Empowering teachers and students for blended learning PLDT ramps up its Infoteach Outreach Program with a webinar series

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MANILA, Philippines – To enable various sectors in the new normal of online teaching and learning, leading telco PLDT, through its Infoteach Outreach Program, is conducting a webinar series called "Gearing up for the New Normal in Teaching and Learning.” 

The webinar series recently kicked off with the topic “Preparing your course for online delivery,” and was attended by almost 15,000 registered participants. These include teachers and students who were selected by PLDT in coordination with the Department of Education (DepED) Schools Division Superintendents, while the program’s long-time partner UP Open University (UPOU) provided the learning modules. The session was also extended to the public through the UPOU Networks’ Facebook Live and YouTube streams, with peak views reaching over 8,000 individuals. 

"We echo our Chairman's commitment that there should be no learner left behind. Amid the pandemic, we continue to empower our teachers and students by providing them with digital capabilities. Our webinar series aims to equip them for a smoother transition to a blended learning set-up,” said PLDT Public Affairs Head Ramon Isberto. 

"Through the webinar series, we advocate the culture of sharing. We become architects as we design our own modules. Through this, we enable our fellow teachers to learn from our best teaching and learning practices,” said UPOU Chancellor Dr. Melinda Bandalaria during the first session. 

There are several topics educators can watch out for, including engaging learners online (August 3), assessment of online engagement tools (August 7) and supporting online learners (August 10). Students will be given an online course on preparing to be an online learner (August 5), while parents will be offered a special webinar on how to support their children as online learners (August 18). There will also be a webinar session on cyber security open to the general public (August 14), led by PLDT Chief Information and Security Officer Angel Redoble. 

“This webinar series in partnership with the UPOU is a milestone that aims to uplift our country’s new digital education system. We continue to take strides in ensuring that we utilize our resources in helping the teaching and learning community," he said. 

Recognizing the vital role that the local government units (LGUs) play in supporting the education sector’s transition to digital learning, PLDT will also hold a special webinar session for them on August 12. 

For more details on how to participate, visit the UPOU Network’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/UPOpenUniversityNetworks/

Through the shared goal of enriching the country’s education sector, PLDT and UPOU are dedicating this webinar series not only to the teachers, but also to the whole ecosystem of the teaching and learning process: the students, their parents, and their communities. 

About the Infoteach Outreach Program 

Now on its 16th year, the PLDT Infoteach Outreach Program started in 2004 as a barangay-based initiative on digital literacy training, and was later transformed into a school-based program. As the company’s flagship educational program, it champions digital literacy by empowering public school teachers and students nationwide. Its partnership with UPOU started in 2012 and has already produced over 30,000 graduates from different public schools all over the country. 

For more details on PLDT’s efforts for the education sector, please visit http://pldt.com/about-us/corporate-citizenship

Comfy clothes for your kids? Get up to 83% off on Inspi Kids items during their Super Brand Day at Shopee from 10 Aug to 12 Aug!

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If you're looking for your kids, these comfy shirts have just enough color and fun for girls to love and just enough style to appeal to you too. Check these out at Shopee.

INSPI Kids is a clothing brand that upholds positive values through its designs and quality.

The kids will be more delightful wearing inspirational designs. And also the cuts, cotton, and lengths are great.

Inspi Kids at Shopee offers the following;

• Set of 2pcs either Shirt, Muscle Tee/Sando, Long Sleeves, Shirts Assorted/Random Design

• Designs Posted are Just Sample Designs you may receive designs not in the photos above.

• 100% Original INSPI

• Premium Quality

• Cotton Blend

• Round neck

• Short sleeves, Sleeveless, Long Sleeves

• Silk screen print

• Regular fit

• Straight hem

Check out INSPI Kids Girls ASSORTED Top (Set of 2pcs) 

printed top at 29% off! ₱250 only. 

Get it on Shopee now! 

https://shopee.ph/product/55505553/1862720128?v=64e&smtt=0.0.5

At Shopee, you can get up to 83% off on Inspi Kids items during their Super Brand Day from 10 Aug to 12 Aug!

● INSPI Kids Girls ASSORTED Top (Set of 2pcs) printed top

○ SRP - Php350
○ Price after discount - Php 199
○ Total discount - 66%

Visit for more sale! Make sure to download the Shopee app for free on Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

As portions of the country revert to stricter quarantine measures, Delivery riders can #ScanToPay for safer and more rewarding transactions with PayMaya

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With stricter quarantine measures set to be imposed in parts of the country once again, many will be relying on delivery services for their everyday essential needs. To help ensure the safety of delivery riders, PayMaya is encouraging them to use contactless payments via PayMaya QR in partner merchants, which will also give them additional benefits and rewards as well.

By using PayMaya QR for their purchases, delivery riders are able to enjoy a safer payment experience which reduces the risk of transmitting the virus through cash handling - thereby adding a layer of protection for themselves and their customers.

Apart from the safety that PayMaya offers delivery riders, they are also rewarded each time they #ScanToPay for their customers' orders or when they fill up their tanks at partner establishments because they can get up to 100% cashback (maximum of P500), which can easily add to their savings and income.

“Since the start of the quarantine, riders have become our 'delivery heroes' – braving the frontlines and bringing daily essentials straight to our doorstep so we can stay safe at home. We’re honored to offer our contactless payment solutions to these essential service personnel so they can remain safe and even get rewarded as they fulfill their customers' transactions around the metro,” said Raymund Villanueva, Head of PayMaya QR Ecosystems

To make their payment experience even more rewarding, delivery riders also have a chance to score a brand new Honda ADV 150 motorcycle whenever they #ScanToPay via PayMaya QR. All they have to do is spend a minimum of P200 when they pay at any of PayMaya’s partner merchants until September 15, 2020 to earn raffle entries. The more they use PayMaya QR, the more chances they have of winning!

Scan to Pay for maximum safety and rewards

Paying via PayMaya QR has been made quick and simple for delivery riders. All they have to do is scan the PayMaya QR code displayed at the counter or at the One by PayMaya device in partner merchants, key in the amount they need to pay and hit confirm. With this payment method, there is no need to exchange cash or card at the counter, which also helps protect the service crew of partner merchants and establishments.

PayMaya QR is available at the biggest restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies and gasoline stations all over the country – including Jollibee, McDonald’s, KFC, Mang Inasal, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Goldilocks, Landers, Robinsons Supermarket, Rustans Supermaket, Shopwise, Super8, Mercury Drug, Watsons, Petron, and so much more. 

For riders who don’t have a PayMaya account yet, they can easily download and register for free and even receive perks for it. When they register using the promo code RIDER, they get a P50 reward, which they can receive after they upgrade and add money to their PayMaya account. 

Getting PayMaya for cashless transactions is real easy. Simply download the PayMaya app for Android or iOS (https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133), register for an account, and start shopping safely and conveniently for anything online and in stores. Remember, for everything you need in your daily trips, don’t pay cash, PayMaya! 

To find out more about all the exclusive deals you can avail of with your PayMaya account, visit www.paymaya.com/deals or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, and government. Aside from providing payments acceptance for the largest e-Commerce, food, retail and gas merchants in the Philippines, PayMaya enables national and social services agencies as well as local government units with digital payments and disbursement services. 

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides millions of Filipinos with the fastest way to own a financial account with over 40,000 Add Money touchpoints nationwide, more than double the total number of traditional bank branches in the Philippines combined. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 30,000 partner touchpoints nationwide serves as last mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to services. To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB 102031, Series of 2020.

Santé, to provide job opportunities amid COVID-19

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Philippines - Santé, one of the active global players in the direct selling and wellness industry, announced recently that it is looking to provide job opportunities for those whose livelihood is affected by the current global health crisis. 

Despite the pandemic, the company continues to receive a steady demand for its premier organic health and wellness products and services, Santé CEO Joey Marcelo noted. 

Known for its flagship product, Santé Barley, the company has developed a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products. They are made, specifically with organic barley grass, as certified by BioGro, New Zealand’s leading organic certification agency. 

“We’ve seen the change in the buying behavior of our customers. People are buying online and are also shifting their focus to preventive care. Since Santé’s products fall under the wellness category, we continue to receive a growing demand,” added Marcelo. 

In March, the demand for Santé’s Daily-C, a non-acidic Vitamin C, has increased by more than 1000 percent. 

This steady growth urged the company to strengthen its online presence. It also utilized technology to transform quickly and cater to the demands of the “new normal.” The move also aims to attract more distributors, called Santé Business Owners, to put up their own direct selling business. 

“We reacted fast, making sure that our online systems are working, from our customer services to online ordering systems. Most importantly, we made sure that the top management was visible. Virtual meetings were done daily with our teams and business owners,” Marcelo added. 

Present in 10 key cities worldwide, there are thousands of independent Santé business owners. Marcelo said, only half of them were active last year. “We are expecting more than 50 percent increase in the number of our business owners in the next couple of months,” he noted. 

Santé makes it even safer and easier for potential business owners to jumpstart their business. With Santé’s Engage system, its business owners are easily plugged into a series of leadership, product, and business training aimed to help equip and aid in their growth both as a person and as a businessman. 

Fastly adapting to the Covid-19 situation, Santé’s Engage webinars are all done online and are given for free.

Santé also developed a mobile app (IOS, Android), which helps its business owners to conveniently order products and have them shipped. They can also transact everything through the company’s website. 

“Our Business Owners are glad to have a business that is, in a way, pandemic-proof. The global health crisis may have minimized person-to-person interactions, but we have helped them to shift to online selling. They are now all back on track,” Marcelo said. “Santé will remain wide open for those who want to jumpstart their direct-selling business.” 

To learn more about Santé, visit its website at santebarley.com. 

Smart launches new Giga Study data pack for learning

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As the world continues to deal with the pandemic, many schools have resorted to online classes as a safe and innovative way for students to continue learning new knowledge and skills.

  

To help students adapt to this new normal, mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. has launched Giga Study, a prepaid data pack aimed at giving students simpler access to a selection of learning apps and productivity tools.

  

Register via *123# or the new Smart App

Available to all Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers, Giga Study 99 comes with 1 GB of data for specific study apps every day for 7 days, plus 2 GB of open-access data for only P99. To register, simply dial *123# and choose Giga and select Study. Subscribers can also avail of the promo conveniently via the new Smart App.

  

Giga Study offers access to Google Suite, which includes Google Classroom, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Meet, and Drive. Learning via video is also an option with YouTube and YouTube Kids. The data pack also offers access to Microsoft 365, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, and OneDrive. 

  

Giga Study adds to Smart and TNT's line of Giga offers, which are designed to cater to the various lifestyle needs and passions of customers. Recently, Smart also introduced Giga Work for those who need access to work and productivity apps.

Country’s fastest mobile data network

  

Smart and TNT subscribers can enjoy all these Giga offers powered by Smart LTE, the country’s fastest mobile network, as certified by third-party mobile analytics firms such as Ookla and Opensignal.

Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, recently named Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network in the first half of 2020 after it achieved a Speed Score™ of 18.33, with average speeds of 15.94 Mbps for download, and 7.57 Mbps for upload, based on 2,810,963 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest®.

On the other hand, Opensignal, an independent mobile analytics firm, reported in its April 2020 Mobile Network Experience Report for the Philippines that Smart remained ahead of the competition in terms of Video Experience, Upload and Download Speed Experience, Voice App Experience, Games Experience, and 4G Availability.

For more details on Smart’s products and services, follow Smart’s official accounts on Facebook at www.fb.com/SmartCommunications and Twitter and Instagram at @LiveSmart.