Panasonic scholarship, developing new breed of leaders, serving the nation

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Panasonic granted scholarships to 20 deserving university and vocational students during the 2019 Panasonic Scholarship Asia awarding ceremony held recently at Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation (PMPC), Taytay, Rizal. The said scholarship program is one of the manifestations of the company’s vision of pursuing a better life for each individual customer with its various partners, and realizing a better world through its contributions to the environment and other activities, including the Panasonic Scholarship Asia program.

The ceremony was led by Panasonic Corporation (PC) GroupwideBrand Communications Division leader for CSR and Citizenship Department Haruhisa Okuda, and PMPC president Masatoshi Sasaki. Other guests, who graced the occasion included Pamantasan ng Cabuyao (PnC) president Isabel F. Inlayo; University of Rizal System (URS)-Morongcampus director Allan E. Conde; URS College of Engineering dean Francis B. Culibrina; Bulacan State University (BSU) scholarship office head ElinitaP. Galvez; Dualtech Training Center (DTC) community relations manager Rodolfo V. Sta. Ana III; Don Bosco College (DBC)-Canlubang technical affairs assistant director Erwin Go; Don Bosco Technical Institute (DBTI) – Makati external relations officer Armando Z. Marquez; Don BoscoTechnical College (DBTC) – Mandaluyong TVET technical director Joseph C. Abillada; PMPC executive director Masaru Toyota; PMPC executive director Yoshiyuki Takahashi; PMPC center sub-head Satoshi Chujo; PMPC BD sub-head Edwardo S. Alegrid; PMPC center sub-head JulietaD. Beltran; and PMPC center sub-head Homer P. Ponesto.

The 20 new Panasonic scholars are (Undergraduate Category): Mr. Kevin A. Balatico (PnC - Marketing Management); Miss Jazzrine A. Tagle(University of the Philippines-Diliman - Eletronics and Communications Engineering); Mr. Ian Jester B. Jose (URS Morong - Mechanical Engineering); Mr. Agustin P. Lacre Jr. (URS Morong - Mechanical Engineering); Miss Heidilyn B. Sampaga (URS Morong – Electronics Engineering); Miss Ma. Elena I. Guanlao (BSU - Accounting Technology); Mr. Ronaldo M. Velilla Jr. (BSU - Accounting Technology); and Miss GianBianca F. Vergara (BSU - Accounting Technology).

For Vocational Category: Mr. Ronald O. Atienza (DTC - Electro-Mechanical Technology); Mr. John Mark G. Cabilan (DTC - Electro-Mechanical Technology); Mr. Zandro A. Fernandez (DTC - Electro-Mechanical Technology); Mr. Roy B. Manangkil (DTC - Electro-Mechanical Technology); Mr. Reymon Tigbabao (DTC - Electro-Mechanical Technology); Mr. Rommel S. Abris (DBC Canlubang – Machining); Mr. Mark Jerald Calisura (DBC Canlubang - Shielded Metal Arc Welding); Mr. Jhon Moises M. Penasbo (DBC Canlubang – Shielded Metal Arc Welding); Mr. Lance Kobe A. Apilado (DBTC – Madaluyong - General Electrician); Mr. Milestone B. Bautista (DBTC Mandaluyong - Technical Industrial Electronics ); Mr. Robert John S. Boñon (DBTC Mandaluyong - General Electrician; and Mr. Ryan C. Tubalinal (DBTI Makati - Electro-Mechanical Technology).

The new scholars were chosen after passing series of interviews, and assessment of their over-all performance as students along with the expectation that they will make use of their scholarship not only for their personal gain, but also for their contribution to the progress and development of society by becoming good leaders in their chosen field.

Small steps that go a long way The SM Store Share Shoes Program brings joy to kids in Isabela

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Shoes are essential in one’s journey through life, especially forstudents. With a pair of good shoes, they will not only be able to fulfill their daily tasks with ease, but it can also inspire them to work hard and take little steps to achieve their dream. 

Students of Diasan Elementary School in Echague, Isabela celebrate after receiving their new pair of shoes.

For most students in the city, a school bus or a stroll down the sidewalk are their usual commute. But for students in the province, it is a different story. 

Samantha, a student from the Diasan Elementary School, shared the hardships she and her classmates face to reach school. 

“Malayo po ang nilalakad namin ng nakapaa. Madulas po ‘pag umuulan at mahirap, maputik ang daan. ‘Yung mga iba po na nakatira sa may bundok, naglalakad po sila ng malayo. (My classmates and I have to walk a long way to get to our school. When the rainy season comes, the slopes become slippery and dangerous which makes it harder for us. The others who live near the mountain walk even farther),” Samantha said. 

Diasan Elementary School is tucked in the middle of the Barangay Diasan, a remote farming community in Isabela with over 600 residents. Students like Samantha have to walk an hour or more on rough terrain to get to and from school and are sometimes forced to skip classes if the river is swollen due to heavy rains.

Despite the challenges, one would be surprised at the great lengths they are willing to go to for their education. The simple gift of a new pair of shoes will allow them to walk to and back to school in comfort and safety. 

These are the kinds of stories that inspired the SM Store’s Share Shoes program to reach to the community to continue its mission of bringing joy - through the gift of shoes that can help make the journey of the students easier and more comfortable. 

Sharing the gift of new shoes

Most students in Diasan have not set foot in a mall before, let alone a shop selling shoes, so as a treat for the kids, employee volunteers from The SM Store, Savemore and SM Foundationtransformed one of the classrooms into a shoe store. They assisted the kids in choosing and fitting their very own shoes from the display of clogs, sneakers, sandals, flats and slip-ons donated by The SM Store MLC Shoes and Bags, and SM’s retail affiliates Crocs and Simply Shoes.

A volunteer washes the feet of one of the kids to teach him the value of proper hygiene. 

Replicating the shopping experience, an employee volunteer from The SM Store Cauayan assists a kid in fitting her new footwear. 

The employee and community volunteers also set up a “Feet Washing Corner” before the shoe fitting to impart the importance of taking care of one’s feet. The kids could not hide their joy as they selected and tried on their new footwear. 

Apart from receiving new shoes, the kids were treated to fun games and groceries from Savemore. The kids even gamely participated in a Zumba dance number led by The SM Store Cauayan employee volunteers. Wearing their new pairs of shoes, the kids enjoyed the activities knowing their feet were comfortable and secure. 

Taking steps to a brighter future

Samantha said that having a pair of shoes is important to protect their feet from injuries.

“Masaya po ako nu’ng nakita ko ‘yung mga kaibigan ko na suot na nila ‘yung sapatos kasi ‘di na sila mahihirapan maglakad ng isang oras papunta ng iskul (I was so happy to see my friends wearing their shoes because now, they won’t have a hard time walking an hour to school),” Samantha said. 

An employee volunteer from The SM Store Cauayan assists a kid in choosing his new pair of shoes. 

Teacher in charge Domenador Mayuyo Jr. shared that for some of the kids, it was their first time to own a pair of shoes, with many of them walking to school wearing slippers or barefoot. 

“It’s the first time for some of our students to receive a pair of shoes. Having a new pair of shoes is like a dream come true for them. It is a blessing for them to receive new pair of shoes that they can use to go to school,” Mayuyo said. 

Through the gift of new shoes, The SM Store hopes to inspire these kids to take those important steps toward achieving their goals. 

A student of Diasan Elementary School walkshome with his new pair of shoes from The SM Store’s Share Shoes Movement. 

Promoting the culture of sharing and purposeful giving

The shoe donation was also accompanied by a medical mission through the partnership of The SM Store with the SM Foundation, Caritas Philippines and the Diocesan Social Action Center of Ilagan. Residents of the community were able to avail of medical and dental consultations, laboratory works, and had X-ray and ECG examinations, and medicines courtesy of the SM Foundation’s Mobile Clinic, all for free.

An employee volunteer and student beneficiaries bond after the program. 

The activity was a part of the SM Share Movement, a program promoting a culture of sharing and purposeful giving among SM shoppers all year long. Since 2015, the SM Share Movement has collected over 1.3 million donations composed of shoes, clothing, books, school kits, disaster kits and toys.

The SM Store’s Share Shoes program encourages its shoppers to donate brand new and pre-loved footwear not just to help kidswalk safely and reach their desired destinations, but to also inspire them to take important steps toward achieving their goals. 

“We would like to thank all the shoppers and our partners who donated and participated in The SM Store’s Share Shoes Movement. This wouldn’t be possible without you. Given the rough terrain and the challenges that these students of Diasan face just to get to their school, the new pair of shoes is a great help to them,” said Cielito Velasquez, Assistant Branch Manager of The SM Store Cauayan. 

One of the classrooms is transformed by SM employee volunteers into a shoe store to give the kids a shopping experience. 

Through the #SMShareMovement Project, the SM Store remains committed to its promise to give back to communities and to be a partner in their development. Through the simple but valuable gift of shoes, they can continue to be a part of Barangay Diasan’s journey as the children take steps toward a brighter future. 

Find out more about the #SMShareMovement’s quarterly donation drives and ways to contribute to upcoming projects, by liking The SM Store Facebook page and by following @TheSMStore on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Globe spearheads the digital transformation of Manila

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Globe signs MOA with Mayor Isko Moreno to deploy  GoWIFI and to empower scholars with GCash.

Globe  spearheads the digital transformation of the country’s capital by providing fast and reliable internet connectivity in key areas with GoWiFi and delivering financial technology services to the city’s scholars with GCash.

The use of GCash as the official financial services platform to send allowances and other monetary benefits to about 15,000 scholars under the Office of the Manila City Mayor. Students will receive a corresponding GCash Mastercard to withdraw their cash allowance, and will also serve as their official identification card as a bonafide scholarship beneficiary of the city.

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu and Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno today signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to make GoWiFi available at Manila City Hall, Ospital ng Maynila, Tondo Medical Center, Gat. Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Tondo National High School, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Universidad de Manila.

“Providing free WiFi services via GoWiFi and bringing financial inclusivity via GCash are just the initial undertakings from our end to contribute to the digitalization efforts of the city. Our goal is to provide the entire digital ecosystem of Globe for Manileños to enjoy their digital lifestyle,” he revealed as he stressed that the collaboration with the City of Manila is a first step in contributing to the city’s digital transformation initiatives.

Cu also signified intention to improve the Globe network in the city to enable its digitalization. ”We need to build additional 100 wireless sites to improve the signal in Manila,” Cu said.

Globe also has several ongoing corporate social responsibility initiatives as part of its sustainability program directly benefited Manileños, such as the Globe Plastic Xchange program held in Brgy. 455 last September 14 where single use plastics were collected in exchange for rewards points, turnover of information and communication technologies equipment and a computer lab to Manila Science High School, roll-out of Globe‘s Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) to Manila Science High School students in 2016 to teach them responsible use of the internet and which will be adopted in the curriculum of the Department of Education for all public schools including those in Manila City, and Globe’s participation in the Manila Bay coastal clean-up with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources this September 21.

GoWiFi continues its expansion plans nationwide, particularly in high-traffic areas like malls, hospitals, and schools to make high-quality internet connection accessible and affordable to more Filipinos. As of the first half of the year, GoWiFi is accessible in 2,500 sites nationwide, up by 500 sites from the previous year.

To date, GCash has made financial transactions easier for its 20 million registered users. And with over 70,000 partner merchants in the country, it truly has helped revolutionize the way Filipinos transact.

Five reasons why PayMaya is the best way for students to receive their allowances

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Juggling work and parenting can be quite a challenge especially as we ease into the back-to-school season. Luckily, as parents in the digital world, there are countless tools and apps available to help you complete your household management and work tasks simultaneously.    

This includes the PayMaya app - which provides parents a faster, safer, and more convenient way to give allowances to their children – especially those who are off to senior high school and college.  

Here are five reasons why using PayMaya is the best way for students to receive their allowances:    

   

It provides awesome perks for students  

Sending your children’s allowances via PayMaya is not only efficient, it is also practical. With the various discounts and promos offered by PayMaya, you and your teenager can definitely pile up on cashbacks and discounts each time you transact. PayMaya offers a wide range of promos, providing the best deals catering to its student-customers.  

  

It is fast and convenient   

With PayMaya, you can easily send your child’s allowance in just seconds – no need to fumble for the exact amount of cash in your wallet every single day. In times of urgent need, having your PayMaya can also come in handy, because sending emergency money from the confines of your office is just as easy as a few taps on your phone and can be done within seconds.  You can also easily send funds to your or your child's PayMaya wallet from your bank account through InstaPay.  

  

It is more secure than giving cash   

By sending their allowance straight to their PayMaya account, students can avoid instances where they lose or misplace their money. They can also track their expenses as they receive an SMS after each transaction – whether by using their PayMaya QR, virtual card or physical card.    

There are already cashless campuses which accept card and QR transactions including Lyceum University of the Philippines – Batangas and soon, the University of the Philippines. These universities, along with STI also provide PayMaya-powered IDs to their students. Of course, in times where they do need their cash, they can easily withdraw money from any Bancnet ATM near their home or school.    

   

It teaches them financial responsibility

If your children are heading to college, this season is a great opportunity for parents to also let them handle and manage their own money – which means allowing them to budget their allowances, track their expenses, and even save up a little fund for their hobbies or simply hanging out with their friends. One way to do this is by sending them their weekly allowance, instead of daily, via PayMaya.   

With PayMaya, saving up is easier as they can easily track their spending within the app. They also get discounts on their in-app purchases which includes prepaid load, gaming pins, and even select goodies at PayMaya Treats.   

   

It empowers them to make their own purchases

  

Using their savings to purchase items that give them joy or allow them to pursue their passions - whether these are gaming pins, a cute new purse at Zalora, or art supplies at the National Bookstore – will surely make them feel empowered and inspired to keep saving money.   

With PayMaya on hand, they can purchase all these items and more, in the safest, most convenient way, with the most value for their money.    

Download the PayMaya app now and experience cashless convenience as you manage your household while on the go. 

To know more about how you can get the best deals when you pay your bills, send money, buy load, shop online and in-store, and many more, visit https://www.paymaya.com/deals.