Learn more at www.doubleverify.com.

 

 

Caltex Gives Away Pickup Trucks to 3 Winners of Pickup Your Rewards Promo 2023

Tweet

Three lucky winners from Metro Manila, Luzon and Mindanao bring home their brand-new Ford Ranger Sport.

Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), concluded this year’s Pickup Your Rewards Promo with three lucky grand prize winners taking home their brand-new Ford Ranger Sport after a short turnover ceremony held recently at the Caltex station in Chino Roces Avenue, Makati.

Netterino Torres from Pampanga, Arnold Gonzales from Batangas and William Gaabucayan from Cagayan de Oro, along with their families, expressed their gratitude for winning the lucky draw via the CaltexGO app, which is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Each of the Ford Ranger Sport units was filled up with Caltex Power Diesel with Techron D, which has been shown to improve the diesel engine's overall efficiency while restoring lost engine performance after years of use.

“We want to thank Caltex for this opportunity to have our own vehicle. It feels surreal at the moment, but we’ll definitely enjoy this win and put this to good use. We’re looking forward to gassing up and supporting Caltex all the more because of the opportunities they open for their customers,” shared Jolo Gonzales, son and representative of Arnold Gonzales at the turnover ceremony.

Torres stated, “This is proof that raffle draws still work and that Caltex is a company of integrity that honors the contests it organizes. My family and I want to thank Caltex. Not only we do get quality fuels and service at Caltex but we also win such prizes.”

Winners pose with Caltex executives during the awarding ceremony.

Caltex has also announced the 400 minor prize winners of 250,000 Caltex Rewards points on the company’s official Facebook account.

“We at Caltex continuously find ways to ensure our customers have a safe and rewarding journey. Being a member of our Caltex Rewards program is another testament to how we remain committed to this goal. Just by using Caltex Rewards, members earn and redeem valuable points when they transact at Caltex. They also enjoy exclusive Caltex offers and perks such as our promos. We are thrilled to share the excitement of our winners and look forward to many more milestones ahead," CPI Country Chairman and General Manager Billy Liu remarked.

The first Caltex National promo for this year ran for three months from April 18 to July 17. For every Php500 accumulated purchase of any Caltex fuels using Caltex Rewards, customers were entitled to (1) raffle entry for a chance to win a brand-new Ford Ranger Sport and/or 250,000 Caltex Rewards points using Caltex Rewards.

For more rewards and promotions, register for Caltex Rewards via CaltexGO app available on Apple App Store and Google Play.

Follow Caltex’s official Facebook page to stay updated on current and future promos.

About Chevron

Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. We believe affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy is essential to achieving a more prosperous and sustainable world. Chevron produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and additives; and develops technologies that enhance our business and the industry. We are focused on lowering the carbon intensity in our operations and growing lower carbon businesses along with our traditional business lines. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

PH employees find digital innovation crucial to work but lack resources and support, survey finds

Tweet

Filinvest Group’s innovation arm F(DEV) initiated a digital readiness research revealing that the majority of Filipino workers consider digital innovation crucial to their work, but only half believe that the companies they work for are putting in the resources to drive innovation. In partnership with market research firm Tangere, the Philippine Employee Digital Readiness Report polled more than 700 professionals from different industries to gauge the digital readiness of companies and their employees.

The Philippine Employee Digital Readiness Study by innovation outfit F(DEV) is a nationwide survey that reveals TikTok is the most effective method of consumption of educational content on digital innovation and skills

This study is driven by Filinvest's commitment to fostering a workforce that is future-ready and globally competitive. The report gives a wider perspective of the Philippine companies’ level of digital presence and adoption as well as the key barriers to innovation. With people transformation deemed as a crucial aspect of digitalization, the report offers insights on how companies can leverage employee dispositions toward strengthening a culture of innovation and empowering their employees.

“We believe that innovation is about disrupting ourselves first before others can disrupt us. While we've initiated various programs internally in collaboration with industry experts, our primary objective was to gather unbiased data into employees' perspectives on innovation and the factors that drive their ability to innovate. The findings have not only reaffirmed the effectiveness of our existing programs, but have also unveiled exciting opportunities to elevate our strategies for empowering our workforce to be future-ready,” said Xavier Marzan, Group Chief Digital Officer of the Filinvest Group and CEO of F(DEV).

Marzan added, “We are excited to release the insights from this  study with the aim of fostering growth and innovation across various industries in the Philippines. By gaining deeper insights into our workforce, we empower our industry peers to embrace new ways of working and become more innovative as well.”

Digital innovation and key barriers

Majority of Filipino employees consider digital innovation as highly important to both their individual (91 percent) and team-related (98 percent) work. 

Although 52 percent of employees surveyed deem their companies to be highly innovative, and 88 percent believe their work environment is suitable for innovation, 47 percent cite the lack of resources and support to innovate or unpreparedness for innovation as the biggest barrier to digital adoption. Budget or financial cost comes second at 42 percent, and the lack of relevant knowledge or skills comes third at 38 percent.

PH employees’ readiness for innovation

Interestingly, despite these barriers, Filipino employees remain keen on upskilling. Most are eager to explore new ways of learning. Seventy percent of the respondents are willing to invest in and learn more about business innovation and leadership. Other areas of interest include design thinking, product development, graphic design, and marketing (65 percent), as well as data-related skills such as collection, analysis, and laws (59 percent).

Understanding where and how employees prefer to upskill is crucial. Social media platforms have emerged as the most favored source of learning today. Notably, 44 percent rank TikTok as the most effective platform for consuming educational content, followed closely by YouTube at 38 percent, and Facebook at 36 percent. These preferences open up opportunities for companies to leverage these platforms for effective skills development.  Gone are the days of traditional corporate training methods and organizations need to open up easily accessible content and development opportunities for their people.

People Transformation: Bedrock of digital transformation

The findings of the survey corroborate the people transformation agenda of the Filinvest Group . Through F(DEV), the group has been leveraging people transformation programs to future-proof Filinvest for its employees, customers, and stakeholders.

“Guided by our people transformation agenda, our Open Collaboration and Open Learning programs  have evolved our workplace dynamic into one that encourages everyone  to create and innovate. These initiatives have fostered a culture of customer-centricity, accountability, and innovation,” shared Isabelle Yap, Chairperson at F(DEV).

In partnership with industry experts, startups, and tech enterprises, F(DEV) has been creating various “Open Collaboration” and “Open Learning” initiatives to ready its people for a dynamically and fast-changing environment. A series of free learning and upskilling events for Filinvest employees runs throughout the year, with themes focusing on a wide range of topics – from Design Thinking, Customer Centricity, User Interface (UI) / User Experience (UX), Data & Analytics, and AI. F(DEV) also holds an annual conglomerate-wide  Hackathons to challenge and empower Filinvest’s employees by allowing them to create innovative ideas and address real operational dilemmas.

HR and Digital Transformation leaders in the Philippines can look further into the Philippine Employee Digital Readiness Report for insights into the critical intersection of people transformation and digital innovation. By understanding the challenges, interests, and preferences of employees, businesses can take proactive steps to bridge the gap between digital aspirations and implementation.

The Philippine Digital Employee Readiness Report can be downloaded through this link.

 

Takeda Healthcare Philippines recognized as a Great Place to Work®, continues to prioritize employee well-being and growth

Tweet

Takeda Healthcare Philippines places great importance on creating a diverse and inclusive organization where employees can thrive and reach their full potential.

Takeda Healthcare Philippines, a leading biopharmaceutical company, has been recognized as a Great Place to Work® for the second year in a row. Based on the Trust Index survey, 100% of Takeda employees believe that the company is an excellent place to work, surpassing the average of 53% for global companies. This achievement reflects Takeda's strong commitment to creating an exceptional working environment and its dedication to excellence.

In addition, 100% of employees at Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. have collectively expressed that they see management as honest and ethical in their business practices, they feel good about the ways they contribute to the community, and they are proud to be part of the company.

Loreann Villanueva, Country Manager of Takeda Philippines, expressed her pride in the company's culture and the unwavering dedication of its employees. “Being certified as a Great Place to Work is an important recognition for Takeda Philippines. It is a testament to how our leaders & employees strive to create a positive impact in our organization that is anchored on trust, transparency and collaboration. Our amazing company culture is built on a solid foundation that allows our employees to make values-based decisions to bring to life our mission of providing better health and a brighter future in the Philippines.

“This certification further inspires us and our employees to continue delivering our purpose of broadening access to our innovative medicines to the Filipino patients. It is also an acknowledgment that the work that we do every day and the meaning behind every decision we make are driven and led by employees who are fully committed, passionate and engaged,” she added.

Takeda Healthcare Philippines not only prioritizes patients' access to medicines and quality treatment but also places great importance on creating a diverse and inclusive organization where employees can thrive and reach their full potential. The company is committed to fostering an honest and ethical workplace environment.

To promote a healthy and holistic working environment, Takeda Philippines offers various initiatives for its employees ranging from non-work related activities that fosters mutual trust and friendship, to trainings, mentoring programs and workshops to promote employee growth and holistic development.

The company has also adopted a hybrid work arrangement for their employees and a strict “no-meeting Fridays.” These efforts intend to deliberately give employees the work-life balance they need as well as to provide flexibility through streamlined work schedules and processes.

Takeda Healthcare Philippines' commitment to its employees and the community has garnered recognition beyond the Great Place to Work® certification. The company also ranked 8 in the small business category of the Philippines’ Best Workplaces 2023. It was also recognized as a Top Employer in the Philippines by the Top Employers Institute.

Takeda Philippines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a global R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company. Its headquarters in Makati City are home to Takeda Philippines’ employees who all share the same passion, drive, and commitment towards delivering life-transforming treatments, and sustainable patient access programs.

To learn more about Takeda and its initiatives, please visit www.takeda.com.

Igloo protects Southeast Asia's multi-billion dollar coffee industry with innovative weather insurance for farmers

Tweet

Regional insurtech Igloo expands its blockchain-based parametric index insurance to coffee farmers in Southeast Asia, showing commitment to covering more underinsured communities and industries after successful product implementation with rice farmers.

Southeast Asia - a part of what is called the coffee belt - is one of the biggest coffee producers in the world. While Vietnam and Indonesia are responsible for the majority of global coffee output, the Philippines is also an important global producer with industry revenue expected to reach US$6.7 billion in 2023, according to statistics portal Statista. The local market is also expected to grow annually by 5.69% until 2025.

Coffee production is not only a long-term and labor-intensive investment, but it is also one that is constantly under threat of climate hazards which provide difficult growing conditions due to extreme climate–affecting farmers and disrupting supply chains.

“Weather Index Insurance is a product that we introduced in order to protect farmers and communities across Southeast Asia from unforeseen climate hazards. While initially introduced for rice farmers, we’ve seen from its success the product’s scalability to cover other sectors like coffee farms, which is one of the robustly growing segments in the region,” said Mario Berta, Igloo’s Country Manager for the Philippines.

Protecting the coffee industry and its farmers

There are currently several insurance products on the market for coffee farmers. However, they share a common problem of incompatibility with the real, frequent risks faced by coffee farming families. The damage assessment process is also complex and time-consuming, which creates the risk of additional financial hardship for farmers.

The Weather Index Insurance eliminates the need to individually verify claims thereby reducing transaction costs and enabling faster payouts to farmers. This is done by collecting and monitoring rainfall data to calculate claims using pre-assigned values for losses due to natural causes. The business rules governing claims payout being hosted on a public blockchain help leverage the attributes of transparency, consistency, and unbiasedness, thereby making the setup credible.

While Weather Index Insurance is currently available in Vietnam for rice and coffee farmers, Igloo expects to roll out Weather Index Insurance to more countries in Southeast Asia including the Philippines soon.

“The Philippines being an agricultural powerhouse and one that is at a higher risk of suffering from the impacts of climate change, is a country we believe will benefit from having Weather Index Insurance. We are currently working with our partners to make this product available in the country and other markets in the near future. In addition, we are also exploring expanding the product’s coverage to include other indices such as earthquakes,” Mario added.

 

-----------------------

About Igloo:

Igloo is the first full-stack insurtech firm to emerge from Singapore. It has offices in Singapore, Indonesia,  Thailand,  The  Philippines,  Vietnam  and  Malaysia  and  tech  centers in China and India.  With a mission of making insurance accessible for all, the firm leverages big data, real-time risk assessment, and end-to-end automated claims management to create B2B2C insurance solutions for platform companies and insurance companies. Igloo’s insurance solutions enable companies  to  eliminate  their  exposure  to operational  risk,  create  new  revenue  streams,  and optimize  and  enhance  existing  products  and  services.  Igloo  has  partnered  with  over  55  well-known   brand   names   across   the   markets   in   various   verticals,   including   insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce, hospitality, health tech and financial services.

For more information, please visit https://www.iglooinsure.com/.

Challenging times ahead—are you life-secured?

Tweet

Achieving life security can mean different things to different people. For some, it can mean having a happy family, a profitable business, or owning a house. For others, it could mean a stable, high-paying job that allows them to live comfortably.

Whatever your definition of life security, achieving this is no simple task—it takes a lot of work, dedication, and focus. What’s more, nobody really knows what the future holds so we must prepare ourselves for anything. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help shape your future for the better. Here are some tips on how you can achieve life security during these uncertain times:

Keep your goals in mind

As you work towards your goals, you’ll have to overcome many obstacles along the way. But as long as you never lose sight of why you are doing this in the first place, you’ll always get back up again. Having this attitude is the first step towards your goals, whether it’s working for a big company or buying your own house.

Build an emergency fund

Nobody knows when emergencies will happen, so it is important that you start an emergency fund as soon as possible. Experts recommend having three to six months’ worth of monthly expenses in your emergency fund. Prioritize building this fund first before investing in anything else, and make sure to not use it for anything that isn’t an emergency. You can even create a separate savings account for it

Borrow with a purpose

Loans can become powerful financial tools when used smartly. For example, when you use a loan to fund a business launch or expansion that becomes profitable, or if you invest it in education to further develop your skills and income-generating capacity. These are examples of purposeful borrowing.

Do not borrow money without a purpose. Using a loan to purchase expensive designer bags or clothing, or to go on an unnecessarily expensive vacation, are not purposeful uses. Always think about how the loan can advance you in your path towards life security.

Secure your retirement

If you happen to have the extra money, set it aside for your retirement. The sooner you start saving up for your retirement, the better, as time and aging cannot be reversed. A good rule of thumb is to try to determine how much you think you’ll be spending once you’re retired and try to grow your extra money with a combination of cash savings, property, and investments.

Consider long-term investments

Investing your money is an excellent way to secure your financial future, since this not only safeguards your hard-earned savings from inflation, it also generates returns. How much returns you get depending on your investment strategy. You will need to look into the different kinds of investments, and determine how much you are willing to invest, as different investments involve varying levels of risk.

If that sounds like too much work, that’s because it is—even seasoned investors get overwhelmed by all the planning, research, and investing. That’s why banks like EastWest offer different products and services that take away the hassle of investing yourself. With multiple investment options such as fixed income securities, government securities, bonds unit investment trust funds, and trust funds, EastWest has the right products and expertise to help you grow your funds, so you can focus on your dreams.

------------------------------------------------------

About East West Banking Corporation

East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) is a Filipino-owned universal bank. EastWest is a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), one of the country’s leading conglomerates with a diverse range of interests including real estate, banking, hospitality & tourism, infrastructure, power generation, and sugar. It is not affiliated with any foreign financial institution which may bear the same name.

FedEx in AMEA Rolls Out Sustainability-Themed ‘50 Days of Caring’ to Celebrate its 50th Birthday

Tweet

 

FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, celebrated “50 days of Caring” undertaking community service programs across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region as part of a series of initiatives taking place during the countdown to the company’s 50^th birthday on April 17 this year.

 

Over 1000 FedEx volunteers and their families across 22 AMEA markets including Australia, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mainland China, Nigeria, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam undertook a variety of community-based activities focusing on sustainability and environmental protection, education, welfare, and support for the underserved.

 

Some of the programs undertaken include:

 

·        Beach clean-ups in Australia, Mainland China, and South Africa, to reduce waste and build cleaner coastal communities.

·        A park clean-up in Japan, and trash collection drives in India, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa to help deliver a cleaner, trash-free environment.

·        Planting trees in Mainland China, Singapore, India, Vietnam, and addition of plants and shrubs around office facilities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

·        Giving old fabrics in Thailand, including FedEx retired uniforms in Indonesia a new life through upcycling programs.

·        Hosting educational seminars on eco-living/eating, waste segregation, road safety and sustainable logistics education being held in the Philippines, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea.

·        Meal distribution in India as part of Akshay Patra midday meal program, providing nutritious food to the underserved.

 

 “At FedEx, we believe that a connected world is a better world. Over our first five decades, we’ve helped people and businesses thrive and that includes contributing our resources and our network wherever we can to make a positive difference,” said Kawal Preet, president of Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region at FedEx Express. “I’m incredibly proud to see the impact our team members have made in contributing to a Better World as part of our anniversary celebrations. What unites our team members is our drive to deliver the best results for our customers, our communities, and to build a more sustainable world. We are committed to creating a future that is as transformative as our first five decades have been.”

 

To mark 50 years since FedEx was founded in 1973, the company is continuing to organize events and share stories that celebrate its team members, shine a spotlight on its customers, and give the world a glimpse into what’s next. To learn more about the FedEx 50th birthday celebration, click here.

 

--------------------------

About FedEx Express

FedEx Express is one of the world's largest express transportation companies, supplying fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed the delivery of time-sensitive shipments by a definite time and date.

 

Addendum:

 

Giving back to local communities has always been part of FedEx culture. FedEx recently announced that it exceeded its FedEx Cares 50 by 50 goal announced in 2019 to help 50 million people ahead of its 50^th birthday.  As one of the most extensive regions within the FedEx global network, the FedEx AMEA team has contributed significantly to this goal over the past years. Some of the key achievements include:

 

·        Donated three charter flights to India at the peak of the Delta variant outbreak, providing hundreds of tonnes of medical supplies and thousands of oxygen concentrators to vulnerable communities.

·        Provided over 50,000 children with access to quality healthcare services across Vietnam under FedEx Delivers Heartbeats Outreach Clinic program – a joint program between FedEx and VinaCapital Foundation since 2012.

·        Collected over 140,000kg of garbage and plastic waste from 21 beaches in Australia, India, Japan and Singapore by the end of 2022.

·        Nurtured nearly 40,000 aspiring students across AMEA through FedEx / JA International Trade Challenge over the past 16 years.

·        Donated more than 30,800 books to more than 5,400 children and set up 32 libraries across Mainland China under the FedEx Library Program.

·        Provided over 1,000 care packages to blue-collar workers in the UAE through collaboration with SmartLife Foundation, and joined the Egyptian Food Bank to pack 1,300 food boxes for the underprivileged in Egypt during Ramadan in 2022.

·        Benefited more than 30,000 children aged 3-9 years old and their families and caregivers through 430 AnQ Safety Awakening cloud classes across Mainland China since 2020.