Check Out These Amazing Filipino-made Protective Gears on Shopee - Support the livelihood of Filipino MSMEs and grab these eco-friendly bamboo face shields and beautiful Katutubo-made masks.

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With the ongoing global pandemic, it's essential to stay safe and protected. Support our homegrown businesses with Filipino-made PPEs and represent different regions of the Philippines available on Shopee. 

Here are some local brands providing protective gears that will keep you safe and protected:

Bambuhay

Bambuhay’s local farmers from Cotabato City and Nueva Ecija Province are hand-crafting eco-friendly face shields made from bamboo. Their hand-made face shields are lightweight and easy to disinfect, making it ideal for mobility during a lockdown. Also, Bambuhay sells eco-friendly products such as bamboo straws, rice, and wheat straw mugs, and bamboo toothbrushes, all made using natural ingredients.

Bambuhay provides eco-friendly products to heal Mother Earth from plastic pollution, deforestation, and climate change - all while empowering marginalized communities of farmers. Support them by going to their Shopee page here: https://shopee.ph/Bamboo-Faceshield-(B1)-by-Bambuhay-i.266750192.3347230546

Amianph 

Amian PH sells face masks made of hand-woven Inabel textiles in Pinilian weave sourced from the Ilocos Region. These face masks have a filter pocket for an added layer of protection with a comfier fit. Most importantly, it is washable, reusable, and breathable. 

Supporting these hand-woven masks also means supporting the livelihood of the local female weavers of Ilocos while preserving their centuries-old tradition. Find their woven face masks on their Shopee page: https://shopee.ph/Amianph-Inabel-Face-Masks-in-Pinilian-Weave-i.136584285.6144444000

At My Home 

These personal protective equipment lab gowns are Quezon City made and are available in free size S up to 3XL. It has a water-resistant microfiber fabric material, making it suitable for those who are always outside but want to stay protected. It’s also washable and comes with a head and shoe cover. Visit their Shopee page here: https://shopee.ph/Locally-made-Lab-Gown-PPE-i.16133072.6334993277

Nature’s Rain 500 ml

With germs and viruses everywhere, disinfecting and sanitizing your hands (and homes) are strongly recommended. Nature’s Rain alcohol comes in two formulations: organic-based ethyl alcohol used for hand sanitation and antiseptic isopropyl alcohol. It comes in a 1 gallon or 500 ml size, and they also accept bulk orders. Check their Shopee page here: https://shopee.ph/Nature's-Rain-Alcohol-70-Ethyl-Scented-1-Gallon-i.221846102.6042860420

Local Katutubo Masks

This shop sells face masks from Ilocos made of fully handwoven, Inabel cloth that comes in different designs. The face mask has the same shape as the N-95 mask, giving users full coverage from the nose down to their chin. Visit their Shopee page here: https://shopee.ph/Local-Made-Katutubo-Hand-Made-Inabel-Face-Mask-i.4113243.7539839064

Protecting yourself is essential, and you can do it while supporting small businesses. When you purchase from these stores, you are also sustaining the livelihood of marginalized individuals and micros, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and directly helping them grow their businesses online.

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

Globe gives back to loyal customers with 0917 National G Day Festivities- Happy National G Day!

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It is National G Day! 

September 17 or 917 does not only signify Globe’s iconic and original prefix, it also marks the start of Globe’s annual celebration that recognizes and gives back to its loyal customers through exciting rewards and surprises. This is the time when Globe and its partners come together to delight its millions of customers.

Given the challenging times we are in, Globe aims to make this year’s National G Day a way to empower and enable its customers as they face the new normal. By providing unique experiences and rewards, customers will be able to regain control of their lives and recreate better days not just for themselves but for others as well.

“More than our annual tradition, it is our way of recognizing our customers for their loyalty and support” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. “This year’s unusual circumstance does not stop us from making our 0917 celebration more meaningful. Let us come together to create better days with National G Day, packed with rewards and surprises for all our customers.”

For this year, the digital celebration comes in many forms, each focusing on making customers more productive, entertained and delighted.

The most awaited G Chance the Raffle

Globe’s biggest raffle of the year will  begin on September 17. Globe customers will get their raffle codes from the Globe Rewards or Globe at Home apps. They may also use their reward points to turn them into more raffle codes.  

At the G Chance the raffle, customers have the chance to win prizes that they can use to work, learn, and play at home. These exciting prizes include 5G smartphones, gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch, Segway Ninebot, Samsung products, Xiaomi Mi Box, Globe Rewards points, GCash credits, and so much more!

Customers can also use their Globe Rewards points to get 917 lifestyle essentials, shoor experiences and discount codes for Konsulta MD, Puregold, Health Now, Healthway Clinics, Zalora, Grab, Lazada, Shopee and other partners.

G Music Fest, A Music Festival Right at Home

A treat for all music-lovers, come together and feel the electric energy and unbridled fun by being part of Globe’s online music festival.  

The G Music Fest lines-up international band LANY and favorite local acts namely The Juans, Massiah, Kiana Valenciano, UDD, SB19, Ben & Ben, and December Avenue.

Globe customers can stream the music fest for free on September 26, 4PM through GlobePH, Globe’s Facebook page.

Globe’s Biggest Amateur Mobile Legends Cup

Gather your friends, sharpen your skills, and be one of 1,000 teams that will compete at the G Legends Cup! With a prize pool of P600,000, this is the biggest amateur Mobile Legends tournament for Globe customers. Interested teams must redeem their tournament codes via Globe Rewards app. Once they receive a tournament code, they need to go to globe.com.ph/NationalGDay and enter that code on the team registration form.

The list of participating teams will be announced on September 17 with the best of the best battling out for the top spot at the G Legends Cup finals on September 24. The emerging top 64 teams will also be rewarded with cash prizes that they will receive through their GCash accounts. 

Usapang diskarte for your business with G Summit

For this year’s National G Day, Globe myBusiness has also something in store for entrepreneurs. On September 23, Globe myBusiness will host the first-ever G Summit 2020 - Usapang Diskarte: Pivot your Business to Success. 

Business owners will hear from local and international experts like Josh Linkner, #1 most booked innovation speaker, new york times bestselling author and business leaders from Google, Taxumo, and CIA Bootleg Manila. Attendees will learn about business opportunities in the new normal, running a business amidst uncertainty and how innovation and digital transformation can help you turn a challenge into a business opportunity. 

G Summit aims to bring Filipino businesses together into fulfilling the vision of transforming the Philippines into a digitally empowered nation. 

“The National G Day is a celebration we look forward to each year because it is our opportunity to give back and say thank you to our customers and partners who have been with us throughout the years,” said Globe Marketing Services Hub Head Jenny Echevarria. “We at Globe will continue to recreate our products, services, rewards and experiences so it remains relevant, unique especially in these extraordinary times.”

Know more about this year’s National G Day by downloading the Globe Rewards app and Globe At Home app.

Sharp celebrates 108th year with an online product launch with ‘Stay Home, Stay Sharp’ campaign

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Sharp Corporation, is celebrating its 108th year anniversary in the industry. For more than a century, the brand has been continuously offering innovative and efficient products that cater to the ever-changing demands of the market. This 2020, in line with their mission in bringing convenience, protection, and lifestyle evolution to everyone, Sharp’s now gears towards to be the best partner of every household.

One of the world’s leading Technological Innovator, Sharp has been providing changes and innovation with its 8K+5G and AIoT technology. The brand is firm in its mission in upholding sustainable growth for the next 100 years through continuous Technological innovations. 

Now, more than ever, Sharp is committed to its mission in bringing innovative products that will cater to the new lifestyle. ‘Stay Home, Stay Sharp’ campaign was redesigned to its products to adjust to the new normal. One of the key technologies that will help consumers to adapt to this new normal is Sharp’s Plasmacluster Ion Technology which is incorporated into its air purifiers, refrigerators, and air conditioners. This Technology promotes cleaner and safer air.

“This time, families spend more time in their homes as the pandemic spread. We started with healthy food preparation and made it more convenient. We made sure to provide a clean and comfortable home environment,” Sharp Philippines President, Mr. Kazuo Kito said in his speech.

Stay Home, Stay Sharp hiad an online product launch hosted by JV Cruz and DJ Raqi Terra on September 15, 2020. The said launch introduced their newest products — Dynabook Lap Top Computers, Android LCD TV, Side-by-Side Inverter Refrigerator, 4 Door Refrigerator, Cyclone Technology Vacuum Cleaners, and the Healsio Line Up.

Dynabook Lap Top Computers

One of the biggest effects of the pandemic to the business and education sectors is the shift from the traditional office setting to the work-from-home and online learning setup. Thus, Sharp introduced the Dynabook Sattelite Pro L40 laptop to help employees and students in their specific activities. This versatile laptop is perfect for personal and everyday use. Boasting with its dual storage support and fast and powerful performance. It is equipped with the 10th Generation of Intel Core i3, i5, and i7.

Android LCD TV

For Entertainment, Filipino’s have more time to bond with families at home. Watching TV is one of the most enjoyable family bonding moments. Of course, Sharp wants to be part of this important time in every household by offering a high standard viewing experience. Their Android TVs, 4T-C50BK1X, 4T-C60BK1X, and 4T-C60CK1X, with built-in Netflix, they can enjoy a high-standard viewing experience with their loved ones through its Ultra HD AQUOS 4K Technology.

Refrigerator

Due to the viciousness of the virus, people make fewer trips to the grocery to avoid getting sick. Hence large food compartment and safe storage become essential. With Sharp’s newest 16cu.ft. 4 Door Refrigerator (SJ-FLG16AVP-BK) with Plasmacluster Ion Technology not only provides large storage space but will also keep the food fresher and safer for a longer time. On the other hand, 20cu.ft Side-by-Side Refrigerator (SJ-BL20AVP-SL) provides huge storage both for the freezer and fresh food compartments, it makes organizing food easier. Both models are equipped with Inverter Technology that reduces energy consumption. 

Healsio Line Up

In this time of the pandemic, maintaining a healthy body and strong immune system is the most important thing in the mind of every Filipino. The Healsio line up is the best partner to provide a healthy and easy way of cooking food. 

Hotcook (KN-H24FA), a multi-purpose electric cooker, uses a steam circulation system, which cooks food by using its own moisture that retains more nutrients and natural flavor. 

Making healthy juices is easy with Sharp’s Vacuum Blender. The EM-VB2F-RD removes 80% of the air inside the jug before blending. This vacuuming process prevents oxidation, retains nutrients such as vitamins and dietary fiber, and keeps the juice original flavor without changes over time.

The Healsio Oven (AX-1700F-R) uses superheated steam to cook food instead of conventional heat. This superheated steam, which is 8-times hotter than the normal hot air, melts unwanted fats and oil and reduces salt content in food but keeps moisture to preserve nutrients. 

Cyclone Technology Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuum cleaner has become quite common in homes, offices, and even cars as they make the cleaning job easier and efficient. In this new normal, it is essential to maintain cleanliness at a different level, and Sharp knows how to exceed expectations. Cyclone Technology Vacuum (EC-EB18P-R) boasts a dynamic and high powered suction that effectively separates collected dust and allergen particles from the air. Compared to ordinary vacuum, this product can collect small particles (10 micrometers in diameter) and ensures trapped dust and allergens are not released back into the atmosphere.

True to its commitment, Sharp will continue to serve its customer and give products that will make their lives comfortable, safe, and efficient for another 100 years and this is their way of saying ‘thank you.’

Seven Commandments To Revitalize the Country Safely

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Medical Experts Recommend Strict Health Protocols for Public Transportation

An expert panel of doctors with diverse backgrounds, including public health, epidemiology and infectious diseases, all with the intention of seeing our country get back on its feet as safely as possible presented this to several IATF members yesterday, September 14, 2020, as part of a more comprehensive set of recommendations to aid the country in reviving the economy while adhering to comprehensive public health standards. 

Recommended to strictly implement these 7 Commandments, for all public transportation:

1. Wearing of proper face masks
2. Wearing of face shields
3. No talking and no eating
4. Adequate ventilation
5. Frequent and proper disinfection
6. No symptomatic passengers
7. Appropriate physical distancing

The combination of these measures will be amongst the most comprehensive in the world, based on our consultation with international experts. 

These 7 Commandments need to be strictly enforced and independently monitored in their implementation. By imposing these strict measures, we believe we can gradually relax social distancing rules, in order to double or even triple our current public transport capacity, without compromising public health.

While the efforts of the IATF, the Department of Health, and the One Hospital Command to address the COVID-19 pandemic have successfully increased and improved current hospital capacity, there is now an urgent need to revitalize our country. We need to emerge from the current recession that has severely impacted livelihoods. This will enable our countrymen to work again, so that they can feed their families and support their communities. The economic enablement of Filipinos translates to their health and welfare.

However, we cannot build back the economy without increasing public transport capacity, which has been operating at only 20-30% of pre-pandemic levels due to understandable fears of outbreaks arising from congested public transport spaces. 

A recent study from Duke University, for example, shows that surgical masks reduce droplet transmission by up to 99%, and that the simple act of not talking can reduce droplet counts by up to 4x. In addition, a meta-analysis published on June 22, 2020 in The Lancet, a leading international medical journal, shows that face masks and face shields can independently reduce the chance of viral transmission by up to 5-fold and 3-fold, respectively. In China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and other countries, passengers wear face masks while sitting side-by-side in trains, while COVID cases remain manageable. 

With regards to appropriate physical distancing, the World Health Organization recommends: “To the extent possible, keep a distance of at least 1 meter from other passengers when purchasing tickets, waiting to board public transport, and moving around public transport stations.”

While WHO recommends keeping a distance of 1 meter from other passengers to the extent possible, it allows for adjustments based on context. Given our other recommended health interventions, we propose the gradual reduction of the physical distancing norm during transit to 0.5 meters or lower. Based on our review of the scientific literature and the policies and experiences of neighboring countries, we believe the evidence shows physical distancing can be maintained below 1 meter, so long as other health measures are also implemented.

To be clear, there are many more layers to our proposal and the studies we are reviewing. Public policy has no quick-and-easy solutions, and addressing the transport crisis in this pandemic is no exception. Where possible, we would like to engage in further dialogue with the IATF, medical and transportation experts, and other stakeholders, about our proposal. We also encourage a discussion of other groups’ thoughts on health and other matters, including the overall increase of the supply of safe public transportation such as rail, buses, jeepneys, motorcycle taxis, and Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS), and the use of other options such as cycling, walking, and private shuttles. We also recommend the full institutionalization of private sector expert consultation to further improve our overall management of the economy and public health. 

The comparative toll on Filipinos from a further prolonged recession is much more devastating than the manageable risks entailed in our plan. We believe that there is a way forward that carefully balances a careful reopening of public transport capacity, with public health, while allowing purposeful flexibility to re-adjust measures based on actual and evolving data from the ground.

The success of this plan is by no means guaranteed. It relies on the proper implementation and enforcement of these measures by the relevant agencies. Critically, it also requires the education of the public, who must take full responsibility for compliance with the 7 Commandments. This plan’s success also rests on continuous monitoring and data-driven evaluation by public health experts.

It is our hope that by working together, we can implement these public health measures to revitalize our country safely and give Filipinos their lives back.

ANZCHAM and SaferKidsPH join forces against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Filipino Children

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The Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (ANZCHAM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UNICEF, on behalf of the SaferKidsPH Consortium, to help address the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in the Philippines. SaferKidsPH is an Australian Government Initiative that is implemented in partnership with Save the Children Philippines, The Asia Foundation, and UNICEF Philippines.

OSAEC is a borderless and complex crime that requires a coordinated and multi-sectoral response from all governments and stakeholders, including the private sector. Under the partnership with SaferKidsPH, ANZCHAM commits to supporting advocacy, volunteerism, and fundraising activities to keep Filipino children safe online.

“Children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Addressing online sexual abuse and exploitation of children is a top priority of UNICEF's Program of Cooperation with the Philippine Government for 2019 to 2023. Together with our partners, we are committed to improving child protection systems to address and prevent OSAEC,” said UNICEF Philippines Country Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov. In the Philippines, UNICEF is supporting a targeted program to strengthen the capacity of government systems, parents, caregivers, and community members to protect children from all forms of online sexual abuse and exploitation.

“OSAEC is everyone’s responsibility to fight against and the ANZCHAM business community is committed to bringing the conversation to our members’ respective organisations and eventually in their employees’ own homes. With more than 350 ANZCHAM member companies, we will continue to educate our members on how we can create a safer online environment for every child,” said Daniel Alexander, President of ANZCHAM.

“The work of SaferKidsPH isn’t limited to our governments and civil society partners. To succeed we must also involve communities, families, media, other development partners, and you, the business community. This could be through raising the awareness of your employees on this issue, promoting child-sensitive business practices, and supporting safe spaces and practices in schools and communities,” said Richard Sisson, Chargé d’affaires of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines.

According to the Philippine Kids Online Survey supported by the Australian Government and conducted by UNICEF in 2016, nearly half of child respondents said the internet is not safe for them. Two in 10 children are vulnerable to OSAEC, and boys are as vulnerable as girls. In 2018, at least 600,000 child abuse materials of Filipino children, including infants, were shared and sold online.

The vulnerabilities of Filipino children and their families have increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children and youth are more at risk of OSAEC during this quarantine period as they, consequentially, spend more time online. Also, the economic strain on families can make them and their children more vulnerable to engaging in or falling victim to OSAEC. The Government has seen an increase of about 260 percent in reports of online child abuse materials from March to May 2020.