August 5, 2020

“Can the Philippines Dance with COVID-19?” To provide balance in protecting lives, livelihood, Gov't, private sector, civil societies present fresh strategies vs COVID-19

With the uncertainty of the ongoing pandemic, and Filipinos hungry to open up their lives, new strategies must be formulated for government, business and civil society to bring the country to a sustainable balance.

Industries have to be agile if they are to find the balance between public health and safety and the revitalization of the economy. 

How to prioritize both lives and livelihood, especially in the light of the new MECQ, was tackled by leaders from the health, business, and academic sectors in the virtual business forum, “Can the Philippines Dance with COVID-19?”, held this morning August 5.




The speakers were Secretary Vince Dizon, National Action Plan Against COVID-19  Deputy Chief Implementer and Testing Czar; Department of Health (DOH)  Undersecretary Rosette Vergeire; former DOH secretary Dr. Manuel “Manolet” Dayrit; Josephine Gotianun-Yap, CEO of the Filinvest Development Corporation; and  University of the Philippines College of Public Health (UPCPH) Dean Dr. Vicente  Belizario. Joining them in the panel discussion were Lars Wittig, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) Vice President and Country Manager of Regus and Spaces, and George Royeca, Chief Transport Advocate of Angkas. Amor Maclang, Chairwoman of the ECCP’s Innovation Committee and communications technical advisor to the DOH, was panel moderator. 


Secretary Dizon, the country’s designated testing czar, has dedicated himself tirelessly to TASK FORCE T3 (Test, Trace, Treat) over the past few months, the task force convened by the Inter-Agency Task Force – National Task Force (IATF-NTF) and the Department of Health (DOH). For his part, he described how the government fast-
tracked in its response as the number of cases kept rising. While only a limited number of people were tested at the start of the outbreak, the capacity for testing has improved, as the labs increased from one to 96 in four months. “From 500 tests a day in March, we are now doing 35,000 tests today,” he said, “We are pushing to do more tests. We are [now] one of the countries who test the most in Asia and far outpacing the other countries in [the region].”

Secretary Dizon also pointed out that collaboration is critical to achieve more results.  “We have to push more in places with high spreads like Calabarzon. It's all about execution and coming together. "Lahat tayo ay Pilipino at ngayon natin kailangang magsama-sama. Isaisantabi na natin ang iba't ibang kulay at di pagkakaunawaan. Kailangan ng pagtutulungan tulad ng nangyari kamakailan na nagbunga ng pagtaas ng ating testing capacity sa halip ng dalawang buwan. At kung tuluy-tuloy ang ating pagtutulungan, magiging epektibo ang laban natin sa Covid-19.”




Usec. Vergeire shared how the DOH is collaborating with the medical communities on increasing contact and recovery efforts in the barangay level during this MECQ. She said, “We will not wait for patients to go to us; we will go to them. [We will] check for symptoms, and if there are exposed people, do necessary interventions. 

Eventually once we sustain this, the LGUs will be more empowered.” The USEC also emphasized that “DOH is leading this response.”

Dr. Belizario pointed out that accurate communication with the public is needed “to  lower the risk of COVID-19 to low, low levels so it doesn't pose a risk to a significant number of the population and to public areas. We need to train young people to become effective communicators for behavior change. It is not enough to put up posters and ads---we have to make sure that these materials result in behavior modification.”

Complementing communication is the use of data to track COVID-19’s status. He said, 

“Enhanced surveillance and response in the regions and provinces and capacity is built even in the periphery so we can act quickly in the collection and processing of data---and [provide them to] local and national authorities.”

Dr. Dayrit gave his insights on how to realistically reduce the number of cases:

“Don't fixate on the total number of cases. A large proportion of them have already died or recovered. So what are the new cases occurring everyday? This is where we can intervene.”




Dr. Dayrit, a member of Task Force T3, also cited the importance of building capacity in various aspects throughout the entire medical supply chain, including testing, laboratories, isolation, contact tracing, and hospital beds. He emphasized, “We need to invest in and modernize our health system because we will face similar medical challenges in the future. Many of these facilities have been neglected over time. Now we're trying to get them to perform at a level to fight this virus. This is a chance to rise to the occasion.”

Playing a key role for her work in the T3 task force, Ms. Gotianun-Yap emphasizes the importance of data management in preventing the spread of COVID-19, seeing how it can protect industry employees, customers, business partners, and communities. Her company used the StaySafe app for “daily health reporting and app-based contact tracing. It's important for us to have a data system to track COVID-19.” 




She envisioned the building of a “data end-to-end system that can track Covid-19 and link hospitals and clinics. The public will be notified if they come into contact with a positive-tested person.”

Setting best practices for the private sector’s role in preventing transmission of COVID-19, Filinvest was also the first to install safety measures at the initial stages of the outbreak. To prevent infection through commuting, it provided shuttle services for employees. BPO tenants were also allowed to sleep in their office premises. Testing for the workforce, especially the frontliners, were regularly conducted. Mall operations were reinvented to encourage social distancing, and all of its premises, offices, outlets, stores, and other stores were frequently sanitized.

Mr. Wittig agreed that success in containing COVID-19 boils down to “a matter of execution and with the significant contribution of the private enterprise. We have [also] surpassed other countries in testing.” He also said that data-driven efforts like what Filinvest is doing “is helping everyone to see the face of the beast so we can act accordingly.”




Ms. Maclang mentioned how the return of MECQ illuminated the constant challenge posed by the disease: “We have to learn to live with COVID-19 possibly for a long while. If we need a little rest from the fight, then let's take this time to learn how to dance. We have to recalibrate our actions and improve what we are already doing to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.”


Mr. Royeca pointed out the importance of individual responsibility to foster collaboration:



“There are gaps in implementation, but it has to start with ourselves. When we go out, we wear masks, do social distancing, etc. The public needs to know they have a big responsibility. The private sector needs to know our role. Let's use this virus not to be divisive but to unify us. COVID-19 doesn’t care about differences so let's work together and try to solve it.”

Dancing with coronavirus may take a series of complicated steps, but it might be the only feasible approach to protect the lives of millions of Filipinos, while restoring their livelihoods. 

USec. Vergeire summed up the urgency of the situation, saying, “We have two weeks to recalibrate our responses and stop the spread of infection. The sacrifices of people during the MECQ should not be in vain. There is no more national or local, we are all in this together. If we can all collaborate, we can beat COVID-19.”


Check this out;

Here are the reasons why the SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is the perfect learning companion




Nowadays, it is important to be equipped with the right device to support today’s various learning needs—may it be for education, creativity, or well-being management. With this, Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite to empower all kinds of learning.

Here are the reasons why this newest device is the best learning companion for everyone:

1. Write and draw with ease

The tablet comes with a precise, ergonomic S Pen which makes drawing and jotting down notes easier than ever. Parents can use this feature to encourage creativity among children through visuals—may it be in the form of painting or other types of artworks. They can also use it for personal learning, such as listing down new recipes, experimenting on digital artworks, and creating digital bullet journals. What’s more interesting is that users can turn their scribbles into digital text via the Text Conversion feature on the Samsung Notes app. 

The S Pen is also magnetically attached to the tablet and its accompanying book cover so users don’t have to worry about misplacing it. 


2. Learn without interruptions

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite also makes for a great online learning companion as it features an immersive 10.4” WUXGA+ display and breathtaking audio with its dual speakers with sound by AKG and Dolby Atmos 3D. These features enable learners to watch and listen to their online classes and virtual workshops without interruptions, as well as tune in to the content they love in high-quality—whether it be for learning a new skill or binge-watching a new show during downtime. 

Thanks to Samsung’s partnership with Netflix, the tablet also has a pre-installed Netflix app, giving users easier access to their favorite shows and films. It also makes it easier for users to search shows via Finder and Bixby Voice


3. Explore online learning resources

The tablet also comes with various apps that can be valuable for learning—may it be through educational and inspirational videos, shows, or podcasts. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite offers access to various educational apps and content via Youtube, Spotify, and as mentioned, Netflix. Whether it’s for watching children shows, discovering a new life-changing hack, or listening to motivational podcasts, the tablet is equipped with apps and content for various learning needs. 

Moreover, it has the Samsung Kids feature which helps set parents' minds at ease as it safely introduces children to the digital world through a range of exciting, colorful, family-friendly learning apps and games. Through the app, parents can also control the amount of time that children spend on the tablet.

Learning should never stop. With the help of a powerful and reliable learning device such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, learning is made easier and more accessible to everyone. 

This new device, which retails for PHP 26,990, is now available nationwide and comes in beautiful Angora Blue and Oxford Gray with a free book cover case. Every purchase of the tablet also comes with 4 months of FREE Youtube Premium

To know more about the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, visit samsung.com/ph/

'No learner left behind' MVP leads School-in-a-Bag turnover

MANILA, Philippines PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V Pangilinan, who is also known as MVP, recently marked his birthday through various activities that aim to help schools prepare to reopen classes. 



MVP led the turnover of the School-in-a-bag (SIAB) donation to North Bay Boulevard North Elementary School in Navotas, Metro Manila. The SIAB donation forms part of the $50K grant from Huawei Technologies Philippines, Inc. to the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF). 



“Education has long been one of main pillars of the corporate social responsibility programs of PLDT and Smart. As we navigate through the new normal, we continue to support the country’s educational system by empowering students and teachers nationwide through flexible learning modalities,” Pangilinan said. 

North Bay Boulevard North Elementary School was personally chosen by MVP to be the first SIAB recipient from the Huawei grant. The school has 60 teachers, while student enrollment has recently risen to 1,400. It is located in one of the poorest informal settler communities in Metro Manila. 

Along with the SIAB donation, MVP through the PSF also turned over 66 tablets that will be given to Grade 6 students in Navotas Market Three. 

SIAB, which contains 20 tablets, one laptop, and a Smart Pocket Wifi, is one of PLDT and Smart's pioneering efforts to improve the digital tools and solutions for the education system in the country. 




Meanwhile, MVP also donated food supplies to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for its soldiers and their families. The distribution of 1,000 packs of rice and vegetables was done through the PSF.




Through Tulong Kapatid, the CSR consortium of the MVP Group of Companies, 900 lunch meals were provided to locally stranded individuals (LSIs) staying at the Philippine Army Gym in Taguig. Members of the Tulong Kapatid who were part of the feeding initiative include the PSF, One Meralco Foundation, Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, Makati Medical Center Foundation, Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc., Maynilad and Meralco MGen.

August 4, 2020

Groove to Awesome on TikTok with the SAMSUNG Galaxy A-series

Duet with SB19 or any Samsung Ambassador for a chance to win a Galaxy A31 or A21s during the #AwesomeGrooves TikTok Challenge


Tiktok has gained attraction lately from several social media users worldwide. According to a report, as Filipinos stay indoors, TikTok is one way of "creating freedom" for those who are left with nothing to do at home. A tool for self-expression and for connecting with other users who share the same interests, more and more people have downloaded the app to view and create content.

With this in mind, SAMSUNG is launching the #AwesomeGrooves TikTok Challenge from August 6 to September 5 so that everyone can show the world their awesome dance moves. In the challenge, contestants must simply duet with any Team Galaxy Ambassador such as SB19 with a creative caption explaining how they want to showcase their awesome. Contestants are encouraged to be as creative as they want to be. A total of 20 lucky winners will be picked to receive a brand new Galaxy A31 or A21s

Aside from joining challenges, there are other types of entertainment that Filipinos can enjoy on TikTok:

  1. Dance Videos. One of the famous short-form content on Tiktok is dance videos. Most users love to join trending dance challenges or just simply show off their awesome moves on the latest tracks to express themselves. Some users even share tutorial videos to show off their skills.

  1. Memes. Comedy is one of the usual videos seen on TikTok. Several users have shown their personalities by creating memes either from a trending topic or based on their own experiences.

  1. Dubs. Users love to re-enact their favorite lines from movies or teleseryes while adding their personal touch to make it funnier and more engaging. They also lip-sync popular songs while adding effects or filters, creating more cinematic and entertaining content.

  1. Duets. While they love to create videos of themselves, creators can also interact with their fellow Tiktok users through a dance-off or sing-off challenge. Through this duet feature, creators can use these videos to engage with viewers and produce funny, interactive content.

To encourage everyone to create awesome videos on TikTok, SAMSUNG launched the Galaxy A31, A21s, and A11. The Galaxy A31 and A21s feature a 48MP Quad-Camera setup so users can create clear and bright videos. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A11 has a 13MP Triple-Camera setup to record awesome content. The Galaxy A31 and A21s are also equipped with a 5000mAh battery while the Galaxy A11 has a 4000mAh battery for an all-day experience. 

Check out the latest Galaxy devices and the Samsung #AwesomeGrooves TikTok Challenge at samsung.com/ph/

Finding a digital ally during the pandemic


In a situation as precarious as today, everyone tends to gravitate toward a sense of security and stability, especially financially.

For Andrew Bautista, all he needed was the assurance that he would be able to provide for his family. The 33-year-old father wears many hats--tricycle driver, delivery rider and now, with the help of GCredit, sari-sari store owner.

The pandemic has left every Filipino dangling over the cliff of uncertainty. With three children, Bautista sought the helping hand of GCredit, the credit platform of the country's leading digital wallet, GCash.

When he gained access to GCredit, Bautista immediately sought the essentials.

"Ibinili ko ng gatas ng anak ko," he said matter-of-factly.

The Pasig City resident recently started a small business, the quintessential sari-sari store, to help his family get through the lockdown that forced thousands of Filipinos in Metro Manila to stay at home.

"Malaking tulong talaga siya…Ngayong lockdown kasi, kelangan ng dobleng diskarte lalo pa't hirap sa pamamasada, and nakakatakot lumabas," Bautista said.

With the questions of a murky future remaining unanswered, Filipinos have found an ally in GCredit.

"Meron kang magagamit na pang-alalay...may matatakbuhan ka, kasi alam mong andiyan lang siya, steady lang, kumbaga meron kang katulong," Bautista said.

Household staple

Boasting a 700-percent year-on-year growth in May alone, driven primarily by bank cash-ins and online payments, GCash has become a new household staple.

Now, over 20 million GCash app users obtained a credit score with GScore, even without prior credit history. Through increasing their GScore, users are able to gain access to GCredit, a surprisingly easy process credit facility in contrast to the usual requirement-heavy applications in traditional banks. GCredit, is able to provide eligible users with their own credit lines, extending their budgets during the quarantine.

GCredits acts just like a traditional credit card, without all the fuss and hassle of getting one. It makes credit accessible to all—helping users in far-flung areas as well—as many of the formal requirements in banks may not be available to many Filipinos.

Since it was first introduced in 2004, GCash has offered various digital solutions to the unbanked and underbanked. Staying true to its mission of financial inclusion, it introduced its digital credit facility, GCredit two years ago.

Seeing an unprecedented growth in the middle of a pandemic, the financial technology giant filled their role in the “new normal" with ease.

Last June, GCash disbursed P5 billion in loans through GCredit, making it more accessible to over 550,000 Filipino users.

For 37-year-old Arnie Martinez, her small sewing business, was, quite literally, hanging by a thread.

"Karamihan ng supplier ng garments ay sarado, dahil hindi siya kabilang sa ‘essentials,’ kaya ang impact sa kanila ay kailangan talaga maghigpit ng sinturon," she recounted.

With the new coronavirus disease limiting the capacity of every Filipino, most have turned to the power of technology, with applications like GCash thrust into the spotlight.

Even under lockdown, the responsibility of bills and necessities continues to burden many Filipinos. Martinez turned to GCredit when it came to paying bills, especially with the quarantine making it more difficult for everyone to access cash.

"Dun sa mga pagkakataon na hindi dumadating yung inaasahan kong pera, pero may kelangan ng bayaran na dues, meron akong mapagkukunan," she said.

With a stay-at-home order dangling over everyone's heads, grocery runs have turned into an occasional practice. With lines snaking around our local groceries and everyone geared with their own personal protective equipment, buying the essentials has become a chore that entailed arduous planning.

With GCredit, users are able to breathe a sigh of relief. Because of quarantine, most Filipinos prefer to buy in bulk, and the digital credit facility has given users more purchasing power.

Users are able to buy more with the credit line, instead of being restricted with their budget, in order to minimize exposure to the deadly virus.

Over the past 12 months, the digital credit provider boasts a 115-percent increase in activated credit lines, entailing the growth of its user base.

Disbursements in the past 12 months also doubled, boasting a 214-percent increase and providing greater financial support to Filipinos.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc. 

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com/.

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