GCash powers biggest mobile app summit in PH

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GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, sponsors the biggest and most anticipated mobile app summit and expo in the country—the SIGN UP! SUMMIT 2019 on September 23 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

SIGN UP! SUMMIT 2019 aims to support aspiring online businessowners in establishing their own companies and enterprises. It targets to educate around 12,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) about the essential elements in growing and expanding an e-business.

“By far, SIGN UP! is the biggest gathering of mobile platforms and mobile applications in the Philippines. We want to empower more Filipinos to go digital and help them improve their livelihood,” said Ney Villaseñor, chief corporate affairs officer of GCash.

As the biggest digital alliance in the country today, SIGN UP! attendees can expect to familiarize themselves with various mobile applications, platforms and solutions, as well as be inspired by success stories of other e-preneneurs who are going to be featured at the event.

“GCash is known by many for buying mobile load, paying bills, remitting money and the like, but GCash is more than just these financial services that it offers,” explained Villaseñor. “You can actually do more with your business by expanding it through the app. There’s so much opportunity for GCash when it comes to growing your online shop. Because with GCash, what can’t you do?”

The SIGN UP! SUMMIT is open to anyone, from students to stay-at-home parents. In addition, GCash has prepared a lot of surprises that the attendees can look forward to.

Interested participants can sign up for free and be part of the biggest mobile app summit and expo in the Philippines at www.signup.ph

POPCOM launches the biography of Mr. Rafael M. Salas, the first Executive Director of UNFPA from 1969

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The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launches the biography of Mr. Rafael M. Salas. “Mr. Population” – as he was affectionately known - was one of the first Filipino advocates who made the crucial links between population and development and sexual and reproductive health and rights, globally and in the Philippines.

“Parents have a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and the spacing of their children,” he said in 1968 - a truly novel statement for the time. Entitled “A Millennial Man for Others: The Life and Times of Rafael M. Salas”, the book chronicles his life from his childhood days, and his achievements until his untimely death in 1987. 

Had Mr. Salas been alive today, it would have warmed his heart to see that the fruits of his efforts have finally become more evident with the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act and the commitment of the present administration to reproductive health and family planning as evidenced by the revamped National Program on Population and Family Planning and the President’s Executive Order to end unmet need for family planning.

NEDA Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dr. Ernesto M. Pernia welcomes guests to the Rafael M. Salas Book Launch.

Undersecretary and Executive Director of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) said that “POPCOM has been constantly bringing into the consciousness of the Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Filipino people alike the seeds of development work that Mr. Salas planted when he drafted the Executive Order (EO) that would create POPCOM in 1969. In step with the new millennium, POPCOM will soon launch the “Kaunlarang Pantao” Award, using Paeng Salas’ inspiration of development for the people. “

Mr. Salas was also the first Executive Director of UNFPA. He oversaw the birth of the organization in 1969, nurtured it with care, and imbued it with his foresight and vision. Under his leadership, the agency grew from a relatively small body to the world’s largest provider of multilateral development assistance on population dynamics through the prism of sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality. As UNFPA Executive Director, Mr. Salas carried the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, the highest UN officeaccorded to a Filipino even up to today.

“It is an honor for us to carry on Rafael Salas’ legacy at UNFPA in this historic 50th anniversary year of UNFPA and the 25th anniversary year of the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), where Mr. Salas’ vision became a global consensus when 179 governments including the Philippines agreed on a call for all people to have access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including voluntary family planning, and safe pregnancy and childbirth services,” said UNFPA Representative in the Philippines, Iori Kato. 

UNFPA Country Representative Iori Kato, Ambassador Carmelita Salas and POPCOM Undersecretary and Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III after the launch of the biography of Mr. Rafael M. Salas.

Mr. Salas’ legacy continues to this day. Later this year in November, the Governments of Kenya, Denmark and UNFPA are convening a global summit in Nairobi to mark the 25th anniversary of the ICPD, for Member States to express their renewed political and financial commitments towards the promises that they had made in Cairo 25 years ago to support women empowerment through three transformative results: ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths and ending gender-based violence. 

The book launch marks the 91st birth year anniversary of Mr. Salas and is a venue to continue his legacy as national influential figures in Philippine government, business and civil society gather and take the opportunity to articulate the country’s commitment to Nairobi.

The event will also feature a photo exhibit at the Department of Foreign Affairs, with Dr. Ernesto M. Pernia, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary, of the NEDA, giving the opening statement, followed by a panel discussion on the life of Mr. Salas with Dr. Mercedes Concepcion, and the authors of the book: Mr. Jose Dalisay and Ms. Menchu Sarmiento. Sec. Ernesto Pernia will turn over the book to Mrs. Carmelita Rodriguez Salas who will give a statement. 

Century Park Hotel is the Official Residence of Miss Earth 2019 Delegates - Century Park Hotel welcomes Miss Earth Philippines 2019 Women of the Earth during the MOA Signing

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Manila, Philippines– Century Park Hotel (CPH), one of the country’s renowned hotels in Manila, recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement to house the Miss Earth 2019 delegates. This is the fourth year that the hotel is playing host to the pageant known for promoting environmental advocacy.

(Standing from L-R): Karen Piccio (Miss Philippines Earth Eco-Tourism 2019), Janelle Dazo Tee (Miss Earth Philippines 2019), Phuong Khanh Nguyen (Miss Earth 2018), Melanie Mader (Miss Earth-Air 2018), & Alexandra Dayrit (Miss Philippines Fire 2019)

(Seated from L-R): Nellwyn Chua (Director of Sales, CPH), Anthony Tan (General Manager, CPH), Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. (Director, CPH), Lorraine Schuck (Executive Vice President, Carousel Productions, Inc.), & Peachy Veneracion (VP & Project Director, Carousel Productions, Inc.) pose during the MOA signing.

Carousel Productions, Inc. is the official pageant organizer from the Philippines who founded Miss Earth in 2001. The organization’s mission is to channel the international beauties as an effective tool in promoting environmental preservation and tourist locations around the world.

“We are honored to partner with Miss Earth once again as they embark on a global advocacy towards a greener world through the pageant. It is our endeavor to provide them a home away from their own homes by ensuring a safe, secure and comfortable setting, empowering them to pursue their utmost ecological undertakings,” enthused CPH General Manager, Anthony Tan.

(Standing from L-R ): Alexandra Dayrit (Miss Philippines Fire 2019), Melanie Mader (Miss Earth-Air 2018), Phuong Khanh Nguyen (Miss Earth 2018), Janelle Dazo Tee (Miss Earth Philippines 2019), & Karen Piccio (Miss Philippines Earth Eco-Tourism 2019)

CPH will also be the official venue of the National Costume Competition on October 14, 2019.

Launched in 1976, the Century Park Hotel remains as one of the finest hotels in Manila. It is owned and operated by Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation and enjoys a mix of local and international patrons. The renowned establishment has over 500 rooms in varied types and facilities for a complete dining and leisure experience. To know more about Century Park Hotel, visit www.centurypark.com or contact information@centurypark.com.ph and telephone number: (632) 528-8888.

BDO wins Award of Excellence in 17th Philippine Quill Awards

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BDO Unibank was bestowed the Award of Excellence for a TV documentary that tackled its “We Find Ways” philosophy and how it transformed the lives of Filipinos and contributed to nation-building, among others, at the recently held 17th Philippine Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.

The bank was likewise among the top five finalists for the Communication Skills division, joining ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., Jollibee Foods Corp., Ripple 8, and Manila Electric Co.

The bank received the prestigious accolades for its institutional video titled "Finding Ways, Forging Futures: Promoting National Development Through Financial Inclusion" produced in partnership with CNN Philippines.

The video features anecdotes from BDO's senior officers and some of the bank's top corporate clients on how BDO is finding ways to expand its network and make its services more accessible, especially to the unserved and underserved markets.

Roughly a third of the country's cities and municipalities still do not have a banking presence, and about 70% of Filipinos still do not have bank accounts.

"We need to get where the money is, and channel it to where it's needed. And BDO plays its role in the economy by having a wide market coverage to reach out where the funding is coming from and to be able to make the right assessments to that it is channeled to the right projects and the right priorities,"BDO president and chief executive officer Nestor V. Tan said in the video.

The Philippine Quill is the country’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication, bestowing the seal of approval to the most reputable organizations and corporations in the nation for almost two decades, emphasizing the use of excellent communication to achieve business goals, and to make a difference in society.

Award in Excellence. The BDO Corporate Communications team, led by its chief, Senior Assistant Vice President Honey M. Reyes(second from left) and composed of (left to right) Ana Marie M. Tanglao, Carlo Leo C. Manuel, and Lionel Albert D. Lopez-Dee,receives the Award in Excellence trophy on behalf of BDO Unibank during the 17th Philippine Quill Awards held last August 30 at Manila Marriott Hotel.

About BDO Unibank, Inc.

BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services. These services include traditional loan and deposit products, as well as treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, retail cash cards, credit card services, and stock brokerage services.

BDO has one of the largest distribution networks, with more than 1,300 operating branches and over 4,000 ATMs nationwide. It also has a full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore as well as 23 overseas remittance and representative offices in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

BDO ranked as the largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits, and trust funds under management based on published statements of condition as of March 31, 2019. For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph.

‘CoCo Chill Camp’ Is a way of CoCo's thanksgiving to hordes of CoCo Tea lovers and fans

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Cult favorite milk tea brand, CoCo which recently won the People's Choice Awardee for Favorite Milk Tea brand, has officially kicked off its much buzzed-about 3-day CoCo Chill Camp at the SM Mega Fashion Hall, uniting CoCo fans in one big happy celebration. 

The CoCo Chill Camp is CoCo's way of expressing its warmest thanks to its hordes of fans who have tirelessly queued up in all its branches nationwide, to get their personal favorite drinks. 

Ever since young entrepreneur Larry Evans Tan brought CoCo to the Philippines five years ago from the milk tea capital of the world, Taiwan, CoCo has rapidly become a top player in the Filipino milk tea craze and is one of the strongest markets of the CoCo brand worldwide.

CoCo leads in the global tea market with a formidable 4,000 branches spread out across the world and posting an incredible sale of 100 cups per second globally. 

In the Philippines, where it has become the go-to milk tea brand, one CoCo cup is sold every 4 minutes via delivery alone—further proving the love for CoCo that expands beyond the physical store.

Larry Evans Tan 

“We’ve seen how well CoCo was received by Filipinos. The CoCo Chill Camp is our way of showing our loyal fans and supporters that we feel their love. And so we want to give them back the happiness that our drinks have brought to their lives, by giving them an experience that’s uniquely created for them,” said Tan, CoCo Philippines General Manager.

The CoCo Chill Camp showcased fun activities for everyone’s delight, including a CoCo Panda Pit, CoCo Pachinko, and CoCo Pearl Toss. These games come with with exciting prizes for lucky guests.

Exclusive limited edition CoCo merchandise were also sold at the CoCo Chill Camp, including the CoCo shirts with cool designs that would make every CoCo lover wear it with pride.

Social media rockstars, who are self-confessed CoCo lovers, ThatsBella, Rei Germar, Janina Vela and LA Aguinaldo, joined the other CoCo fans on the opening day, sharing their love for the brand and revealing their favorite CoCo drinks. ThatsBella and Rei also had the opportunity to visit Taiwan last month to interview CoCo founder Chairman Tommy Hung.

And if CoCo fans could not seem to get enough of the bestsellers—Panda Milk Tea, 3 Buddies Milk Tea, White Pearl Milk Tea, and Passion Fruit Tea Burst, CoCo launched a new flavor that is quickly starting to be the new favorite—the Caramel Chocolate Cream, EXCLUSIVE to the Philippine market.

CoCo favorites: Panda Milk Tea and 3 Buddies Milk Tea 5

This latest concoction of sweetness, as Tan described it: “waves of caramel blended with chocolate slush over velvety salty cream makes a drink that is decadent for the local palate.”

The New  CoCo: Caramel Chocolate Cream slush 

Explaining the rationale behind this new Philippines-only product, Tan said, “We wanted to create a unique offering that we know the Philippine market would be drawn to. What’s better than caramel and chocolate? This is definitely something new beyond the milk tea that CoCo is known for.” Tan explained.

CoCo favorites: White Pearl Milk Tea and Passion Fruit Tea Burst

The overwhelming reception of CoCo in the Philippines made Tan very much optimistic with the future of CoCo among Filipino milk tea lovers. “We are definitely responding to the clamor of our customers into bringing CoCo more accessible to them, we are opening our 2nd branch in Cebu by the end of the month and we’ll be opening our 1st Mindanao branch soon.  And we continue to explore with new flavors that we know our customers would love,” he revealed.

The CoCo Chill Camp run until September 19 and Tan invites all CoCo fans to join in the fun and bring their friends and families to experience the dynamic vibe in the camp that the brand is known for. 

CoCo favorites: White Pearl Milk Tea and Passion Fruit Tea Burst,  Panda Milk Tea and 3 Buddies Milk Tea and  the New  CoCo: Caramel Chocolate Cream slush