Converge ICT Helps Protect Frontliners

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Representatives from the Municipality of Mabalacat, Pampanga receiving the PPE donation

As everyone continues the plight against Covid-19, Converge ICT has reaffirmed its commitment to be of service to the Filipinos. Recognizing the nation’s primary line of defense in the current virus situation, the company is helping make sure that front-liners are properly equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment. Thousands of the said protective equipment have been donated to certain areas in Tarlac and Pampanga (Angeles, San Fernando, Mabalacat, Porac, Apalit, Mexico, Bacolor, Magalang, Arayat, Sta. Ana, Candaba, San Luis, Macabebe, San Simon, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Sta. Rita).

Hon. Edwin Santiago, Mayor of San Fernando Pampanga, accepts PPE donation

“This is our way of saying ‘Thank you’ to the men and women who act as our first line of defense against the virus. The frontliners sacrifice their lives to take care of us. We hope that small efforts such as this, may somehow alleviate concerns about their safety. They have been protecting all of us from day one, so let us try to protect them as well. Again, all our gratitude goes to the true heroes of today. Thank you, dear frontliners, for allowing us to stay strong at home,” said Dennis Anthony Uy, President and CEO of Converge ICT Solutions.

The said personal protective equipment are currently being distributed in Central Luzon. Ensuing efforts for other areas will follow in the coming days.

Mayor Romulo Pecson of Magalang Pampanga welcomes Converge’s donation in the form of personal protective equipment.

For inquiries, you may visit www.convergeict.com

Bedtime Hacks to Sleep Better At Night

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Getting quality sleep is easier said than done especially for people who are often exposed to stressful environments. According to Huffpost, stress is one of the major causes of brain hyperactivity which keeps us wide awake until the wee hours of the morning.

Sleep deprivation affects the body much more than people may think. Harvard Health says that aside from being cranky all day, not getting enough sleep also causes people memory loss, weight loss, slow learning, or worse—cardiovascular diseases.

With a few tricks that can be included in a daily night ritual, this stress can be managed in order for people to get that better sleep. Here are a few things to consider doing before hopping on the bed at night.

1. Put down the phone

In this day and age, it’s no surprise that a lot of people are on their phones almost 24/7. Whether it’s current news, gossip, or communication with friends, almost everything can be done with just a few taps on the screen. However, one does not realize that being on the phone and on the internet at all times causes much more stress on the mind.

Aside from physically hurting the eyes from the light of the screens which causes discomfort, it also makes a person psychologically active from scrolling through thousands of posts without end. Put it down. Those posts can wait in the morning.

2. Get the right room temperature

According to SleepFoundation.org, the suggested room temperature in order to maintain an optimal sleep is somewhere around 18 degrees Celsius. By making sure that the room is in the right temperature, waking up in the middle of the night either freezing or sweating can be avoided.

Samsung Digital Appliances’ Premium Wind-Free Plus Wall-Mounted A/C with Wind-Free Cooling Technology has micro holes that gently disperses cool air. These holes create a still-air environment so there’s no annoying wind that directly hits the face in the middle of a peaceful sleep.

It also has AI Auto cooling which automatically optimizes its temperature setting through analyzing the usage behavior and even the outdoor temperature of the room. Once the desired temperature has been reached, that will be maintained so it doesn’t make the room any colder than you wanted.

3. Drink a cup of tea

According to Heathline, there are various teas that have been used as sleep remedies for centuries. In general, herbal teas have been great for bedtime. The process of making the tea can be a tranquil, mindful experience. It helps the body and mind wind down which makes the preparation as relaxing as drinking it.

The best kinds of nighttime tea are chamomile, peppermint, and lavender tea, or as they are called “sleepy teas,” and are also non-caffeinated.

4. Meditate to calm your mind

By simply sitting or lying comfortably, anyone (especially beginners) can meditate on their own. The key is to shut the eyes and focus solely on breathing. See how the body moves with the inhalation and exhalation. Do it for a couple of minutes and get to enjoy it for longer periods of time.

Having music as a background and using it to shut out other outside noises also helps in keeping the mind focused on meditating. As mentioned by SleepFoundation.org, slow tunes are ideal in these situations, especially classical, jazz, or folk music with 60 to 80 beats per minute.

Sleep is a vital part of people’s everyday lives so no matter how stressful the environment is, it’s important to find time to give the body its much-deserved slumber. Get that needed rest by following these simple tips and using appliances with innovations that are meant to make people’s lives better..

To know more about premium Samsung products and its ongoing promos, visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/offer/2020/life-goals-raffle-promo/

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com and SamsungPH on Facebook.

Western Union to provide 50% money transfer fee reduction for frontline and essential workers

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Western Union provides fee reduction for frontline and essential workers as a part of company’s ongoing efforts to provide essential money transfers and payments services amid the COVID-19 pandemic

MANILA, MAY 11, 2020–Western Union (NYSE: WU), a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, today announced a 50 percent fee reduction1 for front-line responders and essential workers sending money globally via any of the company's digital channels for the next two weeks. The promotion is a small tribute by the company to these customers for their endless commitment to their local communities and dedication to maintain the infrastructure and resources necessary to keep local economies afloat.

More than 65 percent of global citizens working and living across the world perform roles as first responders or in essential service industries, according to Western Union’s business intelligence. These global citizens indexed high across major countries including 63 percent in the U.S., 67 percent in the U.K, 68 percent in France, 70 percent in Germany, 62 percent in Australia, 58 percent in the UAE and 71 percent in Saudi Arabia.

“When the world stopped, our first responders and essential workers kept going,” said Western Union President and CEO Hikmet Ersek. “They have continued to show up, day after day, to make it possible for our communities and economies to carry on.”

“Many of the world’s frontline or essential workers are global citizens who regularly send money to loved ones back home. At Western Union, our inspiration comes from our customers who trust us with their hard-earned money. We want to acknowledge their dedication to keeping remittances moving to the communities and economies around the world that depend on them the most and support them as they continue promoting the health and safety of the communities around them.”

The fee reduction, valid with transfer code Thanks2020, applies to any transaction initiated in the majority of Western Union’s digital-enabled countries at westernunion.com or via the Western Union app, and received anywhere Western Union’s Global Network reaches: via bank account or wallet payout in more than 100 countries, as well as retail Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. The fee reduction will run from now until May 20, 2020 and is available to first responders representing medical, police, and fire department professionals as well as essential workers across food, transport, utility, and other essential industries, including manufacturing and construction.

Last month, Western Union announced the expansion of its digital money transfer services, the fastest-growing part of its business in 2019, to more than 75 countries. The end-to-end coverage ensures that these safe, convenient digital services are available to millions of the world’s most active money movers, especially during COVID-19. The company also last month announced, “Digital Location”, a phone-based concierge service meant to help customers complete digital transactions from the safety of their homes as well as home-delivery of remittance funds in some markets.

Western Union and the Western Union Foundation, along with partners, have pledged more than US$1.0 million in the fight against COVID-19. The foundation is prioritizing initiatives that include strengthening healthcare systems around the globe, serving vulnerable populations, including refugees and migrants. Additionally, the Foundation will continue to support local and global nonprofit organizations providing access to essential services, including hunger relief, medical training, education, supplies and equipment for frontline healthcare workers.

In addition, Western Union Business Solutions’ WU® NGO GlobalPay platform has enabled NGOs to focus on the vital work at hand delivering critical international operations to support communities in need. Since 2012, more than 2,000 NGOs have sent nearly $8 billion around the world in 132 currencies to more than 200 countries, through the platform.

All of Western Union’s responses and initiatives related to COVID-19 may be accessed via our dedicated Resource Center here.

WU-G

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. Our omnichannel platform connects the digital and physical worlds and makes it possible for consumers and businesses to send and receive money and make payments with speed, ease, and reliability. As of December 31, 2019, our network included over 550,000 retail agent locations offering our branded services in more than 200 countries and territories, with the capability to send money to billions of accounts. Additionally, westernunion.com, our fastest growing channel in 2019, is available in over 75 countries, plus additional territories, to move money around the world. With our global reach, Western Union moves money for better, connecting family, friends and businesses to enable financial inclusion and support economic growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

Reference:

Western Union makes money on the foreign exchange conversion

Learning at Your Fingertips with TikTok’s Latest Campaign

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MANILA, MAY 21, 2020- TikTok will officially launch its learning-centric campaign to empower users with knowledge through short-form videos on May 25.

The #TikTokU Program aims to bring learning straight to everyone’s smartphones for users to gain access to practical tips and up-to-date knowledge, all from talented creators in the Philippines.

With the platform’s diversified content, users are provided with a library of educational videos ready for consumption within a minute or less. This creates the perfect opportunity to convert those idle time of in-betweens into productive learning moments.

Learning a new language, a quick art and crafts tutorial, or trivial things has never been this fun and easy  

      

Learning a new language:

https://www.tiktok.com/@showsuzuki/video/6820648029171830018 ; 

Arts and crafts: https://www.tiktok.com/@krisydays/video/6799515644334296321; 

Trivial things https://www.tiktok.com/@alamnyobato/video/68258158064006464  

“These days, education is no longer confined to classrooms, and the ways of learning are changing, too. TikTok is giving alternative and accessible ways for the thirsty creative minds of Filipinos open to discovering new ideas. We believe that everybody deserves access to various forms of education. That is why we launch #TikTokU. We hope users will join us in celebrating knowledge and sharing their creativity for the benefits of the wider community,” said John Castro, TikTok User, Community and Operations Manager.

As a leading digital platform, TikTok believes in taking an active role in supporting the community, and being able to provide another channel for educational content is one vital way of doing so.  With the app’s user-centric design, anyone can effortlessly produce educational content that is creative, inspiring and effective. Powered by top-notch machine-learning technologies, the app’s easy-to-use video capturing and editing tools instantly transform smartphones into powerful tools for teaching and sharing knowledge. 

The first round of #TikTokU will be kicked off on May 25, with a search for creators to add to its elite roster of teachers and instructors. This first phase will focus on creators of Science and Education, DIY and Life Hacks, and Advice and Motivational content. 

Entries will be categorized into four tracks, based on the user’s number of followers, to create fair and equal opportunities for all participants. The four tracks are:

        

Senior Scholarship: Open to those whose followers are 500k and above on TikTok 

       

Junior Scholarship: Open to those with 100k to 500k followers on TikTok

        

Sophomore Scholarship: Open to those with 10k to 100k followers on on TikTok

      

Freshman Scholarship: Open to those with under 10k followers on TikTok

Those who are interested to join the #TikTokU Program may submit entries following these simple rules and guidelines:

• Entrants must create at least 3 entries for the campaign.
• Content must be educational and useful, and must fall under the Science and Education, DIY and Life Hacks, or Advice and Motivational themes, with the assigned hashtag/s incorporated.
• The ideal duration and format of videos are 30 seconds and above, shot on a 9:16 vertical screen.
• The campaign is open to all creators aged 18 and above from the Philippines.
• Videos must adhere to the TikTok community guidelines.
• Winners will be selected based on the total video views of all eligible videos they post during 
the campaign. A candidate-ranking dashboard will be updated regularly to reflect the most viewed creators in each track. 

Creators who are selected for the #TikTokU Program stand to win cash rewards, and will be invited to the #TikTokU Creator Group, where they will receive development and growth support from TikTok as follows:

    Senior Scholarship (5 winners) – PHP40,000 cash, and 1-to-1 support for 3 months

   Junior Scholarship (15 winners) – PHP30,000 cash, and 1-to-1 support for 3 months

    Sophomore Scholarship (30 winners) – PHP20,000 cash, and 3-month upskilling

    Freshman Scholarship (75 winners) – PHP10,000 cash, and 3-month upskilling

The first round of the the #TikTokU Program will run from May 25 to June 15, 2020. Winners will be announced on June 19.

Support the pioneers of the #TikTokU Program by downloading TikTok on your iOS and Android devices and start learning today!

About TikTok

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo. www.tiktok.com.

Skin Magical cares, extends helping hand to employees, frontliners

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Living good life and leadership skills help you achieve an unshakable faith in yourself and know and feel the true meaning of life.

As the coronavirus pandemic gives people all over the world stressful and an self-isolation, one woman has created a simple way for employees and friends to help each other....truly, a businesswoman with a heart.

When the government placed the entire island of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine starting March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Skin Magical, headed by Founder and Chief Operating Officer Ghie Pangilinan, and its subsidiaries wasted no time and extended a helping hand to their employees, distributors, franchisees, the communityand frontliners in health facilities.

For her 242 employees, Pangilinan prepared rice and food packs that included canned and instant foods items. She was more creative with her relief efforts when it came to Skin Magical and Speaks G’s distributors and franchisees. Through her ambassadors Madam Kilay and Lars Pachecho, they were able to giveaway a P1,000 each to her distributors and franchises for a total of P140,000.

Pangilinan also held live raffles and gave away P500 each to 50 winners and P1,000 each to 40 winners. Twenty reseller packages worth P5,000 given away to those who took part in the Kwento ng Pag-asa Laban sa Corona. On Easter Sunday, which fell on April 12, Skin Magical and Speaks G conducted a virtual egg hunt. A total of 14 winners received a cash prize of P3,000 from Skin Magical while Speaks G gave P3,000 to 10 lucky winners. On Mother’s Day last May 10, Pangilinan’s Nanay Ko To Gandang Palaban gave away 24 reseller packages worth P2,500.

“No one expected this to happen and this was my little way of sharing what I have with my employees, distributors and franchisees,” Pangilinan said. “I am thankful for their support and I would not be where I am if not for them.”

The Skin Magical COO did not forget to extend a helping hand to the community where her business is located in Morong. Rizal. She distributed rice to residents in Barangays San Pedro, San Juan, San Jose, Maybancal, CCL, Lagundi and Bombongan. She was also able to send out meals and essential products to the hospital frontliners of Rizal Provincial Hospital, Morong Doctors Hospital, Dialysis Center Morong, Quirino Memorial Medical Center and the frontliners of Pililia. Rizal and Abra. Lastly, relief efforts were also extended in Bulacan as an initiative of Mr. Jerry Pangilinan, Skin Magical CEO and husband of Ms. Ghie Pangilinan.

“Skin Magical truly cares about our people and our community and we should not forget the valuable contribution of our frontliners,” she said. “They are risking their lives to make sure that everyone is safe from this virus and we can do our share by just staying at home."