LBC Foundation empowers women to turn passion to Bayanihan cause

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In the middle of these desperate times the nation is united more than ever to put an end to COVID-19 with local communities, health workers, private sectors, and civilians working hand-in-hand with the government to adhere to the nationwide enhanced community quarantine. With majority of Filipinos lives disrupted and robust measures around the world attempt to contain the spread of the virus, the outbreak is hitting the marginal sector very hard. 

And yet, it is also in the middle of these desperate times that the very best in us emerges. 

The Filipino spirit of bayanihan stays strong — even the affected sectors have shown commitment to help the country through small acts of kindness. Women of the Taguig Livelihood Shoppe share their touching stories of heroism to help flatten the curve and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 with locally made reusable and washable face masks.

Vida Sario, 63, wife of a construction worker has chosen to stay in Livelihood Shoppe community center to sew reusable face masks for distribution and donation to densely populated areas in the Philippines.

“We were given an opportunity by LBC Foundation to do something significant and continue our daily livelihood with her face masks orders. We sew reusable face masks all day to produce 500 pieces of face masks daily. We can’t go home to our respective homes because it is our job to provide for our families and to help out the Filipino people so they will be safe in adhering to the enhanced community quarantine to fight COVID-19. Every day we think of the welfare of our families and our countrymen by making face masks,” Vida said.

Vida, is among the many Filipino women who heeded the call of duty to produce masks, personal protective equipment (PPEs), and other essential needs. With the help of the business community and its foundation, LBC continues to mobilize its networks and economic resources to provide assistance across the board and give livelihood opportunities to women like Vida.

Vida, is also the face of many women who have taken the family leadership in her hands during the enhanced community quarantine. 

With majority of Filipino households losing their main source of income in these trying times especially with their husbands being forced to stay at home, the women try their best to contribute to the household on top of their daily responsibilities. For the women in Taguig Livelihood Shoppe, LBC Foundation has empowered them to continue on with their daily lives.

Jocelyn Rodriguez, 47, mother of three, and a wife of a construction worker expressed her gratitude for the help of private institutions and in return has also committed service for the Filipino public through sewing face masks intended for communities and front liners.

“I am very much thankful to LBC Foundation because they gave us an opportunity to continue with our livelihood in these hard times. I first started working in Livelihood Shoppe in 2004 where we make novelty items. But since the ECQ has been imposed by the government, it has stopped. My husband who is also a construction worker has been forced to stay at home with no pay. So, I am still grateful despite not being able to come home because I can earn to provide for my family’s daily needs. I am also sewing face masks not only for my family but it’s also my service and form of help to our countrymen. It’s very lonely to be away from one’s family during this time but I do this --- sew face masks every day to ensure public health safety,” Jocelyn said.

The women of Taguig Livelihood Shoppe join medical front-liners, hospital staff, government workers, the police, the military, essential services workers like groceries, banks, pharmacies, garbage collection, utilities, media, civil society, ordinary citizens, and the business community working together round the clock to ensure that the Filipino nation continues to move with grit and dignity in the joint fight against COVID-19.

To date, LBC Foundation is relentlessly working with various nonprofit organizations such as the Taguig Livelihood Shoppe and Upskills Foundation Inc. to source, locally produce, and distribute Php 50 million worth of face mask to vulnerable communities as part of their commitment to help move the nation in these trying times.

“LBC is starting this mask program with hopes of being one with all Filipinos–to flatten the curve. This initiative is also set to assist in educating the public more, on the vital function of masks to protect not just themselves, but also others around them. We believe that masks can and will save lives,” LBC Foundation Executive Director Nena Wuthrich said. 

LBC tapped Rica Tinga to spearhead the donation in Taguig. The donated masks were prioritized to be given to seniors, pregnant women, and wet market vendors since they are the most vulnerable and susceptible to the virus. Most of the 28 barangays of Taguig were beneficiaries of the free masks, including Barangay Napindan, our important Muslim Community, Brgy. Maharlika and Brgy Fort Bonifacio.

In Pasig, they also gave out masks to the front-liners of Comet Electric Vehicles that serves as shuttles for the nurses and doctors in Pasig City General Hospital and Philippine General Hospital. 

A simple act of kindness will go a long way, a simple mask will save lives and all we have to do is just try to take care of each other--a neighbor giving out masks to his neighbors. Filipinos helping others in the most challenging time. Everyone is encouraged to fight this virus as one. This is the true meaning of bayanihan.

These are noteworthy initiatives done by the private sector in partnership with communities to weather the storm and rise above the occasion the way we Filipinos know best.

#MoveTheNation #MovingStories #MovingToFlattenTheCurve

ABOUT LBC

LBC Express, Inc. is the Philippines’ market leader in retail and corporate courier & cargo, money remittance, and logistics services. For more than 60 years, the company continues to fulfill their commitment to nation development with its sustainable livelihood programs, charitable works, educational development initiatives, and public health safety through its CSR arm, the LBC Foundation. More than ever now, LBC aims to be committed to move lives, businesses and communities around the world. To know more about LBC’s dedication to the Filipino society and to view service updates visit: www.LBCexpress.com and follow LBC Express & LBC Foundation on Facebook.

AirAsia announces resumption of domestic flights

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AirAsia is set to resume its scheduled domestic flights commencing with Malaysia on 29 April 2020, followed by Thailand (1 May 2020), the Philippines (1 May 2020), India (4 May 2020) and Indonesia (7 May 2020), subject to approval from the authorities.

The resumption of services will initially be for key selected domestic routes, which will increase gradually to include international destinations around the network, once the situation improves and governments lift borders and travel restrictions.

The flights are already open for booking via the airasia.com website and our mobile app. Guests may use their credit accounts to redeem for these flights.

Further details on more routes and flight schedule will be announced in the coming weeks, subject to approval from the authorities.

President (Airlines) of AirAsia Group, Bo Lingam said: “We are very pleased to be able to fly again and to serve our guests starting with domestic routes, and hope to resume full operations as soon as possible. We have undertaken a thorough review of our guest handling procedures both on ground and onboard in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. We have been working closely with the airport authorities to ensure that all the relevant precautionary measures are in place to ensure a safe, pleasant and comfortable journey for everyone.

“At AirAsia, the safety and wellbeing of our guests and employees is always our highest priority. We work actively with all our regulators, local governments, civil aviation and health authorities, including adhering to guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to ensure the highest standards of compliance and conformance are in place for every single flight we operate in our network.”

Guests are advised to practise the universally recommended protective precautionary measures including wearing a mask, social distancing and observing high personal hygiene. The aircraft, which are fitted with hospital-standard High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, will also be sent for a thorough disinfection after each flight.

For any queries, please refer to our FAQs here. Guests may contact AirAsia Virtual Allstar (AVA) or chat live with a Customer Happiness agent on airasia.com or support.airasia.com for further assistance.

Guests are advised to keep updated via Travel Advisories issued by AirAsia on airasia.com and social media platforms. Guests are also encouraged to check their flight status at airasia.com/flightstatus for live updates given the ever-changing situation at this time.

*Subject to government’s approval

**I5 only operates domestic routes in India

***D7 and XJ only operate international routes

Tunog Bago sa Tunog Kalye

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When everything seems bleak and uncertain in our enhanced community quarantined-home front, there are two things that continue to shine: the Filipino spirit and music. And these two are what anchors the latest collaboration between Wave 89.1 and Ivory Music & Video. Two well known names in the radio broadcast and music industry, through the revitalized program Tunog Kalye, aim to discover new talents and help them carry their music to the next level, both in radio and digital platforms. 

Tunog Bago sa Tunog Kalye is open to Filipino songwriters anywhere in the world, who are 18 years of age or older on the date of song submission. Minors who are interested to join will be required to obtain and submit written permission from the parents or legal guardian to participate. 

Songs can be of any music genre and must have both lyrics and music when submitted. Entries must be original, unpublished or self-published, that have been written or co-written by the participants with the copyright and authority to submit and perform the composition to Tunog Kalye. An unpublished song is defined as being recorded and self-released by the participant and/or not co-published by a commercially active music publisher. Co-writers are subject to the same eligibility criteria.

Each song must have lyrics and should be in WAV form. Entries must be accompanied by a song artwork (1440x1440 JPEG format) and must include complete information and links to their social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, including YouTube channel link if applicable.

Interested independent bands, duo or solo acts can submit songs and lyrics with their complete information to tunogkalyeofficial@gmail.com. Chosen songs will be distributed and published by Ivory Music & Video on more than 200 digital stores worldwide.

FOR MORE UPDATES, FOLLOW IVORY MUSIC & VIDEO:

https://www.facebook.com/ivorymusicph

https://www.instagram.com/ivorymusicph

https://twitter.com/ivorymusicph

https://youtube.com/ivorymusicph

ALSO FOLLOW WAVE 89.1:

https://www.facebook.com/Wave891fm

https://www.instagram.com/wave891fm

https://twitter.com/wave891fm

Contractors join hands with Philippine government to build emergency quarantine facilities to fight COVID-19

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Racing against time, the Philippine government and some of the biggest construction companies that are also members of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) pulled out all the stops to convert big sports coliseums and convention centers into emergency quarantine facilities (EQF) for the treatment and monitoring of COVID-19

cases.

The initial facilities that have been converted into EQFs and targeted to be all fully operational by the week of April 12 are the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the Philippine International Convention Center and the World Trade Center.

Mobile medical facilities turned over to one of the hospitals in the city.

The converted quarantine facilities where 24/7 medical care will be given are designed to make patients comfortable while ensuring the.protection of the medical staff and other front liners according to standards set by the Department of Health (DOH). Aside from air-conditioned cubicles, free access to internet connection and

electrical outlets, the facilities will also have food and water stations as well as sufficient toilets and showers.

Fast-tracking the work at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum with a 112-bed capacity are Prime Metro BMD and the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. under the Razon Group of Companies led by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. As the country targets to start mass testing this week, the facility is ready to accept COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic and those displaying mild symptoms.

Work at the Philippine International Convention Center Forum Halls with a 294-bed capacity is spearheaded by the EEI Corporation of the Yuchengco Group of Companies in collaboration with Vista Land under the Villar Group of Companies. Construction work at the World Trade Center (WTC) is led by the Makati Development Corporation and other companies under the Ayala Group. This facility will have 502 beds.

One of the emergency medical facilities or smarthouse being put up by member companies of the PCA.

Property company Ayala Land Inc. is also converting part of the Philippine Red Cross headquarters in Mandaluyong City into a testing facility that can process almost 3,000 COVID-19 tests per day with results that can be released in as fast as two hours.

PCA also pooled resources from the association, its regular and  associate members as well as affiliate organizations to assist EEI Corporation in fast-tracking the installation and deployment of 60 emergency medical facilities or “smarthouses” that will be utilized by eight hospitals in San Juan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Quezon City, Antipolo, Santa Rosa in Laguna province and Batac in Ilocos Norte.

According to the PCA’s executive director Barry Paulino, their member-companies are one with the Philippine government in the fight against the pandemic. “As a nation builder, PCA is committed to working with the government in its COVID-19 response. Bayanihan (community spirit of cooperation) is a Filipino concept that we truly own and it now leads all of us to do our best in this great fight,” Paulino said.

Guiding the efforts for the conversion of the establishments into “instant hospitals” is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under Secretary Mark Villar, with other private companies collaborating in the project such as Filinvest and Capital Corporation of the Philippines, Aboitiz Corp., Lina Group of Companies, PLDT and Smart, DM Consunji, Concepcion Industrial Corp. Boysen Philippines also partnered with the government to make the facilities color coded for enhanced protection of frontline workers. DM Consunji and Boysen Philippines are member of PCA.

Another PCA member, DATEM Construction, also put up the EQFs at the National Kidney Institute and the Philippine Army General Hospital. It is now working on a similar facility at the Ospital ng Makati. Will Decena and Associates also installed the EQF at the Mandaluyong Medical Center and the Lung Center of the Philippines.

President Duterte had signed into law Republic ACT 11469 granting him expanded but limited budgetary powers to step up the country’s fight against COVID-19. Under the law also known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” the government can realign certain state funds to deliver Php200 billion (US$3.9 billion) in emergency subsidies to 18 million low-income households that have lost their sources of income amid the pandemic – the largest financial aid package ever granted to Filipino

households – as well as special risk allowances and cash aid for public and private health workers in the frontlines, and the purchase of personal protective equipment and other measures.

The Philippine president has also extended the enhanced community quarantine for the entire island of Luzon to April 30 with strict social distancing protocols in place to fight the spread of the coronavirus disease with over 1.4 million cases and more than 82,000 deaths globally.

According to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program will fuel the country’s economic “bounce back.” PCA is now working on a plan to allow the industry to meet the challenge that may come whether the quarantine is lifted or modified.

Despite the pandemic, the Philippine government continues to aggressively pursue sustainable development measures, build major infrastructures and forge economic ties with diverse markets through solid economic fundamentals and a strong, resolute leadership consistent with the nation’s potential as the fastest growing economy in Asia.

The Latest OPPO Ace2 features the fastest 40W AirVOOC Wireless Flash Charging Technology

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OPPO ventures into the world of e-gaming with OPPO Ace, packed with breakthrough features for hardcore e-gamers

April 2020 - PHILIPPINES - The world-leading smart device brand OPPO officially released OPPO Ace2 recently in China. The 5G device delivers an ultimate high-performance flash charging and gaming experience. The 65W SuperVOOC 2.0, 40W AirVOOC Wireless Flash Charging, and 10W Wireless Reverse Charging combination makes Ace2 the fastest charging smartphone in mass production. Qualcomm's Snapdragon™ 865 processor with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and UFS3.0 storage represents the highest performing lineup, dramatically optimizing gaming power and delivering a stable 90fps output. 

“The launch of OPPO Ace is to show our love and care towards hardcore players. Ace represents more than just OPPO's gaming vision – rather it’s a high-performance device we created together with game players. Each breakthrough will be full of imagination bringing our users the most cutting-edge technologies, the best design and the most fun experience, in response to their ardent attention,” said Brian Shen, Vice President and President of Global Marketing at OPPO.

The World’s Fastest Charging 5G Smartphone 

OPPO’s VOOC flash charging technology is one of the leading flash charging technologies in the industry. And its introduction of the OPPO Ace2 which is the fastest wireless charging smartphone in the world is a testimony to OPPO’s promise of continuously leading on smartphone technologies. 

The OPPO Ace2 is equipped with 65W SuperVOOC 2.0, 40W AirVOOC Wireless Flash Charging, and 10W Wireless Reverse Charging, currently the fastest charging combination. 

With 65W SuperVOOC 2.0, users can enjoy two hours of gaming in just thirty eight minutes of charging; Also, with 40W AirVOOC Wireless Flash Charging, users can play games for one hour after five minutes of charging. The 40W AirVOOC Wireless Flash Charging also supports the Qi wireless charging standard. By turning the wireless charging control chip into a transmitter, OPPO Ace2 can work as a power bank to provide wireless reverse charging at up to 10W.

The 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 Flash Charging technology which serves as the industry’s current gold standard in flash charging was first introduced with the recently launched OPPO Find X2 Pro which is also available in the Philippines. 

e-sports Level Gaming Experience

OPPO Ace2 weighs only 185g, which is one of the lightest and thinnest smartphones equipped with Snapdragon 865. It offers an e-sports level gaming experience, adopting a 6.55 inch (diagonal) display with 90Hz refresh rate, up to 180Hz touch sampling rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut covered, and 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio (dynamic). Made of E3 emitting material, the display is certified with HDR10+. Local max brightness is up to 1100nits, enabling a visible and clear visual experience even under bright light.

OPPO Ace2 comes with 4D constant cooling technology, which adopts an ultra large T-shaped VC thermal board and new heat storage materials for heat dissipation. 

OPPO Ace2 has 4D Vibration 2.0 with a wave of Z-axis LRA optimized, to match various gaming scenarios and offer a more vivid gaming experience. In terms of sound, together with dual stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos®, OPPO Ace2 can help combat game players accurately recognize their enemies' location by just listening.