What it’s like working on the road as told by Ninja Van Philippines delivery riders

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They share the realities of the job and what motivates them to keep moving forward.

In the past two years, delivery riders have become a constant fixture in the daily lives of most Filipinos as e-commerce and online shopping gained popularity in the country. Everyday, they brave the roads to ensure that parcels are delivered on time and in best condition to its recipients, not minding the distance or the heat of the sun on their backs.

Tech-enabled logistics company Ninja Van Philippines recognizes and celebrates the invaluable role of its delivery riders in providing its Todo Hustle, No Hassle services to shippers and shoppers nationwide. Drivers and riders are among the many unsung heroes in the logistics sector and each of them embody the hard work, patience, and determination that goes into every story behind our parcels.

Working as a delivery rider for Ninja Van Philippines for three years, Joel Delfin has his fair share of experience handling irate customers, which are among the most common problems they face on duty, “It really requires a lot of patience but I always try to clarify the situation with the customer as best as I can. If it’s necessary, I connect them directly with the customer service team so their concern can be quickly resolved,” he said.

Delivery scams have also become rampant recently as more Filipinos prefer to shop online for their needs. Jory Acerro, a rider since 2018, said handling these cases can be really challenging. When he comes across a scam or modus, he makes sure to explain the protocols and policies of Ninja Van Philippines on scam deliveries to the customer and assure them that there is a refund process in place.

From left to right - Joey Delfin and Jory Acerro

“Delivering parcels is a very challenging job that could potentially drain you physically, mentally, and emotionally. But I really value the trust that customers give me so I try to do my best at work every day,” said Oscar Riveza, a Ninja Van Philippines rider since 2018. Many of his fellow riders share Oscar’s sentiments—while being a delivery rider is never easy, at the end of the day, knowing that your line of work enables you to be of help to others is always a fulfilling thing.

JC Galman who has been with the company for almost four years shared that seeing the happy faces of customers when they receive their parcels is one of the reasons why he finds joy in being a delivery rider. His dedication to his job has also led him to receive good standing in evaluations.

From left to right - Oscar Riveza and JC Galman

Similarly, fellow rider Jyrald Soria said he appreciated it the most when customers sincerely thank them for their hard work, sometimes even being generous enough to give small tokens of gratitude to them, which makes the job easier than it is. Because he’s saving up for his wedding next year, Jyrald continues to persevere everyday and make sure that all parcels assigned to him get delivered to their respective recipients without fail.

More than the parcel itself, riders bring happiness to the doorsteps of their customers by providing them fast and reliable delivery services. By building good relationships with their regular customers, they also become an important part of the communities they are serving.

Above all, these riders are motivated by the desire to support the needs of their families and reach their goals in life. For Percival Cesar, working at Ninja Van Philippines allowed him to maximize his earning potential since he was being paid more compared to his past jobs as a delivery man. The incentives provided by the company also helps him a lot when it comes to providing for his family, especially now that he has a new born daughter.

From left to right - Jyrald Soria and Percival Cesar

Ninja Van Philippines continues to celebrate the riders who are at the front and center of the company’s success by putting a spotlight on their contribution to ensuring service excellence and fast deliveries nationwide.

Overseas Filipino Workers get a chance to win up to PHP 500,000 with Pru Life UK

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Pru Life UK rewards OFWs in achieving their financial goals and securing a better

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK is giving Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) an opportunity to win up to PHP 500,000 with the Balikbayan Raffle-PRUTektadong OFW Special.

To join, interested OFWs can earn one raffle entry by simply signing up via www.PRUTektadongOFW.com for a free virtual financial consultation with a Pru Life UK agent once they are back in the Philippines. OFWs will be guided on how to set and achieve their financial goals, manage their finances better, and get tips on how to secure their families’ future.

Additional raffle entries will be awarded to those who will answer the OFW survey and are existing Pru Life UK OFW customers.

“Overseas Filipino Workers are our modern-day heroes and we want to give them a chance of boosting their journey to financial wellness through our Balikbayan Raffle,” Pru Life UK President and Chief Executive Officer Eng Teng Wong said. “This is one of Pru Life UK’s efforts to thank them for helping their families and the economy by sharing valuable money lessons on their journey to financial wellness through our free financial consultations.”

Aside from the PHP 500,000 prize, qualified OFWs can also win a roundtrip ticket worth PHP 150,000 to any domestic or international destination of their choice in the grand draw on August 5. Pru Life UK will also give away ten (10) Puregold vouchers worth PHP 5,000 for each monthly raffle covering the three-month raffle period.

“Pru Life UK strongly advocates financial education and we want our brave OFWs to get the same chance in learning to handle their finances well despite the distance,” Wong added.

The no-cost and no-purchase required Balikbayan Raffle-PRUTektadong OFW Special Raffle will run until July 31, 2022 and is open to OFWs aged eighteen and above.

To know more about Pru Life UK and this promo, please visit www.prulifeuk.com.ph.

Shopee expands presence in Mindanao with a series of seller onboarding initiatives and the establishment of new hubs

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Initiatives include workshops and roundtable discussions with sellers on growing their business through e-commerce

As part of its continuous efforts to bring a fun and seamless online shopping experience to more Filipinos across the country, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, expands its serviceable areas through the establishment of new Shopee Xpress hubs across Mindanao. Through these new hubs in Davao City, Davao Del Sur, Davao Del Norte, and other areas, local sellers are provided with greater opportunities to expand their business through e-commerce and compete at a national level. For Davao to Davao purchases, both shoppers and sellers can now enjoy shorter delivery times.

Department of Trade and Industry Region XI Division Chief, Small and Medium Enterprise Division Marie Ann J. How, Shopee Philippines VisMin Seller Acquisition Head Dane Mangoba, SY Glow Cosmetics shop owner Lou Putian, and Cacao Culture shop owner Sheila Lao at the Shopee University Roadshow in Davao City

Shopee also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to hold its first Shopee University Roadshow in Davao City. The masterclass educated Davao-based sellers on how to grow their businesses with e-commerce and onboarded new sellers to improve the overall online selling experience for Filipinos. Shopee also held another live seller engagement event in Davao City, Shopee Kumustahan, wherein representatives from the platform held roundtable discussions with local Shopee sellers to know more about their experience and get insights on what can help drive their business forward.

Shopee Philippines Seller Communications and Education Lead Mia Mendoza, SY Glow Cosmetics shop owner Lou Putian, and Cacao Culture shop owner Sheila Lao at the Shopee Kumustahan event in Davao City

“Here at Shopee, we are always driven by our objective to make e-commerce accessible to everyone. Through the Mindanao hub expansions and conducting educational workshops, our goal is to equip local sellers and business owners with the necessary knowledge and tools to make the most out of their e-commerce journey with Shopee,” shared Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines.

If you want to grow your business online and enjoy the numerous benefits of e-commerce, start your online selling journey with Shopee today. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Flagship POCO F4 and POCO X4 GT Debut with Powerhouse Chipsets

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POCO F4 and POCO X4 GT are POCO’s latest powerhouse smartphones, boasting all the strengths and unlimited speed

POCO, a popular technology brand among the world’s young techies, announced the global launch of the POCO F4 and POCO X4 GT, the latest devices with best-in-class chipsets that deliver powerful performance while remaining budget-friendly. 

POCO F4 offers all the strengths of a flagship smartphone with extremely efficient power consumption. Powered by the Snapdragon® 870 flagship processor, POCO F4 brings to the table the brand’s highest frequency prime core yet.

Meanwhile, the POCO X4 GT is an affordable performance speedster optimized for efficient and smoother performance in all aspects of gaming and entertainment. It is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset, giving users best-in-class power efficiency while reaching new heights in flagship processor performance.

“POCO’s flagship products have always required best-in-class performance on all fronts, and as we present the POCO F4 and POCO X4 GT, we’re confident that we’ve achieved just that. We are excited to venture forward with the Snapdragon® 870 and MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipsets,” said Angus Ng, Head of Product Marketing at POCO Global. “Meeting the highest standards for top-quality entertainment while maintaining competitive affordability, this is the approach that embodies the POCO flagship experience.” 

 POCO F4: Extremely Powerful with All the Strengths

POCO F4 is equipped with the Snapdragon® 870 flagship chipset and features an 7nm processor with 5G support [1]. The device has POCO’s highest frequency prime core running at 3.2GHz. Its processing power offers shortened app loading times, supporting high-graphic games and smooth scrolling experience on web pages and apps. High-level performance is sustained with its 3,112mm² super big vapor chamber by upgrading to LiquidCool Technology 2.0. POCO F4’s flagship-level LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 ROM enable faster data access, great for multitasking between demanding applications.

POCO F4 is the thinnest model in the POCO lineup to date. The device boasts a 6.67" E4 AMOLED screen and an ultra-tiny 2.76mm DotDisplay, one of the tiniest in the industry. The flagship-level display features 120Hz refresh rate and 360Hz touch sampling rate for lower response latency. With screen peak brightness of 1,300 nits, POCO F4 ensures every moment is displayed at its ideal values for detail and contrast. Dual speakers, verified with Dolby Atmos, add to the immersive experience by delivering dynamic and crystal-clear sound. Its immersive user experience and high-performance functionality make it the most cost-effective device in terms of offering across-the-board strength in the flagship segment.

POCO F4’s triple rear camera setup features the first-ever addition of optical image stabilization (OIS) on the device’s 64MP main camera. This delivers clear and sharp photos even in low light, for near-perfect digital replicas of the moments captured. Accompanying the 64MP main camera is an 8MP ultra-wide camera and 2MP macro camera. Together, this triple array captures even the finest details. POCO F4’s 4K-equipped camera setup comes with tons of fun and convenient features, including Panoramic Selfie Mode, Night Mode, AI Skyscaping 4.0 and AI Erase 2.0. 

POCO F4 comes with a 4,500mAh (typ) battery and 67W turbo charging, taking only 38 minutes to charge up to 100% [2]. With a fully charged battery, it offers strength in duration with up to 10 hours of gaming, 21 hours of video playback and 119 hours of music playback [3]. The device utilizes Middle Middle Tab (MMT) technology, a method of fast charging that circuits electric currents into two split directions for improved charging speed and stability, sustaining highest level performance stretched over longer periods of time. 

POCO X4 GT: High Performance Gaming and Entertainment Speedster

 

POCO X4 GT carries the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset and advanced TSMC 5nm processor, giving users fast performance while maintaining low power consumption and barely overheating. POCO X4 GT offers flagship-level LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 ROM, making this device one of POCO’s fastest for RAM and storage, and extremely adept in supporting high-frame-rate gaming. The LiquidCool Technology 2.0 cooling system can keep the SoC cool and maintain smooth performance, allowing users to push the device to the limit.

Introduced for the first time on a POCO device is POCO X4 GT’s innovative 20.5:9 LCD display ratio, making the device comfortable to grip and easy to hold. Aiming to offer the best LCD on the market, it comes with POCO’s first LCD True Display. The display color temperature adjustment is contingent upon external environmental light conditions, allowing comfortable viewing. To provide a comfortable viewing experience, POCO X4 GT enables hardware-level harmful blue light reduction by up to 30% [4]. POCO X4 GT brings one billion colors and supports DCI-P3 wide color gamut for sharper contrasts and richer details on-screen.

POCO X4 GT charges its 5,080mAh (typ) high-density battery quickly and safely with 67W turbo charging, powering up to a 100% charge in just 46 minutes [5]. In a 6-min wash-up, it can be charged up to 25%, and after a 30-min workout it will juice you up to 85% [6]. Aided by Middle Middle Tab (MMT) technology, it enables you to game for more than 90 minutes with just 10 minutes of charging [7].

Sporting a versatile triple rear camera setup and Dolby Atmos® stereo speakers, POCO X4 GT doubles as a 4K camera with convenient and cool features that help users reach their creative potential. Featuring a 64MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and 2MP macro camera, photos capture every detail, near or far. And for high-quality selfies, the 16MP front camera has users well-covered. Coming with 19 stellar vlog templates pre-installed, as well as the Drafts function, users will be able to film and edit quality content from the get go.

True to their nature as devices with all the strengths, POCO adds one more service to both POCO F4 and POCO X4 GT. Users can enjoy the premium after-sales service, which offers one-time free screen repair service during the first 6 months after purchase.

Product Availability

POCO F4 will come in three colors: Night Black, Moonlight Silver, Nebula Green. It will also be available in two variants: 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB.

·        6GB+128GB: Recommended retail price at 20,990 via Lazada.

·        8GB+256GB: Recommended retail price at P22,990 via Lazada.

POCO F4 will be available for purchase at an early bird price of P16,990, and P18,990 respectively via leading e-commerce platforms*

POCO X4 GT will come in three colors: Silver, Black, Blue. It will also be available in two variants: 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB.

·        8GB+128GB: Recommended retail price at P18,990 via Shopee.

·        8GB+256GB: Recommended retail price at P19,990 via Shopee.

POCO X4 GT will be available for purchase at an early bird price of P15,990, and P17,990 respectively via leading e-commerce platforms*

*Price and availability vary between markets and sales channels. Please refer to po.co for product availability and detailed sales information in your region.

Disclaimer

[1] 5G connectivity may vary based on region availability and local operator support.

[2] 4,500mAh is the typical value. Based on test results from Internal Labs. Actual battery life may vary.

[3] Data is based on internal testing. Actual results may vary.

[4] Data is refer to the ratio of 415-455nm in 400-500nm blue light amount and calculated by comparing with POCO X3 GT in internal lab, and actual result may vary.

[5] 5,080mAh is the typical value. Based on test results from Internal Labs. Actual battery life may vary.

[6] Data is based on internal testing. Actual results may vary.

[7] Data is based on internal testing. Actual results may vary.

How to build a champion’s mindset from Olympic golfer Yuka Saso

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Whether in the game of life or sports, it’s vital to have a strong and healthy mind and body to overcome challenges. Just take, for example, 20-year-old Filipino-Japanese professional golfer Yuka Saso, who has also had her fair share of struggles on her journey to becoming a top player.

In 2021, she experienced one of the toughest moments of her career when she injured her neck on the third day of her British Open competition, one of the world’s four major golf tournaments. She had to power through the pain and its effect on her performance, but instead of being deterred by this incident, it made her realize the importance of taking care of her physical and mental health.

As an athlete, Saso shares her own learnings and experiences from golf, which is touted by experts as a highly mental sport, in the hopes that it might also help others develop the mental strength to withstand stress and pressure:

Be consistent. Many people thrive on consistency and a regular schedule because it gives them an idea on what to expect, making it easier to anticipate possible challenges. This is also true for Saso. “I want my golf to be consistent – even if I don’t win – as long as I’m in that range, like in top 20, then I feel good about it,” she said, adding that a healthy routine helps, too. “I keep my eating habit healthy and make sure I sleep well, which I think is really important so my body can recover better.”

Love what you do. Discovering your passions and doing something that you love may bring meaning to your life and help you feel fulfilled. Saso advised, “Build confidence. Believe in your job and love it. Because I love my job, I work hard to get my golf better. If you love your job, you’ll have confidence and work better. Just remember why you chose the job. Find your passion.”

Focus on the positive. For Saso, having fun and thinking positively builds confidence. “In golf, it's not really about physical strength. It's all about having the right mindset. I try to think positively or focus on the present, stay present, and not to look too far because you can't control your future or your past. You can only control what's happening in the present, so I'm probably just focused on what I have to do now so that I can perform in the future.”

Look for a good support team. Saso ensures that she is surrounded by a strong support system that shares the same values as her. “If I have good support from the people around me, then I can play golf better.” This year, she became the official partner of leading global insurer AXA because she resonates with the brand’s “Know You Can” brand signature, which is rooted in the understanding that confidence is essential for people to successfully achieve their goals.

As a professional athlete, it’s important for Yuka Saso to keep building up both her physical and mental strength. With her advice, we can also start taking steps to prioritize our own in order to keep wellness going on the road to a long and happy life.

For more info on AXA health solutions, visit axa.com.ph/health-protection.