BDO reaps numerous honors at the 2019 Asian Banking and Finance Awards

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BDO Unibank, Inc., its subsidiaries BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and BDO Nomura Securities, and corporate social responsibility arm (CSR) BDO Foundation were among over a hundred awardees from 37 countries honored at the Asian Banking and Finance’s 2019 Wholesale Banking Awards, Retail Banking Awards and Corporate and Investment Banking Awards held in Singapore.

BDO bagged the Philippine Domestic Cash Management Bank of the Year at the Wholesale Banking Awards, which recognizes the most outstanding practices and innovative strategies in Asia's wholesale banking sector. This is the 5th time that BDO won in the Cash Management Category and its second consecutive win. Other categories in the Wholesale Banking Awards include Trade Finance, Project\, Finance, Technology & Operations, and Foreign Exchange.

Banking and Finance Excellence. Representing BDO during the award ceremonies on July 18 were BernhardG. Tsai (left), first vice president and chief operating officer of BDO Securities Corporation and Edwin G. Reyes, executive vice president and head of transaction banking group of BDO Unibank, Inc.

In winning the Cash Management Category, BDO was lauded for its wide branch and ATM network, which to date total over 1,100 and 4,000, respectively. Through this vast network, the Bank is able to provide innovative end-to-end financial solutions to corporate clients.

In the Retail Banking Awards, BDO Nomura won for the first time the Online Securities Platform of the Year (Philippines). BDO Nomura, a subsidiary of the Bank, provides investors in-depth market research, quick execution time and competitive rates. Its platform offers ease of use through simple and paperless online application and fund transfers through its customer’s BDO Deposit Accounts. As a bonus, BDO Rewards Points will be earned for all transactions made. These Rewards Points can be redeemed for products available in SM affiliated stores.

Now on its 14th year, the Retail Banking Awards honors outstanding banks that have introduced groundbreaking products and services that successfully adapted with the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Still in Retail Banking, BDO’s CSR arm BDO Foundation won the CSR of the Year - Gold Award for the third consecutive year. BDO Foundation bagged the award for partnering with the Department of Education and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in bringing financial education to public schools, particularly in the K-12 curriculum, teaching and non-teaching personnel. Last year, it was recognized for its efforts to empower people with disabilities (PWDs) through the development of a community for disabled individuals. 

Meanwhile, in the Corporate and Investment Banking Awards, BDO Capital won Corporate and Investment Bank of the Year (Philippines), its second consecutive win, for being a “one-stop investment house covering extensive aspects of deals from origination, structuring, and execution funding through its affiliates, secondary market trading, and insurance services.” 

Jollibee will be in full service this All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day

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This All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, millions of Filipinos will once again flock to cemeteries and memorial parks to offer candles, flowers, and prayers for their dearly departed families and friends. For some, it is also the time to reminisce on the fondest memories of loved ones who have passed on and share their stories over food.

Jollibee – the country’s number one fast-food chain – is again making this season of remembering even more special for Filipinos by conveniently bringing their favorite langhap-sarap meals closer to them, as they spend their precious time with their loved ones.

From October 30 to November 2, Jollibee will have food booths in around 275 cemeteries across the country, while 376 drive-thru stores nationwide will be open to cater to those traveling to the provinces.

Those who would like to stay at home can also count on Jollibee to deliver their fastfood favorites by simply dialing #8-7000.

So, whether one is headed to the cemetery, traveling to the province, or simply staying at home, Jollibee will be there to provide light and joy this season with its on-site booths, drive-thru channels, and food delivery service.

The New Generation Phoneography Powerhouse OPPO Reno2 Series Arrives in the Philippines on October 25

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Reno2 Series ushers in the age of videos with cutting-edge smartphone videography features poised to change the smartphone industry game

OPPO is considered as one of the fastest growing companies in the Philippines. The smartphone giant aims to maintain its strong foothold in the industry by continuously introducing tech-advanced smartphones and expanding its footprint in the premium league through the Reno series. Following the successful launch of the Reno series, is the Reno2 series which is poised as the new phoneography powerhouse. Reno2 retails at PHP28,990 and the Reno2 F retails at PHP19,990. Both are now officially available in all OPPO stores nationwide and through all e-commerce partners starting October 25. 

OPPO stands strong with bullish growth in PH

Now reaching its sixth year in the country, OPPO has taken the Philippines by storm in a short period of time. Starting from a humble team of five employees, the smartphone giant is now fueled by the hard work of more than 7,000 employees with more than 6,000 stores nationwide - millions of users across the country. 

Additionally, OPPO remarkably achieved strong market presence in the second quarter of 2019 earning 28% market share in the second quarter of 2019, according to leading global technology market analyst firm Canalys.

The brand maintains its momentum towards elevating its products and services, some of which include the following:

The innovations in the customer care services that provided VIP-level experience to all its users, resulting to a 99.6% customer satisfaction score on Q3 of 2019. The recently lauded 1-Hour Flash Fix program that gives customers quick and hassle-free smartphone repair and consultation all in less than one hour; and the recently launched OPPO Service app that helps users get a more convenient service experience within just your fingertips were also launched to create better customer relations experience.

Market Favors the Newest Reno2 Series

OPPO has recently streamlined its latest product roster to best cater to the needs of different consumers: the best-selling, upgraded A Series poised as the mid-range entertainment smartphone for the younger generation; the power tool for creativity the Reno Series, positioned as the premium mid-range smartphone; and the powerhouse of the latest smartphone technologies, the Find Series that is for the high-end market.

The latest to join the roster of OPPO’s Reno series product line, Reno2 series, was built to be the next generation creative tool for aspiring content creators in a highly digital and mobile society. The Reno2 series is built with 48MP Quad Camera setup that is capable of up to 20x Digital Zoom. The Reno2 features Ultra Steady Video, Ultra Dark Mode, Ultra Wide Angle on video and Bokeh Effect on video which is the first of its kind in the industry, and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage that promises smoother user experience.

While the Reno2 F is powered by MediaTek Helio P70 with 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage, with a 16MP rising camera module, and the video recording is equipped with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for a steadier shot.

Breakthroughs for 2019 and Moving Forward

The brand’s recent achievements are attributed to the many technological and marketing breakthroughs spearheaded by OPPO.

With the goal of expanding its extensive sports and entertainment portfolio, OPPO recently signed a multi-year partnership with Riot Games. This makes OPPO as the exclusive official global smartphone partner for League of Legends Ⓡ Esports international events which will run until the year 2024. 

On the technological front, OPPO has recently unveiled its latest “Waterfall Screen”engineering, with the vision to explore ultimate design aesthetics and a seamless visual experience. Similarly, OPPO has also pioneered the Under-screen Camera technology which was unveiled at the last MWC and is set to offer a “true full screen experience”.

OPPO also exhibited its latest achievements in 5G and IoT. The smartphone brand has been working actively with various global network operators to make 5G the new reality. In the latter part of 2019, OPPO is set to unveil a dual-mode 5G smartphone powered by Qualcomm and supports both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) networks. OPPO has also created IoT products in the hopes of creating an interconnected future. Currently, OPPO has already developed an IoT open platform that connects products from across 20 categories including more than 260 devices from a variety of brands. 

This 2019 has proven to be a strong year for OPPO as it has successfully penetrated the premium market segment with the release of the Reno series and unveiled breakthrough technologies. With the release of Reno2 series that’s packed with high quality smartphone videography features, OPPO will surely achieve bigger milestones. 

To learn more, visit the website www.oppo.com/ph or check out the official Facebook page at www.fb.com/OPPOPH

The Volley Hall of Fame

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The Philippine National Volleyball training pools are currently working hard to bring their A-game in this year’s Southeast Asian Games to be held in the Philippines this coming November. Whatever the final line-ups will be, the men’s and women’s teams will continue a storied tradition of volleyball excellence when they step on the court to represent our country.

Current volleyball fans may be familiar with today’s collegiate and professional stars, but did you know that the Philippines has produced top players for decades? Philippine volleyball has had quite the glorious history, thanks to the contributions of these five legendary volleybelles:

Nene Ybanez-Chavez

(Photo courtesy of Arvin Lim)

The Philippines has been a superpower in volleyball, especially on the women’s side, ever since it was introduced to the SEA Games in 1977, with the Women’s National Volleyball team ranking second behind Thailand in gold medals won.

Those powerhouse teams were fronted by the likes of Nene Ybanez-Chavez, the 6’1” legend from Southwestern University in Cebu who helped the Philippines dominate the SEA Games in the early ‘90s. She’s best known for leading the women’s team to its last SEA gold in the 1993 games in Singapore, earning the MVP and Best Spiker honors along the way. Possessing extraordinary endurance in the sport, Ybanez-Chavez played competitively until 2013, and now continues to make her mark in Philippine volleyball by coaching a team in the Philippine Super Liga professional league.

Mozzy Crisologo-Ravena

(Photo courtesy of Mozzy Ravena)

The mother of the famous Ravena phenoms in Philippine basketball is a former volleyball champion in her own right. Mozzy Crisologo-Ravena, the volleyball analyst/sportscaster and University of Santo Tomas alumna, was a two-time UAAP volleyball champion from 1988 to 1992. She also represented the country as a part of the Philippine Youth team in 1988 and the seniors’ team from 1988 to 1989. Today, her legacy lives on through her daughter Dani Ravena, who plays volleyball for the Ateneo Lady Eagles.

Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo

(Photo courtesy of Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo)

Before Philippine volleyball went mainstream via the collegiate scene, there was Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo, holding up the sport in the country. Balse-Pabayo, from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, is another champion UST alumna and one of the players who carried the Philippines to a bronze medal in the 2005 SEA Games. Balse-Pabayo is still going strong today, currently playing for the Philippine Army Lady Troopers in the Philippine Super Liga and also the Premier Volleyball League, where she is a two-time champion.

Tina Salak

(Photo courtesy of Tina Salak)

One of the sport’s most successful players, Tina Salak has a storied career representing the country as part of the national team for many years, with huge wins such as the silver finish in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1995 and bronze in Manila in 2005. She also competed in the 2015 SEA Games held in Singapore.

Salak also has a rich professional career, with 10 seasons logged in the Shakey’s V-League and the Philippine Super Liga, where she won five championships and six medals with the Philippine Army Lady Troopers. She’s since retired, going on to work as a coach in the PSL.

Angeli Tabaquero

(Photo courtesy of Mix Gatpandan)

One of Philippine volleyball’s contemporary stars, Angeli Tabaquero is a renowned collegiate champion, having won titles as part of the UST Golden Tigresses. Tabaquero also represented the country as a member of the Philippine National Team in the 2013 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, and as part of the PLDT Home Tvolution national team in another stint in the 2014 Asian Club Championship. An unfortunate injury forced her to retire in 2016 and become a coach for the Adamson Lady Falcons.

The road to the 2019 SEA Games continues

The Philippine Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball Team will compete against the rest of the region from November 28 to December 10 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila. The athletic firepower of current volleyball stars like Alyssa Valdez and Aby Marano brings bright prospects in making the Philippines a regional powerhouse in the international volleyball scene once again.

With the steadfast support of organizations and companies like Rebisco, the national teams will be looking to bring pride and glory to the Philippines when they give their all on the court. Together, Filipinos will again cheer for the national team fighting as Sambansa – or one nation – under the colors of our flag.

Rebisco has been a proponent of Philippine volleyball and various organizations and leagues that comprise it. Aside from supporting the Philippine national team in this year’s SEA Games, Rebisco has also backed the Philippine Women’s Volleyball Team in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia. The company is also committed to developing the future of the sport with the newly-launched 18-and-under Rebisco Volleyball League.

For more info and updates on the Philippine National Volleyball Team, follow Rebisco Pilipinas on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @RebiscoSambansa.

Vivo V17 Pro’s dual selfie camera lets users “shoot beyond limits” Shoot beyond limits with Vivo V17 Pro dual front camera, exclusive selfie apps

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There was a time when taking selfies was as basic as capturing one’s close-up image, often to highlight an appearance or a spectacular scenery in the background. While selfie shooters yearned to capture more elements in their frames, they were limited mostly by the technology of the front-facing cameras at that time.

In recent years, advancements in optics technology and software development have given birth to front-facing cameras that offer better resolution and image quality, as well as AI-enhanced photography apps. These, in turn, have transformed selfie shooting, from a mere trend, to a skill, even an artform.

A selfie (right) using the Vivo V17 Pro’s Super Wide-Angle camera captures a fuller background, compared to a typical selfie.

Today, companies like Vivo, are taking the lead in pioneering technology that enhances the smartphone experience. This includes taking selfie shooting to new and higher levels.

Just a few months after unveiling its V15 Pro with the world’s first 32MP elevating selfie camera and an AI triple rear camera, the leading global technology company has already launched V17 Pro, the second flagship smartphone in its V series of midrange smartphones.

Now, improving from its predecessor, the V17 Pro boasts of another world’s first, an exclusive pair of front cameras—a 32MP main camera with f/2.0 aperture and 8MP 105-degree super-wide-angle camera—which ensures clearer and fuller selfies, in whatever environment.

Much like the V15’s selfie optics, the V17 Pro’s dual front cameras are tucked behind the smartphone’s notch-less Super AMOLED Ultra FullView™ Display, nestled in a wide pop-up mechanism that elevates as quickly as it retracts.

With the premium smartphone’s dual elevating selfie camera, users will never need selfie sticks to capture “groufies” or the splendid panoramic view behind them. All they have to do is access the super-wide-angle camera and “shoot beyond limits”.

For nighttime selfies, the front camera gets ample support from Selfie Softlight that lights up dark images and an exclusive Super Night Selfie mode which captures and combines multiple frames into one image to make one’s face stand out, especially in low-light conditions.

There is also a “Pose Master” feature which suggest several poses to match various photo scenes and backgrounds, to make one’s selfies even more creative.

Aside from its elevating dual selfie camera and AI powered and enhanced selfie apps, the V17 Pro also boasts of AI quad rear cameras—48MP main camera, 8MP super wide-angle, 2MP bokeh, and 2MP super macro camera—which can capture super macro images from a distance of just 4 cm., and super wide clear images, even in dark surroundings.