Say hello to RIA, Red Ribbon’s smart and friendly Messenger-based ordering service crew

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As families mark special moments from the comfort of their homes these days—birthdays, anniversaries, graduations—one thing remains constant: a Red Ribbon cake or pastry! 

Knowing how much these celebrations mean the world to everyone, and in their desire to fulfill their commitment towards customer safety and satisfaction, Red Ribbon proudly introduces RIA –the brand’s smart and friendly online service crew who will assist customers in ordering their favorite Red Ribbon cakes and pastries via Facebook Messenger.

“At Red Ribbon, we are constantly seeking ways for our customers to conveniently and safely enjoy our products especially during these times,” says Red Ribbon Marketing Head Kent Mariano. “In introducing RIA, we immediately thought of making her available on Messenger, which is widely-used and easy to access. What’s more, our customers can chat with RIA wherever they may be through their mobile device.”

So, who is RIA, you may ask? RIA is a contemporary and young take on a popular Filipina name, “Maria.” She is sweet – caring, thoughtful, genuine; vibrant – charming and light-hearted; and not to mention smart – highly knowledgeable and intuitive when it comes to customer’s needs. As your friendly online crew, when you interact with RIA, you can expect a respectful, concise, sweet and easy to understand response that makes ordering a thoroughly pleasant and enjoyable experience.

And when you think of RIA, who should she remind you of in real life?

None other than popular television host, social media maven and advocate Bianca Gonzalez-Intal. Everyone knows Bianca as intelligent and no-nonsense, a caring mother, and a devoted wife—who better then to serve as the inspiration behind RIA?

Now, how does one order through RIA? It’s mobile-friendly and easy as 1-2-3, just take note of these simple steps:

1. Go to Messenger and search Red Ribbon Bakeshop. 

2. Type "order" or click "Order Now" then choose how you would like to receive your order. 

3. Choose your product from the menu, and then proceed to checkout.

Watch Bianca Gonzalez-Intal herself in a how-to video that introduces RIA and the simple and easy to follow steps to order via Messenger here.

Customers are given the option to choose how they’d like to receive their order, whether it’s through Red Ribbon Delivery, Self-Pick-up, or Pick-up thru Grab. You can pay with cash or select among the available cashless payment options such as credit card including Visa, Mastercard and JCB, Paymaya, or Happy Plus (the last payment mode is for self pick-up orders only).

Through RIA, customers can order bestsellers such as Black Forest, Chocolate Dedication Cake, Rainbow Dedication Cake and Triple Chocolate Roll and favorites such as Mocha Dedication Cake, Cheesy Ensaimada, Butter Mamon, and Moist Choco Slice plus many more! One can also specify their personal message on their dedication cake order and add extra candles or fun theme toppers!

So, the next time you and your family have something special to celebrate at home, or if you’re simply craving for your Red Ribbon favorites, chat with RIA on Messenger now and have these delivered to your home safely and conveniently or picked up from your favorite Red Ribbon store. 

Take it from Bianca who knows that life is sweeter with a little bit of help from #RIAofRedRibbon!

The world of 5G is within your reach with Globe’s 5G-ready sims

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As more Filipinos embrace fully the fast-paced digital life, Globe continues to introduce breakthrough innovations to impact the lives of its customers 

In 2019, Globe was the first to launch 5G for broadband in South East Asia. This also positioned the Philippines as the third country in Asia to offer 5G connectivity, after South Korea and Japan. With broadband Airfiber, Globe at Home customers stay connected with the world right at home, with lightning-fast internet connection. In February 2020, Globe unveiled the first 5G service for mobile and introduced the first 5G device in the country, followed by more affordable 5G-capable smartphones.

Globe is yet again making another stride to make 5G more accessible to Filipinos by making its current LTE SIM cards future-proof to automatically work with 5G and receive 5G signal. Globe and TM customers won’t have to pay any additional fees or go to a Globe Store and change their SIM cards to enjoy lightning-fast connections.

To make the most of this cutting-edge and highly-anticipated technology, subscribers must upgrade to a 5G capable device. Globe is offering a suite of 5G-ready devices bundled with a postpaid plan at different price points, so everyone can enjoy the benefits of this upgraded connection.

Customers can experience the future of mobile technology in select locations. Now, faster and more reliable speeds can be enjoyed in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Valero Street in Makati, Rockwell Center, and Gen. Malvar in Ortigas. It will then be progressively rolled out to more areas in the country and to Prepaid customers.

5G is the next generation of wireless internet connectivity. With the technology, users can stream movies and TV shows with fewer lags, play immersive online games at the highest-quality, and provide the clearest resolution for video chats.

The new 5G SIMs will replace the LTE SIMs that are available across all Globe stores, the online shop, and official dealers and resellers. 

For more information, visit the website at https://www.globe.com.ph/5g.

Maxicare gives free COVID-19 testing for thousands of members

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To provide continuity of care and to ensure their members’ safety and well-being, Maxicare successfully recently hosted a 4-day free SARS COV2 Antibody Testing activities for 4,061 Maxicare members. 

With a simple and convenient process, members simply had to register and fill out a risk assessment form online. This was a quick and easy screening process that determined their risk category. Instructions were then given based on their respective categories. 

The initiative was met with much appreciation and gratitude from members and their families, both during the event and after. “Maxicare was very efficient. You will get a 1-hour window to show up and take the test in a large, events-purposed building in Bridgetowne, Quezon City. There were testing stations with proper queuing, social-distancing etc. The whole process took only about 30 mins,” Attorney Butch Dado narrated of his experience. 

Benjunar Barcoma, a sales engineer from Rohde & Shwarz (Philippines) Inc., was grateful for the peace of mind it afforded him. Another member, Dr. Kenneth Y. Hartigan-Go, an Associate Professor and Head of the Stephen Zuellig School of Development Management at the Asian Institute of Management, commended Maxicare’s integration of science and heart in this time of uncertainty. “It was a well-organized COVID-19 testing one Sunday morning, offering myself peace of mind.” 

Aside from the free tests, Maxicare continues to cover members infected with COVID-19. A total of 631 cases were confirmed, and 592 already recovered as of July 11, 2020. Amidst the lockdown, Maxicare clinics remained open, while strictly adhering to appropriate health protocols. Maxicare members who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and other health concerns are encouraged to call in through the 24/7 TeleConsult service to verify with licensed physicians whether or not they need to head to the hospital to avoid unnecessary exposure.

During these uncertain times, a sense of shared responsibility has seen the country coming together, while staying apart. The free test is “consistent with Maxicare’s mission of helping people achieve peace of mind through quality healthcare so they may live their best lives,” added Christian Argos, Maxicare President & CEO. 

Catch the Shopee 8.8 Play & Win TV Special on Wowowin and Win a Total of ₱1.2 Million Worth of Prizes

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Tune in on August 8 and stand a chance to be one of the lucky winners. 

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, is inviting everyone to tune in to Wowowin on August 8 to stand a chance to win a total of ₱1.2 million worth of prizes. From 5:30 PM to 6:10 PM, the audience can anticipate fun games, non-stop prizes and giveaways, 8-peso deals, and up to 90% off on leading brands. 

Joining Wowowin’s main host Willie Revillame are Kapuso stars Sanya Lopez and Andrea Torres as co-host and performer. 

Key highlights of Shopee 8.8 Fashion Sale: 

On August 8, viewers can look forward to fun Shopee games, low-priced deals, and big cash prizes. Key highlights include: 

● Shopee Shake: One player can win ₱300,000 on Shopee Shake. They should tune in to Wowowin at 5:45 PM for a chance to play and win. 

● Watch & Win: Four viewers can each win ₱80,000 cash prize plus ₱10,000 worth of groceries. To join, users should pre-register on the Watch & Win microsite and tune in to Wowowin. Registration is from August 1, 12 midnight to August 8, 12 noon.

● Shopee Catch: One viewer can win ₱500,000 cash on Shopee Catch. Viewers have to catch items with a box or a bag, and the player with the most items is the winner. 

● ₱8 deals: On August 8, viewers can score ₱8-deals such as an eco-friendly t-shirt, a Nintendo Switch Labo, and a Platinum KS-10 Plus Junior 2 Karaoke Player. 

● Exclusive promos from leading brands: Users can also enjoy exclusive offers and discounts of up to 30% off on leading brands such as Silver Kingdom, Hanford, Maybelline, Primer Group, Penshoppe, and iTrends. Shoppers can also avail of fantastic deals on jewelry, electronics, and eyewear on Shopee’s TV Special on Wowowin.

To find out more about the Shopee 8.8 Fashion Sale, head over to https://shopee.ph/m/double-double. 

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

With BDO Foundation and Go Negosyo, Makati pooled PCR testing this month

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Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion announces that the city of Makati led by Mayor Abigail Binay will pilot the Go Negosyo’s pooled PCR testing this month. ARK PCR Chief Private Implementor Cong. Janette Garin, Tessie Sy-Coson, Chairwoman of BDO Unibank, Philippine Children’s Medical Center’s Dr. Julius Lecciones, and Dr. Raymond Lo were also present during the virtual MOA signing.

“The private sector will fund a pooled PCR testing pilot for 16 cities and one municipality in NCR this month. That represents about P160,000 pooled PCR tests that will be done for this part of the research. This will be a game-changer for our country. It could speed up testing, increase the capacity, and make it cheaper. Testing will create greater visibility,” said Concepcion.

Concepcion also highlighted the significance of the partnership between the private sector and the local government units in winning the war against COVID-19 and thanked both BDO and Makati for their participation.

“We are making the best out of this two-weeks. The challenge is how to co-exist with COVID-19. The objective is to save lives, jobs, and livelihoods. I’d like to thank Tessie for her untiring support. They have been supportive of every effort that is needed to help the health situation which is needed to help the economy. We cannot have a vibrant economy if we cannot control the health situation.”

“I’d like to thank PCE Go Negosyo, PSP, BDO Foundation, and PCMC. It is an honor that you chose Makati to do pooled testing. We are very honored to pilot pooled testing. Until we are able to get a vaccine, we will have to live with the virus,” Mayor Abby Binay said. 

“Pooled testing will be helpful not just to our constituents but also to our business community who are unable to afford the P3500 PCR test. Hopefully, this will encourage our companies to open up, our employees will be assured that they are not spreading the virus as well. Hopefully eto na po ang sagot na hinihintay nating lahat so we can all move forward, living with COVID.”

As the country’s business capital, Makati is one of the cities in NCR to pilot Go Negosyo’s pooled PCR testing for 10,000 individuals. The pilot will focus on public market vendors as well as tricycle, jeepney, and pedicab drivers, in addition to a community near Makati Coliseum. The city also pledges to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through massive targeted testing. The data and results that will be gathered during the tests will then be used as a guide in policy-making, program formulation in line with the LGU’s COVID-19 response.

One of the staunch supporters of Go Negosyo programs and big brother BDO Foundation led by Tessie Sy-Coson expressed her belief in the pooled testing program, “We always believe in this pooled testing program which is initiated by Go Negosyo under Joey Concepcion and Cong. Janette Garin. As a matter of fact, Nestor and I have been talking about it. When we learn that Mayor Abby Binay is going to start this program, we were excited to involve BDO to work along in this worthy program and I’m happy to know that we will be working together.”

“It’s very difficult to be in a pandemic. But what inspires everybody, especially the health workers, is that when the private sector and government come together… Pooled testing does not only deal with a drastically reduced price, but it also deals with protecting our healthcare workers, hastening the turn around time and making our laboratories the windows that can open and guide us where these viruses are. Go Negosyo and the partnership with BDO has made possible for us the circle with the entry of the city of Makati,” said Garin.

She also added that the desire of the city of Makati, BDO Foundation and Go Negosyo is not only to make testing affordable, “Basically it boils down to how we can put back confidence in the workplaces. We look forward that the outcome of this pilot implementation of pooled testing will be the replica that will be cascaded to all other LGUs where government, private sector, and LGU will become enlightened in crushing COVID and allowing us to co-exist with it.”

Pooled PCR testing is expected to optimize the availability of test kits, reduce the workload of laboratory staff, eliminates large groups of negative cases, makes PCR testing more affordable and available, provides LGUs and businesses with a better and clearer direction, and restores confidence in returning to work while sustaining the gains of the initial lockdown.

Garin explained that a proposed costing mechanism has already been developed which will bring down the cost of testing to PHP450 per person in pools of 5s; PHP350 per person in pools of 10s, and PHP250 per person in pools of 20s, inclusive of PHP150 swabbing fee with VTM. If the study is approved by the Department of Health, pooled testing can be piloted in 21 implementation sites namely 11 Go Negosyo supported laboratories and 5 each from San Miguel Foundation and Ayala Foundation.   

“I’m glad that we will be able to sign this MOA today. This will pave the way and accelerate all the things that we were talking about. The real challenge is how to put that into action. Today we will be doing that. Tomorrow and the next days to come, we commit to ourselves to show to everyone that this is the way to go. Our commitment and our dedication to this enterprise is something …. [that] you can be proud of,” Dr. Lecciones shared.

Dr. Lo, who is leading the PCMC COVID-19 Laboratory, also shared, “Our research is proceeding as we speak. Now, we’re beginning to test them with the pooling method. Initially, we will be testing them individually to establish a baseline and then we will do pooling so we can see… which pools of 5, 10, or 20 [is most effective]. That will be a function of the prevalence of the virus. We are going to be testing asymptomatic. We don't expect that many [asymptomatics] in the community but we do hope to catch them before they can spread the virus.”

Lo added that the first phase of the research shows promise for pools of 5 and 10 and that the second phase is ongoing. The second phase will focus on cascading further protocols that other labs, especially those under the Go Negosyo mantle, can adapt.

ARK Project Lead Josephine Romero,  Philippine Society of Pathologists, Inc. President Dr. Roberto Padua Jr., President, and CEO of BDO Unibank and trustee of BDO Foundation, Nestor V. Tan, BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito were among the attendees.