K to 12 Program wins support from LGUs, parents, teachers

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Support from the local government units (LGUs) and General Parents-Teachers Associations (GPTAs) continues to pour out as the Department of Education (DepEd) gears up for the full implementation of the K to 12 Program.

“The K to 12 Program will remove the disadvantages for our graduates and professionals who compete in the global market. In connection, K to 12 opens the door for the recognition of our graduates and professionals under the European Standard known as the Bologna Process and the Washington Accord for the United States,” said John Marvin Nieto, Acting Presiding Officer of the City Council of Manila, in a statement.

The City Council of Manila also reiterated that the previous 10-year basic education program was congested and insufficient, causing Filipino learners to lag behind compared to their counterparts overseas. The council also acknowledged adequacy of the additional two (2) years in high school, taking into consideration that all of the countries in the world had implemented the K to 12 Program long before, except for Djibouti and Angola.

Moreover, the General Parents-Teachers Association (GPTA) from the Division of Mandaluyong pledged their support to the K to 12 Program by committing to provide career guidance to the learners, initiating school-based interventions complementary to the schools’ academic enhancement of children and educating their co-parents on the fruits of K to 12. More importantly, parents of Mandaluyong pledged to ensure that their children will advance to Senior High School after Grade 10.

Supporters believe that the new K to 12 curriculum is designed to allow students to acquire 21st century skills that will gain them access to a wide array of opportunities, should they choose to be employed, become a young entrepreneur or enter college.

OPPO Super Sale this July

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Premium freebies and major discounts on the Joy Plus, and other models for the whole month 

We’re bringing another nationwide promo to all our Ofans! Following the three day Super Sale of the Neo 5, we are now offering the OPPO Joy Plus for just P3,990, down from its original price of P4,990, for the whole month of July.

Real joy, at the palm of your hand 

The Joy Plus is a great entry-level unit that builds on the previous Joy model. But don’t let its delicate appearance fool you, as this modest-looking phone is loaded with quality features: a 4-inch screen, 3 megapixel camera, dual SIM slots, 4GB of internal storage, 1.3 GHz quad-core CPU, and 1GB of RAM. The phone also comes with the ColorOS 2.0 as well as the critically acclaimed Pure Image 2.0+ software, which allows you use of Double Exposure. 

With its affordable price, the phone delivers both value and dependability in a compact package. Available in white and matte-gray, being in touch with everyone has never been easier. 

The fun goes on 

Over the past year, we have released a number of units from our arsenal ranging from the entry-level up to the high end.

Apart from the Joy Plus, we’re also offering some of our earlier models at discounted prices. Included in this special promo is the Find 7a which will cost a whopping P5,000 less from its original SRP at P16,990. 

The Find 7a will definitely be a good buy for that price considering the heavy features this former flagship carries. The Find 7a boasts a 2.3 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, 5.5” display, 2 GB RAM, VOOC Rapid Charge, 13 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front camera. 

The Mirror 3 is also up for grabs for just P9,990. The unit runs on 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, has 1 GB RAM, and is compatible with 4G LTE. It also features the Smart remote technology 2.0 and fast charging.

Last but not the least, OPPO’s offering the Neo 3 for just P5,990. It runs on 1.3 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB RAM, features the gesture panel, and is OTG compatible. This unit’s been one of our hot sellers in the previous year. 

Premium gifts to top it all off 

To top it all off, aside from the discounted prices, we’re also offering premium gifts to those who will avail of our promo. This is applicable to any of the units on sale. 

See you this July at your nearest OPPO store, Ofans! 

#ShareTheJoy : OPPO puts Joy in your hand

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OPPO Philippines launches the latest stylish smartphone that looks great, feels great in the hand - the OPPO Joy 3.

Continuing transforming the mobile landscape, OPPO Philippines with the debut of its latest bang-for-the-money phone, the OPPO Joy 3 after the successful local launch of the OPPO R1x, Neo 5, and Joy Plus.

Flaunting an upscale design that strikes an ideal balance between style and function and running OPPO's Android-based ColorOS 2.0 operating system on a quad-core processor, the Joy 3 promises a quality smartphone experience for all pockets. 

Not to be outdone in the design department, the OPPO Joy 3 features a solid metallic frame that runs around the edges of the device and a smooth rear cover in two color options – white exudes elegance, while a matte-gray finish brings a fashionable edge. Perhaps more importantly, the size of the phone lends well to one-handed operation and allows users to easily reach the corners of the screen with either hand. OPPO has built a good reputation for its attention to design details, and the Joy 3 is further proof of this. 

Powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, the OPPO Joy 3 is perfectly suited for multitasking and running games. This also ensures smooth performance in day-to-day usage, without the lag associated with most entry-level devices. The Joy 3 offers the sort of smartphone experience you'd expect from a more expensive phone.

A Camera That's a Joy to Use

The OPPO Joy 3 boasts a 5-megapixel rear camera with OPPO's Pure Image 2.0+ technology, resulting in a camera system that's both intuitive and fun. The Color OS camera app itself has been optimized for the best possible image quality regardless of lighting conditions. And then there's the variety of filter effects and shooting modes available on the Joy 3, including Beautify (softens your features to help you look your best), Double Exposure (overlaps two photos to create a unique visual effect), and GIF (converts multiple shots taken in quick succession into an animated image format). 

ColorOS 2.0: Live Bright

The OPPO Joy 3 runs OPPO's proprietary ColorOS 2.0 on top of Android – the operating system of choice among most smartphone and tablet makers. ColorOS combines speed, efficiency, and stability and brings pixels to life, populating your home screen with contemporary icons that are instantly recognizable. It also supports screen-off and screen-on gestures, allowing you to wake the device by simply double-tapping the screen, play or pause music by sliding two fingers up or down, or jump directly to the camera app by drawing a circle, among other things.

The preloaded ColorOS Security Center, on the other hand, strengthens the phone's security features. Indeed, the ColorOS was designed with beauty and practicality in mind.

OPPO Joy 3 Key Specifications: 

* Dual SIM (dual micro SIM, dual standby)

* 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6582 chipset

* 1GB RAM

* 4GB internal storage

* microSD card slot (up to 32GB)

* 4.5-inch IPS display (480 x 854 resolution)

* 5-megapixel rear camera with f/2.4 aperture and flash

* 2-megapixel front camera

* 2,000mAh battery

* ColorOS 2.0 (based on Android KitKat 4.4)

The OPPO Joy 3 retails for only P6,490.
For more information, visit http://www.oppo.com/ph/products/joy3. 

About OPPO

OPPO is a global electronics and technology service provider that provides customers with the latest and most exquisite electronic devices and mobile Internet service. OPPO delivers customers with the most delightful electronic experience that is full of surprises, through meticulous designs and smart technology. For more information, please visit http://global.oppo.com.

More Photos during OPPO Joy 3 Launch: #ShareTheJoy

Takatack and Smart eMoney celebrates Day of the Seafarer with access to cashless and convenient online shopping

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Pinoy seafarers will now be able to conveniently select, buy, and pay for gifts and have them delivered directly to their families in the Philippines through a partnership forged by Dohle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc. with shopping discovery platform, Takatack.

Developed by Voyager Innovations, the digital arm of PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), Takatack will provide Dohle’s seafarers with a special page that gives them access to a wide selection of gifts and products for their families as part of the Day of the Seafarer celebrations on June 25.

Spearheaded by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the Day of the Seafarer is of special importance to the Philippines given the more than 400,000 Filipino best-in-class seafarers it has produced and deployed around the world, including those provided by Dohle Seafront. 

Through this initiative with Takatack, Dohle Seafront aims provide more opportunities to their seafarers to connect to their families.

Mitch Padua, the vice president and head of product development for ecommerce at Voyager Innovations, believes that ecommerce can change the lives of our seafarers.

“Seafarers exist somewhere in between workers at home and OFWs. Sometimes, they’re docked at our ports; other times, they’re stopped over in other countries; but most of the time, they’re on the open seas. Just imagine how hard it is for them to buy gifts for their loved ones during special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. Our Takatack page for seafarers will allow them to send their love no matter where they are,” he said. 

Dohle seafarers can order from this page whenever they are docked at port. Padua thinks that their shopping portal on Takatack will be their preferred ecommerce destination because of the variety of choices it gives them.

“Takatack is an online discovery platform, which carries many different marketplaces and brands. As such, we have more products than any other online store in the Philippines with more than 100,000. For seafarers, this means they only need to make a single stop for all their gifting needs, and they don’t have to waste time hopping from site to site,” he said.

Atty. Iris V. Baguilat, President of Döhle Seafront believes that the partnership will help connect seafarers and their families. 

“This service and all the discounts are exclusive to Döhle Seafront seafarers who can now send gifts to their loved ones back home even if they are on board,” Baguilat said. 

When placing orders on Takatack, seafarers can pay using Smart Money, which is much more convenient and safer than other traditional payment options. 

“Since credit card penetration in the Philippines is low, the vast majority of ecommerce stores have to adopt localized solutions, such as cash on delivery. By offering seafarers a Smart eMoney card, we keep each of their transactions as frictionless as possible, ensuring that they get all the efficiency that e-commerce promises,” said Lawrence Ferrer, Vice President of Smart E-Money, Inc. (SMI). 

Robinsons Supermarket relaunches Island Favorites in line with DTI-led OTOP program

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Discover Philippines' Finest Delicacies at the Robinsons Supermarket nationwide.

In collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) One Town, One Product Program (OTOP), Robinsons Supermarket relaunches its Island Favorites section in select stores.

In support of the DTI-led program, the grocery chain giant will feature a variety of locally made products in the said section.

OTOP-Philippines is a priority program of the government to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs by promoting patronage of products using indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents. And Robinsons Supermarket is the first retailer to launch the project by reintroducing the Island Favorites section to support the program.

Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. President and COO Robina Gokongwei-Pe

“As a Filipino retailer, we feel it is our responsibility to highlight the best of the Philippines’ products. Through the Island Favorites section, our consumers can be assured of the wide variety of pasalubong choices at competitive prices and of excellent quality – the same standards of DTI’s OTOP program,” said Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. President and COO Robina Gokongwei-Pe.

Stacked in the Island Favorites shelves are delicacies such as Ilocos Fish Crackers, Cebu Dried Mango Chips, Memer Durian Candies, Peanut Kisses, El Tesoro de Cebu Turrones de Mani, Pampanga Chicharon, and Bundy Wine, to name a few. Its mission is to highlight products from different regions that have competitive advantages, in the hopes of improving local products’ quality and marketing.

Apart from being a staunch advocate of health and wellness, Robinsons Supermarket also recognizes its role in strengthening the economic base of every community it serves by supporting locally-made products.

Head on to the Island Favorites Section of Robinsons Supermarket and make a difference by supporting Filipino products.

The OTOP Legacy

What started in 1979, in Japan, as a regional development program to help small-scale businesses flourish is now a business model adopted by many countries worldwide. Called “One Village One Product” in Japan and “One Tambon One Product in Thailand, the program is more popularly known worldwide as “One Town One Product “ or OTOP.

OTOP Philippines was established by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs). OTOP products are created by local communities, highlighting tradition and culture while emphasising sustainability and generating livelihood. OTOP’s role in nation building is extremely vital. Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the country’s economy and generate jobs nationwide. OTOP Philippines focuses on and develops a particular town’s or province’s or region’s main product or industry with the view of revitalizing each region’s economic activity. In the long-term, OTOP-supported products are envisioned to be very competitive in the world market.

DTI enables these budding enterprises by supporting them through product development, marketing, promotions, business counselling, skills and entrepreneurial training and capital sourcing. Their products are showcased nationwide through regional and national trade fairs. Those whose products have evolved in stature and with better quality standards are, then, introduced in the mainstream market through established retailers thus giving the general public and tourists as well, easier access to the country’s diverse and unique products. OTOP products are also introduced to the world market through international trade fairs and exhibits.

OTOP Philippines stands as a symbol of quality as well. Only products that pass DTI’s stringent standards for quality, market acceptance and competitiveness can carry the OTOP seal. To buyers, it is an assurance that they are getting even better value for their money.