Reef invites everyone to embrace the fun, freedom and spirit of the beach with ‘Beach Freely’

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Reef, the industry leader in beach and surf footwear, is launching its new brand mantra that seeks to unite the world around the fun, freedom and spirit of the beach – Beach Freely. 

Beach Freely encourages everyone who steps into the sand or into Reef products to experience the beach in their own way – whether that’s surfing, barbecuing, swimming and enjoying other water sports – and take that fun spirit of the beach with them wherever they go. 

Local’s Perspective, the country’s first ever surfing coffee table book was launched during Reef’s Beach Freely event. Written by Michael Eijansatos from My Life on Board and published in partnership with Reef, the book covers the best surfing spots in the country and around Asia.

With its pristine white sand beaches and surfing spots hailed around the globe as some of the world’s finest, the Philippines has a vibrant beach-loving and surfing community who were there to witness the launch of the campaign at Alabang Town Center. Featuring games, music and all the other things that makes beach parties memorable, Reef invited the crowd to get into the Breach Freely spirit. 

The event also kicked off the launch of “Local’s Perspective” – the first Philippine Surf Book to be published. Created in collaboration with Reef’s long-time partner, My Life on Board, the book compiled the best surf images together with some of the finest wave chasers of our time, not only in the Philippines, but also across Asia - immortalizing those moments and telling the story of the history and culture of the locals who shaped the Asian surfing scene.

The book features images from the best surf photographers in Asia and Oceana like Giang Wardani from Batu Karas in West Java Indonesia, Bali based National Geographic photographer Tommy Schultz, Mentawai Island based surf photographer from Japan Hatsumi Ishibashi, World Longboard Championship Chaplain and photographer Andrew Carruthers from Australia and Siagrao based surf photographer Oliver Bayer.

It also highlights work from the Philippines’ own local surf photographers like Red Bull Ilume finalists and Sony World Photography National Award winner Gaps Sabuero, surf photographer from Samar Abdel Elecho, La Union based surfer and photographer Jeferson Ganuelas, Baler Based surf photographer JP Sarmiento and My Life on Board founder Mike Eijansantos. 

Mike was inspired to create this book because as he said, “Everything is digital already. So I want to create a book that immortalize the beauty of the images.”

Lovers of Reef can look forward to feeling this new, invigorated spirit in Reef’s latest products. 

Reef featured new their newest products during the launch: the Fanning Low sandals which has a built it bottle opener and ultra-soft support cushion soles, and the perforated board shorts which gives ultimate breathability and dries almost instantly after you step out of the water.

Perfect for surfers who are feeling the heat this summer, Reef’s perforated boadshorts feature light breathable polyester fabric created from woven soluble yarn and have perforated holes allow for water and air to freely pass through the fabric, speeding up the dry time and enhancing breathability. Complete with a zipper closure back pocket, key loop and non-velcro fly make this perfect for surf or other high intensity water sport. 

For the trendy beach-goer, Reef has created a slimmer, sleeker version of the ever-popular Fanning sandal. The Fanning Low has the same all-day comfort, arch support, and thirst quenching technology as the Fanning; but with slimmer straps and a lower side profile for a more youthful and fun vibe. 

Michael Eijansantos from My Life on Board talks about how the surfing community has grown in the country, given that we have some of the best beaches and surfing spots in the world. His book, Local’s Perspective, was inspired his dream to immortalize the beautiful blue waves of the Philippines and spots around Asia.

The Fanning Low has a super soft yet supportive EVA footbed, an airbag under the heel for even more support, and a rubber outsole for top of the line traction and durability – and it even has a bottle opener to ensure you are always able to quench your thirst! The new Fanning Low will be available in 6 six fun colors, right in time for one’s next beach adventure. 

The new mantra also lends itself to the Reef’s updated impact strategy to help keep beaches clean for everyone to enjoy.  Environmental and social impact has been a priority for Reef since the company’s founding in 1984 and has continued to grow throughout the years through the global Reef WeHeart program.

At the Beach Freely launch, Reef Chief Operating Officer Jane Ortega talks about how Reef continues to be a brand that always strives to create innovative products while making beach time fun and free.

Reef Marketing Supervisor Marnelli Gaerlan said that Reef aims to “…promote responsible travel by always seeing to it the [we] Reef always have the planet in mind.” She also encourages everyone to always plan beach trips with a conscience by enjoying the beauty of the ocean without leaving a trace. 

Here in the Philippines, Reef continued to promote responsible travel and environmental conservation in Free the Sea Movement 2, a fun-filled three day event and coastal clean-up in Baler done in partnership with WWF Philippines. 

Reef pledges to support efforts to preserve and restore beaches so that everyone has the opportunity to Beach Freely. 

Embrace the spirit of fun, freedom and the beach with Reef – for more updates on Beach Freely and Reef’s products and activities, follow www.facebook.com/reefphils/. 

ABOUT REEF®

REEF is the global brand that encourages people everywhere to Beach Freely. United by the spirit of the beach since 1984, REEF designs innovative and comfort-driven products to celebrate the freedom and fun of the beach lifestyle.

REEF® and Reef Beach Freely™ are trademarks of South Cone, Inc.

Restaurants Using Touchscreen Are At Risk Of Transfering Germs To Their Customers

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More and more restaurants have started using mobile technologies to improve their service and efficiency when serving customers. Such devices could be POS systems, tablet menus, and remote card payment machines. Other mobile devices are being used to manage food preparation and safety in accordance with inspection regulations.

The problem however, lies in the way staff and customers are sharing screens while at the same time handling food. Germs and bacteria can easily transfer from one hand to another through these surfaces.

How dirty are the screens?

Scientists have found that the average cell phone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat and you will find some of the worst bacteria such as Streptococcus Aureus, MRSA, and E. Coli thriving on the surface of your screen. People are especially at risk when touching hands or other surfaces and then touching their own screens afterwards. This problem gets even worse when brought into the restaurant industry as well as other food and beverage handling services using new technology.

How can you prevent germs from being transferred from one person to another?

1. Stop bringing your phone to the toilet

Research has shown that bringing your phone to the toilet (although very handy if you want to pass the time) also means you are at risk of exposing your screen to E. Coli bacteria found in your stool. Even if you don’t see it, flushing your toilet sends thousands of particles into the air and lands around your toilet where you phone or tablet might be residing.

2. Clean or sanitize your hands often

After toilet visits (also in nature) don’t forget to clean or sanitize your hands. Problem is that sanitizers often dry out peoples skin and many are not comfortable using them.

3. Clean your devices often

This is something most people fail to do. Many just tend to brush off their cellphones in a piece of cloth or in their shirt. This however, will not kill the germs and bacteria hiding on your screen but only make it “look” shiny and clean again. If you are a “cleaning freak” you might bring with you an alcohol sanitizer and clean your screen every so often. The problem is that many of these germs and bacteria will only come back as soon as you touch someones hands or other dirty surfaces and then touch your phone or device again.

4. Use a self cleaning coating

Yes, you heard it right. There are actually self-cleaning coatings out there based on Nano particles, which can actively kill germs and bacteria on a cell phone or other surfaces. Particles such as Titanium Dioxide or Silver react in a special way at the Nanoscale and are able to wipe out the bacteria as soon as the coated surface is exposed to light.

For more info about how you can protect yourself from germs and bacteria visit www.gadgetsanitizer.com or www.nanofixit.com

The Advantage of a Human Resource Expert in Recruitment’s Digitized Ecosystem

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In recent years, the human resource function in organizations has undergone many changes, from the recruitment processes to employee retention efforts and performance management systems. 

Most management teams have started to use technology for human resource acquisition and retention with chatbots, AI and machine learning making it easier for both the job applicant and employer to find the right match as cited by Jake Go, CEO and co-founder of pioneering recruitment firm Springboard Philippines.

Jake Go and Tristan Ong of Springboard Philippines

Bucking the Trend in Digitization

Recruitment’s screening process alone has significantly improved through technological advances such as automated systems that are starting to imitate Google’s way of tailor fitting ads using a person’s user data to learn that person’s interests and needs. Most also use systems that narrow job candidates by using specific keyword searches that allow HR managers to scan resumes in a matter of seconds. Some of these tools include Entelo and TalentBin, which both use artificial intelligence to search for and pick the best fit among the candidates online. Job portals like Jobstreet, Kalibrr, and Best jobs now provide job seekers and companies a more convenient way of interacting through digital platforms.

The advent of social media has also provided some companies a new way of screening their applicants and vice versa. According to a survey by CareerBuilder in 2017, 70% of employers screen their candidates through social media before anything else. As of 2017, LinkedIn already has 500 million users while Facebook has 2.2 billion users. With the Philippines being the world’s “social media capital of the world,” spending an average of 4 hours online according to a survey by Hootsuite this year, a company’s online presence and branding is important to attract the right applicants.

Yet even though technology has been beneficial to the recruitment process, Jake Go says, “These online job platforms are useful in the recruitment process; Springboard adds value to them by incorporating the human component.” He and his business partner Tristan Ong, COO of Springboard Philippines believe that human connection should not be lost despite the digitization of recruitment but instead evolve with it. They believe that this is what makes Springboard successful as they provide value to the people and society.

The Springboard Difference

In their recruitment process, Springboard Philippines have Human Resource Executives who conduct psychometric exams to determine level of commitment, intelligence, and cognitive ability, along with their long term suitability for the job role. This recruitment process leads to a 30-50% employment hit rate, a number of loyal clients since their first year, and a fast applicant replacement turnaround rate.

As a company, their mission is to bridge the gap between the employer and job seeker, to be the Launchpad for careers and growth in companies. Staying true to their value for human connection, they organized Wake Up Manila, a job convention with the purpose of strategically matching the right job candidates and companies.

Extending the Springboard Mission: Wake Up Manila

Happening this July 6-7 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Wake Up Manila will allow companies to “find the one” through engaging and fun interactions with job seekers to bring back that human connection amidst this digital world we live in.

Companies who decide to join Wake Up Manila are encouraged to be more engaging with the applicants and in turn, Springboard promises to be more hands-on in terms of delivering the right people to Wake Up Manila exhibitors. 

“What we promise you are quality candidates that are going to come in. We guarantee you that around 70% of the candidates who will come in are going to be interested in getting a job,” Go shared. 

This comes from their insight that most candidates, especially in mall job fairs, simply come in to try their luck – they give out their resumes and leave. 

"Springboard will train and coach the candidates to provide the exhibitors quality attendees in the event," explained Jake. The company also wants exhibitors to see Wake Up Manila as an opportunity to market their brand and company, allowing them to get even better returns in terms of their hiring needs. 

“We promise that you will be able to build your dream team, to find the right people through us,” Go said.

For companies in search of new employees, Springboard is inviting them to join this exciting job fair that gives them the chance to get closer to the people that will help their company grow even further.

For inquiries about Wake Up Manila Job Convention, email jake@springboardph.com or tristan@springboardph.com.

Experience more with the new OPPO F7 now available, free at Smart GigaX Plan 1499

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OPPO F7, the best-selling mid-range smartphone in its class is now available via Smart GigaX Postpaid plans, offering the best smartphone experience with Smart’s fastest LTE experience to do more. Customers may avail the OPPO F7 FREE at GigaX Plan 1499 with 5GB open access data, 10GB data for videos, unlimited all-net texts and 50mins all-net calls, offering a more enjoyable online experience with jam-packed features. 

Elevate your smartphone experience with the best-selling 

midrange smartphone and Smart’s fastest LTE network

Capture the Real You with OPPO F7  

The OPPO F7 is a stunning smartphone with remarkable features such as being the 1^st with a 25MP front-facing camera, paired with the latest A.I. Beauty Technology 2.0 for enhanced selfies. OPPO F7 captures the real you by targeting more than 296 facial recognitions in the face, OPPO F7 can deliver more vibrant and personalized beauty by analyzing the needs of the customers accoring to age, gender, skin tone and skin type. 

Selfies will never be the same with its superior capabilities in capturing you, along with fun A.R. (Augmented Reality) stickers that brings out the joy in everyone and encourages you to be more expressive. 

Additionally, the OPPO F7 carries the biggest 6.23” Super Full Screen display for a more immersive experience while maintaining a 5.5” smartphone body footprint. Performance is never an issue with a powerful Helio P60 2.0GHz Octa-Core processor that is specializes in A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) functions thanks to its dual-core A.I. chip. 

With powerful features of the OPPO F7, it can last a day with up to 15 hours of daily usage thanks to it’s A.I. Battery Management feature. Lastly, the OPPO F7 stands out from the crowd with its unique glossy design that is available in Diamond Black, Moonlight Silver and Solar Red. 

“The competitive features of OPPO F7 along with Smart’s GigaX plan is an ideal combination for consumers to experience a more immersive and connected smartphone experience in today’s digital centric lifestyle.” – Eason de Guzman, OPPO Philippines Public Relations Manager

For more information about the OPPO F7 at Smart’s GigaX plans, customers may visit http://bit.ly/F7Smart and also follow OPPO Philippines’ official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/ for updates.

FEU Makes Choral History with 10th Musica FEUROPA

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Musica FEUropa, the annual choral festival and competition of Far Eastern University done in collaboration with the European Union in the Philippines, is set to make history with some of the best choirs in the country battling in the newly re-opened prestigious FEU Auditorium.

On its 10th year, the celebration of Filipino and European music and culture returns to its original home, the FEU Auditorium. The country’s cultural center since the 1950s continues to feature local and international performances, including the seventeen choirs who will participate in this anticipated music festival.

“We envision a bigger and bolder 10th run of Musica FEUropa. We are happy to be hosting the competition back in the place where it all started,” says Musica FEUropa festival chairman Karl Angelo Tangco. “For the past two runs, we had to move to the FEU Chapel due to the renovation and retrofitting of the Auditorium. Now, with upgraded facilities, the venue will provide the participants and audience an exceptional musical experience.”

All competing choirs will perform two songs, one from any EU composer and one from the Philippines. In the last nine years, the competition has featured a wide range of classical, contemporary and challenging melodies in different European and Filipino languages.

The internationally-recognized choral festival welcomes respected and renowned musicians as this year’s adjudicators. Joining the roster are choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers Mark Anthony Carpio, internationally-published composer and arranger Jude Bautista Roldan, University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors founder and conductor Dr. Ed Lumbera Manguiat and two-time Choir of the World Grand Prize winner Prof. Fidel Calalang, Jr. of the University of Santo Tomas Singers among others.

Musica FEUropa 10 competition dates are on May 26 to 27, 2018. Admission is free. The Grand Champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up will each receive a trophy and cash prize of P100,000, P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

For more information, please visit https://www.musicafeuropa.com/ musicafeuropa.com and follow Musica FEUropa on Facebook and Twitter, and Instagram.