Lazada Philippines turns 4 !

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Happy Birthday to Lazada, the leading online shopping and selling destination in Southeast Asia.

Enjoying the night dinner held at the Le Jardin, Bonifacio Global City last March 10, 2016 (Thursday) as Lazada celebrates its 4th anniversary and announced  a 4-day Birthday Sale from March 15-18.

The Birthday Sale will treat shoppers to a range of deals of up to 90% across a wide selection of categories featuring Home and Living, Travel and Luggage, and Consumer Electronics. 

Well-known brand partners including Samsung, Microsoft, Tosot, Unilever, Nestle, and Belo will also participate in the sale offering special promotions throughout the celebration.

 Lazada Philippines turns 4!  

Lazada PH CEO Inanc Balci with Laz and Brand ambassadors LA Aguinaldo and Kelsey Merritt, who personify Lazada’s fun and effortless vibe,  join the country’s largest online party.

Birthday blowout highlights include:

Hourly Flash Deals 

Php 4 Sale 

Jackpot games for additional discounts 

Facebook & Instagram games where customers have a chance to win a TV and smart phones 

A chance to win a trip to Dubai for two with every Cherry Mobile purchase

Shopaholics can visit http://www.lazada.com.ph/lazada-anniversary or download the Lazada Mobile App for Android or iOS to celebrate online shopping fun!

Birthday Milestones

Where Customers go, Lazada goes

Since its launch in 2012, Lazada PH has experienced rapid growth. “We delight in witnessing how Filipinos’ shopping habits have evolved, as we commit to give customers more options to make the most out of their busy lifestyles. 60% of Lazada customers already shop via mobile – a clear indication of how Lazada has successfully adapted to modern Filipino digital habits. We collaborate closely with the biggest brands to offer the best assortment and prices, which has made Lazada a primary destination for every shopper,” said Lazada PH CEO Inanc Balci.

Empowering a growing SME segment

Balci stressed Lazada’s commitment to helping SMEs tap wider markets. “In our four years of operations in the Philippines we have seen tremendous opportunity for SME’s in the e-commerce industry. We currently have 7,000 merchants onboard, and continue to make enhancements in our sellers’ platform to encourage more entrepreneurs to sell online. We commit to provide logistics capabilities to make selling more effortless for our merchants.”

More products, more places, more birthdays to come

“Looking ahead, Lazada Philippines will continue to focus on increasing our product assortment, expand our logistics infrastructure and introduce payment solutions to further enhance the effortless shopping experience for our customers,” Inanc added.

Future Plans

Lazada PH has recently unveiled the new site 30-sqm Fulfillment Center in Cabuyao, Laguna which will for be completed by end-year. The center, which is double the capacity of the current warehouse, will have automated features for inventory, selection, parcel movement and dimensional weight measurement.

Lazada Express, the in-house delivery arm is and modernizing the Sortation Center and opening 20 hubs throughout the country to increase delivery footprint and reach.

And as part of Lazada’s commitment to make shopping more effortless for everyone, an express delivery option will be launched in Metro areas for rush deliveries.

About Lazada

Lazada (www.lazada.com.ph) is Philippines’ largest online shopping mall and is pioneering e-commerce by providing a fast, convenient and secure online shopping experience combined with an extensive product offering in categories ranging from mobiles & tablets and consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion and sports equipment. Lazada is continuously striving to offer its customers the best possible shopping experience with multiple payment methods including cash on delivery, extensive warranty commitments and free returns. Lazada mobile applications for Android, iPhone and iPad provide additional convenience to its consumers’ allowing them to shop anywhere, anytime.

For more information, please visit http://www.lazada.com.ph. 

For updates on Lazada’s latest innovations, as well as activities, contests and promotions, connect with us via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines).

Love, glory and sacrifice : Heroes across the sea

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Loving from the distance... People live away from their loved ones back home, delude themselves into thinking that they can live everyday life elsewhere around the world, and hope, pray and expect that the people they left behind will always be there safe and live comfortably.

People always ask themselves "what are you willing to do for the people you love?"

For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), this question is something they live with every day. Every day, they answer it by spending time away from their families, working in a different world. Every day they choose to help, often at the cost of their own comfort. 

Working abroad requires big changes. It means going out of comfort zones and taking chances far from the convenience of the place they call home. Bringing their talents abroad for the sake of uplifting loved ones back in the country involves dedication, a strong will, and unarguably, a big heart. 

For actor and TV personality Robin Padilla, calling these people “modern day heroes” is not enough for the amount of glory and sacrifice they give to the country. The actor, who is an avid advocate of OFWs, can very much relate to the stories these people tell.

“Hindi ako bago sa kanila. Baliktad lang siguro ang sitwasyon ko dahil ako kumikita ako dito at pinapadala ko sa Australia. Pero alam ko ang pakiramdam ng malayo sa mga anak ko. (I’m not new to their situation. Maybe it’s the opposite because in my case I earn money here and send it to Australia. But I know the feeling of being away from my children.),” Robin added. 

The drive of these modern heroes and their dedication towards their loved ones are aspects that have always resonated with him. He shares the facets that make him admire these people succinctly and emphatically. 

“Kung sakripisyo lang, lahat naman tayo nagsasakripisyo eh. Yung tibay talaga. Kapag andun ka sa ibang bansa at solo ka, iba yun. (If it’s just about sacrifice, we all make them. It is really the strength of these people. It is different when you are in a different country alone.).”

Touching the hearts of OFWs

The actor’s innate compassion for these individuals is the reason why he was chosen by a leading global money remittance service to serve as its face--and heart. Alex Chan Lim, Country Manager of MoneyGram International, Inc., Philippines praises the man for his sincere stand towards OFWs. 

“There was a meeting of the minds. When we first talked to him, we saw how he keeps true to his word. All the things that he says, they come from the heart.”

He elaborates, “He isn’t the type of person who would just go out there for the sake of his job as an endorser. He has genuine care that touches the hearts of these people. And once you touch the softness of their heart, the rest will follow.”

The actor, who has represented MoneyGram since 2012, has been an effective conduit that connects Filipinos abroad to the culture they have temporarily left behind in the country. With the help of the brand, the TV personality has actively reached out to OFWs through a series of performances to bring joy to these modern heroes.

MoneyGram has been participating and at some cases, mounting its own shows for free as part of their efforts for the OFWs. Padilla religiously participates in them to gamely entertain the OFW communities across the sea. 

Lim shares one particular experience they had abroad. “There was a time when we went to Saudi Arabia and we met an OFW who works at the hotel we checked in. When he saw us, he naturally got awestruck with Robin. He returned three times just to talk to us. We talked for hours and not once did I see Robin show signs that he was tired.”

“What really surprised me is that he gave something that is really personal to him. That is out of his responsibilities as a brand endorser but he did it,” he continues. 

Robin gave one of the shirts he uses for his prayer sessions. “Sabi ko sa kanya, etong pangdasal ko na to, ang daming humihingi. Hindi ko to binigay pero ibibigay ko ito sayo. (I told him, there are so many people who asked me for this. I didn’t give it to them but I am giving this to you.)”

A progressive approach

Lim and Padilla pride their approach towards OFWs as progressive. 

“Nagsimula kami sa malasakit. Pero progressive kami sa approach. Sa mga performances, yung mga nagawa na namin, hindi na namin inuulit. (We started with compassion. But we are progressive with our approach. When it comes to performances, we do not repeat what we have done already.),” Robin explains.

This kind of approach is what MoneyGram also applies to their business. “It’s a very transparent service. MoneyGram doesn’t have hidden charges. Whatever amount the OFW sends, it is the exact same amount that their family in the Philippines receives*,” says Lim. “Of course we are improving on other services. It is progressive.” 

These are just some of the ways that MoneyGram brings families closer. The brand has been to Japan, Singapore, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon to name a few out of over 200 countries and territories. For this year, the company has laid out more plans to touch the lives of more Filipinos with Robin actively pitching in for ideas. 

Lim enthuses, “Getting someone to represent your brand is easy. But how to effectively use him, you use him to grow the business and touch the hearts of the people. For us, there is equal importance to these two. Robin touches the heart of each and every Filipino outside this country. This is how business should be about.”

“Yung samin, gusto na lang naming iparamdam sa mga OFWs na andito ako para paligayahin kayo. Kahit isa, dalawang oras. Hindi mo na mabibili yun. (For us, we just want to make OFWs feel that I am here to make you happy even if it’s just for an hour or two. There is no price to that happiness.),” says the actor. 

“Ang pagsabi ng bayani, hindi sa salita yan kundi sa gawa. Ang mapangiti mo ang mga taong ito, ito na yung pinakasimpleng pwede nating gawin para pasalamatan sila. (You shouldn’t only call them heroes, you should act on it. Making these people smile is the least we can do to thank them.),” he closes.

Endorsements from top caliber celebrities are indeed, one of the great tools that companies nowadays employ to find that "hook" among its consumers. MoneyGram, with its dealings with Robin Padilla, was able to strike that goldmine of connecting with its market. However, what simply sets them apart is the genuine love and compassion of their endorser, to the strong mass of OFWs across the globe that the company serves. A truly unique, and a heartwarming relationship between MoneyGram and its endorser. Aptly put, quoting Alex Lim and Robin on what sets them apart, "being with MoneyGram, you look beyond business. For us, it's all about service, na "Galing Sa Puso" (service from the heart). 

* MoneyGram and its agent will not apply any processing fee or any other fee to the recipients of money transfer service in the Philippines. However other fees may be charged to a recipient by a competent local authority in the Philippines.

MoneyGram and the Globe are marks of MoneyGram. ©2016 MoneyGram.

Netherlands, Philippines strengthen ties through collaboration

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Sustainability through innovations – key to international development

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands introduces “Inspire Innovation: Leading Sustainable Innovations toward a Progressive World,” a series of events geared toward the promotion of innovative solutions for international sustainable development.

This year, the Netherlands marks its 65 years of diplomatic ties and 150 years of consular relations with the Philippines through a celebration entitled “Inspire Innovation: Leading Sustainable Innovations toward a Progressive World”. The celebration will focus on promoting innovative solutions to sustain international development, capitalizing on the common interests of Dutch and Filipinos. It will feature a series of lectures, a film festival, and a fashion design exchange programme.

“The Philippines has always been the Netherlands’ partner in pushing for sustainable international development. Our relationship has evolved into a more collaborative form where we both work together to achieve mutually beneficial economic goals. This year’s celebration is a testament to that”, said Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines Marion Derckx.

The celebration had its official kick off in February and will continue with a lecture by visionary artist Lucas de Man in March. De Man is the founder and artistic leader of Amsterdam-based Company New Heroes, director at Het Zuidelijk Toneel, and presenter of the art television show Kunstuur. His lecture entitled “In Search of Europe” highlights his travels to 17 cities in eight countries within 30 days where he interviewed young artists and creative professionals who are trying to effect positive change. 

De Man’s lecture will happen on March 15 in UP Diliman; March 17 in UP Iloilo; and March 18 in UP Cebu.

Succeeding lectures will focus on topics including green design, food security, disaster risk reduction, peace and community building, and sustainable cities and will be held in various locations in the Philippines.

A film festival featuring Dutch and Filipino films will also be held in partnership with DAKILA, an organization of artists and advocates building a movement of heroism towards social transformation. The films will highlight the two nations’ commitment in promoting human rights as well as sustainable innovations that will help resolve global challenges.

Recognizing that creativity can inspire innovation, an exchange programme for Dutch and Filipino fashion students will also take place in partnership with Slim's Fashion and Art School. The students will undergo a collaborative training to come up with a collection of combined Dutch and Filipino artistry by weaving unique fabrics and techniques from Netherlands and the Philippines. The students’ creation will then be featured in a grand culminating fashion show in October.

The celebration will set the stage for deeper and more meaningful collaboration between the Philippines and the Netherlands through creative and innovative means. “We are very excited to travel the Philippines and share this meaningful celebration with every Filipino. We believe that by inspiring innovations, we are able to do our part in promoting a progressive world,” shared Derckx.

For more information on the celebration, visit philippines.nlembassy.org and www.facebook.com/DutchEmbassyPhilippines or follow @NLinPhilippines on Twitter.

#AmplifyLife as JBL Joins Consumers in Celebrating Their Passions with #AmplifyPassion

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JBL launched #AmplifyPassion campaign joining sounds lovers and each individual in pursuing their respective passion is global audio equipment brand.

The #AmplifyPassion campaign held a two-day event at the Glorietta Activity Center, from March 10 to 11, 2016,  as it introduced JBL’s extensive line of headphones that fit everyone’s interests and needs to push them further with JBL’s signature sound and design.

Travelers and casual listeners can get a kick from JBL’s lifestyle headphones line, bannered by their wireless Everest series that combine unmatched sound quality with ergonomic design – for a pleasurable and dynamic acoustic experience. Its flagship model – the Everest Elite 700 NC, is the perfect companion for those driven by excellent music and sound in their interests, as it offers an array of innovative features.

One of its key features is its NXTGen Active Noise Cancelling Technology, which allow users to control the amount of outside noise, to create the ideal balance of ambient sound and music. The carefully sculptured ear cushions also provide the right ear comfort through its 15-hour playtime – coupled with its TruNote technology that calibrates sound based on the fit around the ears. 

Also included in the Everest series are the equality impressive, Elite 300 NC, Elite 100 NC, 700 BT, 300 BT, and 100 BT.

Sports and outdoor enthusiasts can also experience great sound and music with the Under Armour Wireless and Reflect Mini BT, under its sports headphones line. Engineered by JBL, the UA wireless was built to exhibit JBL’s signature sound and wireless feature for up to eight hours. Made especially for those with active lifestyles, it also sports a durable design to withstand sweat/water, and JBL’s Twistlock technology to assure users that the headphones will never fall off, while fitting comfortably.

Alongside the UA wireless headphones is the lightweight Reflect Mini BT, which guarantee users the perfect fit and stability to experience great sound and keep their adrenaline flowing. Apart from these two sports centric headphones are JBL’s Grip Series, Reflect Response, Reflect Mini, Yurbuds Leap, and Yurbuds Inspire Series.

Passionate music lovers – novice and professionals alike, can also satisfy their desire for great sound with the Studio Headphones line that compose of the JBL E40BT and E50BT – as well as AKG’s Y50, Y50BT, and Y45BT, and Harman Kardon’s Soho and Soho Wireless. 

Aside from the exhibit of JBL, Yurbuds, AKG, and Harman Kardon’s extensive headphones line, the #AmplifyPassion event also allowed mall goers to experience the lifestyle behind each of the featured products. It also included a two-day hologram concert that feature top international artists, as well as JBL’s passion videos that featured #AmplifyPassion ambassadors – Camille Co and Michele Gumabao.

For more information, visit http://ph.jbl.com and http://ph.harmankardon.com.

Visit: 

Facebook: JBL Philippines

Twitter: @JBLPH

Instagram: @jblph

As the leader in revolutionary sound, JBL continues to push audio boundaries through innovation and personalized sound technology. The JBL brand offers unprecedented wireless speaker performance for authentic audio experience.

DepEd, MARINA tie up to offer maritime program in SHS

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The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will provide Senior High School (SHS) students with the education and training to qualify for further studies and/or career opportunities in the maritime industry upon graduating from SHS.

“The Department sees how critical the maritime industry is. It is not just about the curriculum but our competitive advantage in the world,” said Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC. 

[L-R] DepEd Assistant Secretary for Programs and Projects Elvin Ivan Uy, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Maximo Mejia Jr., PhD, Angkla Partylist Representative Jesulito Manalo, Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC, AMOSUP VAdm Eduardo Ma R. Santos, and DepEd Undersecretary for Programs and Projects Dina Ocampo at the MOA signing for the SHS maritime program. 

With the increasing demand for seafarers in the international and local maritime industry, Luistro added that the Department recognizes the need to offer a maritime specialization in SHS under the K to 12 Program. 

“We would like to thank DepEd for their support and cooperation for the maritime SHS program. With this program, we will be able to show that the Philippines is able to provide or offer highly competent, well-trained and highly qualified Filipino seafarers, who are ready for employment upon graduating from high school,” said MARINA Administrator Maximo Majima Jr., PhD.

Through the MOA, DepEd and MARINA will work together on the development and revision of the curriculum guides and instructional materials necessary for the proper implementation of the SHS maritime specialization. Both parties are also responsible for designing and implementing the said specialization in compliance with international standards in maritime education and training.

The Standards of Training and Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) convention code will be used as a basis for developing the curriculum for the maritime specialization. With this, SHS graduates of the said specialization may take the assessment for the certification of ratings. This will allow them to qualify for career opportunities in the maritime industry upon graduation and evaluation. SHS graduates may also pursue further studies in the maritime field. Given this, the country will be able to produce more seafarers at the officer level. 

“We’re very grateful to MARINA for working with us to ensure that it is not just about developing a curriculum that’s acceptable to DepEd but to the world standards of the maritime industry,” Luistro added.