Shell Philippines' Project Shelter for health and safety of people and to #FlattenTheCurve amidst Covid-19

Tweet

Amidst this pandemic situation in the world, we all must think of how can we help, with managing fear and allows us to do our part in helping to contain the spread of the virus.

It’s not just about for few, but about all of our fellow citizens.

As the spread of COVID-19 continues to affect everyone in the country, Shell puts top priority on the health and safety of our people, customers and the community, along with the safe operations of all our businesses. We continue to monitor the situation closely and respond to the needs of our kababayans.

For our people

The safety and well-being of our employees matter to us. As such, Shell has made 

available the following services to its employees:

- Flexible working arrangements

          - Financial assistance such as access to emergency loans

- 24x7 Tele-Medicine medical service to minimize staff exposure to hospitals and clinics. 

- Virtual counseling services  

- Temporary accommodation and transportation support needed for business continuity.

For our customers

Amidst the challenges, we strive to continue providing vital energy products to our 

customers and communities and have business continuity plans in place to sustain our operations. Malampaya continues to operate to provide 30% of Luzon’s power needs and our Shell stations will remain open to serve motorists and provide basic services.

For the community

Shell salutes the frontliners who have been tirelessly working to #FlattenTheCurve. To support the medical and government frontliners, Shell is extending help as follows:

- Donation of N95 face masks to the Department of Health and the Philippine General Hospital 

- Donation of Select Water to 7 Hospitals. 

- Through our Shell retailers, we are giving food packs, biscuits and water for medical workers, police force and military personnel and logistics drivers 

- Donation to the Municipality of Pasacao, Camarines Sur for the purchase of relief goods for indigent families 

- We are also a partner of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation in COVID-19 response.

Our own forecourt staff  are frontliners too, as they continue to serve the needs of our motorists.

To support our Shell forecourt staff, we are providing the following:

- Accommodation in our stations with transportation to and from work 

- Meals for staff while on duty 

- Face masks and alcohol for when they are on duty and when they travel to and from our stations. 

- Financial support for staff grounded by the enhanced community quarantine.

Shell donates N95 face masks to DoH. Shell Country Health Advisor Dra. Rose Rivera (3rd from right) leads Shell officials in turning over 3,000 pieces of N95 face masks to Department of Health (DoH) Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje. Also in photo are (left to right) Shell Country Occupational Health Nurse Patrick Jeremillos and DoH Director Gloria Balboa, Assistant Secretary (Asec.) Kenneth Ronquillo, Usecs Gerry Bayugo and Rosette Vergeire and Asec. Nestor Santiago.

At dawn today (March 27) in NAIA, Ops Mgr Monette Soriao sends off
her incoming crew to the shore platform

Disinfection of Shell Select Stores

Providing assistance to our frontliners at Shell Select stores

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and follow advice from public health authorities to help ensure the well-being of our employees, customers and local communities.

Shopee launches Shopee Bayanihan, an initiative focused on providing support for medical front liners and Filipinos in need

Tweet

Shopee donates 2,800 KFN4 respiratory masks to the Philippine Lung Center to help medical front liners fight COVID-19

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches Shopee Bayanihan, an initiative focused on providing support for medical front liners and Filipinos in need. 

In a true bayanihan spirit, Shopee partners with various humanitarian organizations like Red Cross, Kaya Natin and World Vision to raise funds to support different communities most affected by COVID-19 outbreak. Among those in need are hospitals faced with limited medical equipment and low-income households who face difficulties in securing daily necessities. Under Shopee Bayanihan, users can make a direct donation to these organizations via Shopee from 26 March onwards. Additionally, Shopee donates 2,800 KFN4 respiratory masks to support the health workers in the Philippine Lung Center in their combat against the virus.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing of Shopee Philippines, said, “In the spirit of bayanihan, we need to come together and draw strength from one another as we tide through this COVID-19 outbreak as one community. We launched Shopee Bayanihan to provide Filipinos a platform to step forward and help those in need. The funds raised will channel much-needed resources to vulnerable individuals and families to help them cope with the situation. We urge everyone to stand together with us and help one another stay strong during this period.”

All Filipinos can make a donation to their partner organizations of choice in amounts of P50, P100, P500, and P1,000 via Shopee Bayanihan. 

Here’s how:

On March 31, users can tune in to Shopee Live to watch a special program on “Shopee Bayanihan Day”. During the program, popular local celebrities will put up a special performance to help raise funds under Shopee Bayanihan. Users can also find more information on what the partner organizations are doing to support the community. 

All proceeds made through Shopee Bayanihan will go straight to their partner organizations. For more information, please visit: https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It was launched in 7 markets in 2015 to connect consumers, sellers, and businesses in the region.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

BDO Unibank offers a safer way to bank amidst Covid -19

Tweet

Amidst the enhanced community quarantine prevailing in Luzon,  banks remain open to service the banking needs of clients. 

BDO Unibank encourages the heightened use of online banking service to protect the public from the spread of the pandemic. 

“We urge our online banking users to share and teach their family and friends how to sign up and use BDO Online Banking so they can bank safely from home,” the Bank said in a statement.

BDO has provided steps to guide its customers on how to sign-up for online banking. These are found on its official website www.bdo.com.ph, official Facebook Page and BDO Youtube channel.

With BDO Online Banking, customers can perform transactions such as Send Money, Pay Bills, Reload and more. 

Apart from online banking, BDO’s network of ATMs and Cash Accept Machines is always available for cash withdrawal, bills payment and deposit. 

Visit the following Links:

BDO Facebook: 

How to Sign Up for BDO Online Banking: https://web.facebook.com/BDOUnibank/posts/2541550816061071?__tn__=-R

BDO Online Banking Features: https://web.facebook.com/BDOUnibank/posts/2541565119392974?__tn__=-R

BDO Website: 

https://www.bdo.com.ph/personal/ebanking/online-banking

MVP Group pours in support for COVID-19 Frontliners

Tweet

Ethyl alcohol donated to government hospitals

MANILA, Philippines – More efforts to help health workers at the frontlines of the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak have been undertaken by Tulong Kapatid, the consortium of the corporate social responsibility consortium of companies, foundations, and affiliates led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Roxas Holdings, Inc., recently turned over 4,000 Liters of 70% ethyl alcohol from Roxol Bionergy Corporation to frontline health workers of key government hospitals, including facilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The alcohol shipment was delivered to the Philippine Navy and the Malacañang Palace through the Manuel L. Quezon University in Quiapo, Manila.

An allocation was also deployed at the Asian Hospital under the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation for distribution to other MPIC hospitals which are also handling COVID-19 cases.

The ethyl alcohol donation was brought to Metro Manila through the assistance of the Metropac Movers, Inc., PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) and the Makati Medical Center Foundation.

“This is the initial delivery.  More are coming.  We are exerting all efforts to get supplies of materials and equipment that are badly needed in protecting our health workers but are very difficult to secure.  This is critical in the fight against COVID-19,” said PLDT and MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Meanwhile, One Meralco Foundation donated 1,000 masks to frontline workers at the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City. Another 1,000 masks were distributed to the frontline workers at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.

Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. of TV5 gave away masks and soap to the frontline health workers at the National Children’s Hospital. The mask and soap donations were provided by Philex Mining Corporation and Beiersdorf Philippines, Inc. (NIVEA Philippines), respectively.

The PSF and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation also deployed ten buses to the Philippine Army. These will be used for ten days to help transport frontline health workers.

In support of ongoing efforts of the PSF, members of MVP Rewards may also convert their rewards to donations via the MVP Rewards app or mvprewards.ph. Donations will be used in the purchase of care packs for frontline health workers, checkpoint officers, emergency response teams and communities in need during the quarantine period. The service is currently available to enrolled MVP Rewards accounts of PLDT Home, Smart, Sun, TNT, Cignal and Maynilad, as well as Delos Santos Medical Center, Makati Medical Center and Easy Trip RFID.

The Metro Pacific Tollways Group will also be distributing relief goods to around 220 barangays along NLEX, SCTEX, and Cavitex.

Meantime, PLDT continued to provide connectivity for government agencies at the frontlines of implementing enhanced quarantine measures.  PLDT installed free WiFi Internet and free landline calls in some areas nationwide, including the Central Command Center in Batangas City. Strategic offices in Lucena, Zamboanga and Davao were also recipients of the free Internet connectivity and free landline calls.

This includes the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center located in Lucena City Hall, Lucena Diversion; Municipal Command Center and the Provincial Information Office in Zamboanga; and the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Malagos, Davao City. PLDT also provided free Internet connectivity in transportation areas and health centers in General Santos City, including the Bulaong Bus Terminal and City Health local government unit health center.

PLDT wireless unit, Smart continues to provide communication as aid in the form of Wi-Fi connectivity, SIMs, wireless devices, electronic load, and its Infocast SMS broadcast solution to various LGUs, government agencies and their response teams.

Singer-composer Seth Dungca to release heartwarming single “Halika” on April 3

Tweet

During times of uncertainty such as now, people seek assurance and comfort. But try as we might, the pervading sense of hopelessness makes peace of mind seem elusive for most of us. Just imagine then what people with mental health issues are grappling with.

Twenty-four-year-old Seth Dungca understands this challenge as he pursues his advocacy on mental health in the different roles he plays—as singer-composer, special education teacher, model and actor. 

As a singer-composer, for instance, Seth strives to uplift people’s spirits through the sweet melody—and calming lyrics—of his songs. His debut single, ‘Halika’ expresses his yearning to inspire and to cheer: “Sa mundong puno ng takot, na dilim ang bumabalot, hahanapin natin ang liwanag sa piling ng isa’t isa . . .” 

The song is consistent with what Seth says his “core” is—emotions. “I write about what I feel; I will never invalidate emotions. I want people to understand that mental health is real; you can’t keep going with the whole ‘huwag-mo-na-lang-isipin-iyan mentality’ because if you keep something in without processing it, it will only get heavier and heavier,” he intones.

Seth’s various roles in life have shaped him into the mental health advocate that he is now. As a special education teacher, he lives his truth every day—making sure that his students know that their emotions are valid. 

“Being a special education teacher lets me write about emotions without the inclination to invalidate them. When dealing with students who are overwhelmed by their emotions, I stay with them until they feel better, instead of telling them not to cry,” he relates. 

Seth adds that being an actor helps as this allows him to feel and convey myriad emotions as he writes and composes his songs. Singing, for him, is “an outpouring of emotion and information—basically acting and teaching your message.” 

In fact, Seth discloses that he wrote “Halika” when he was in a bad place—and wanted to flee. “The song talks about me trying to find solace by going into some dream world where I could cry myself to sleep and wake up feeling a little better after my sadness.” 

Seth hopes that people who hear “Halika” will also allow themselves to feel their emotions—to escape their everyday routines and go where their hearts may lead them. 

Asked about his next goals, Seth shares his dreams and thanks his mentor—award-winning director, producer, and Public Relations expert, Chris Cahilig. “I am in the process of writing more songs because I am blessed with a supportive mentor like Sir Chris. Call me crazy, but I plan on pursuing my childhood dream of having an album.” 

And Seth says he will continue to write about validating emotions until it becomes the norm. “I imagine a day when our response to someone saying ‘Parang hindi ko na talaga kaya’ is no longer ‘Hindi, kakayanin mo iyan, go lang nang go,’ but ‘Pero habang hindi mo pa kaya, nandito lang ako, nakikinig sa tabi mo.’ ”  

Seth earnestly hopes that listening to his debut single will help hearts heal, especially in these times of anxiety and fear. 

"Halika" will be available on Spotify on April 3.