GCash, Ministop partner to increase cash-in locations nationwide

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Committed to making fintech more accessible for all, GCash, the undisputed leader and preferred mobile wallet of the Philippines, has partnered with leading convenience store chain Ministop to enable Filipinos across the country to add money to their mobile wallets with ease.

Through the strategic partnership, all Ministop stores across the Philippines will be able to offer GCash cash in services to its customers. There are over 500 Ministop stores nationwide, spread in key areas of Metro Manila, South Luzon, Cebu, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Roxas, and Boracay. By the end of the month, more than 400 branches will be available for cash in while the activation of remaining stores will be completed by the end of September 2020.

“We are increasing our cash-in touchpoints to afford our customers a means to adapt into the new normal. Because of the great number of Ministop branches nationwide, we think that tapping into that resource is a good way of achieving our goal of promoting finance for all,”  GCash President Martha Sazon said.

Sazon also explained that it is strategic and highly important to partner with convenience stores such as Ministop, because they provide 24/7 access to customers and are classified as essential businesses which means that they stay open despite the level of quarantine imposed in a particular area.

At present, GCash has bumped up the number of cash-in locations in the Philippines to more than 33,000 and has partnered with over 40 banks for seamless conversion of hard cash into GCash.

More than just an e-wallet, GCash provides a variety of financial services which have significantly made Filipinos’ lives easier and safer amid the pandemic by enabling them to practice contactless transactions both digitally and physically. GCash users may use their e-wallets to transact with over 75,000 merchants, pay bills to more than 400 billers, and transfer money to over 40 banks in the Philippines.

GCash has also made insurance accessible to customers through GCash Insurance; empowers them to start saving through the Save Money Feature in the app, offering the highest interest rates in the industry; and even provides users the option to avail a reasonably-priced credit line through GCredit.

These services complement the on-going campaign of the government to integrate cashless transactions into the new normal, as health protocols on physical distancing and limited human interaction continue to be in place despite the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions in most areas of the Philippines.

“GCash has a unique way of innovating conventional financial services and condensing it all in one app. And this feat wouldn’t mean anything if the greater number of Filipinos have no access to it. This is what drives us to continue on expanding and making groundbreaking partnerships with key business partners such as Ministop,” Sazon added.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc.

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com/.

#itstartsonTikTok continues to celebrate creators and culture trends with “Creators’ Talk” online event

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The celebration continues for TikTok with stories featuring creators, trends, and meaningful campaigns that all began on the world’s leading short-form video platform. Since the local launch of the campaign #itstartsonTikTok last September 11, 2020,

it was followed by an online event on September 17, 2020 titled Creators’ Talk: TikTok’s Impact on Filipino Culture and the Creative Economy with TikTok content creators Zendee, Lyqa Maravilla and Yanyan de Jesus sharing their experiences about how they started on TikTok. A trending TikTok content creator himself, Mark Averilla, aka Macoy Dubs and Auntie Julie, hosted the online event.

TikTok Phillipines’ User Content Content and Operations Manager John Castro officially opened the event with a message that truly explained the essence of the campaign.

“With ‘it starts on TikTok,’ we want to celebrate the community. We want to make sure that we thank our community for making TikTok an integral part of our lives and providing an endless amount of entertainment, joy, and positive vibes. The impact of the trends that TikTok and the community made, now just transcends content - it goes from art to beauty and everything else in between,” said Castro.

John attributed TikTok’s impact on culture to the creators, users, and fans who are continuously inspired to create more content and explore their individuality. TikTok enables people from all walks of life to express themselves one way or another. From a Gen Z dominant app in its early years, the platform now appeals towards the professionals and senior citizens which has helped create a solid diverse culture. With tons of local content within the platform, every user can have a lot of different perspectives.

TikTok as an empowering platform for creation

Prior to Zendee’s popularity, she already participated in numerous singing competitions and was once featured in the Ellen De Generes show. But for her, success became sweeter when she found the empowering culture and community that is on TikTok.

“I initially created comedy on TikTok. Users are already familiar with my chipmunk’s voice delivering “patama’ lines. At that time, I was worried that my followers would only want me to create comedy. Posting a cover, I was shocked with the community’s supportive reactions. Requests started to come in from the comments and that’s how my following grew,” shared Zendee.

This talented creator was able to gain 5.7 million followers in just 7 months. One video that she attributed to her TikTok success is her parody of then viral Sarah Geronimo’s Tala, titled Gala. It was a funny yet hopeful song about how Filipinos look forward to being able to travel again once the community quarantine is over.

During her portion, Zendee enumerated her favorite trends which include the musical challenge  #popcornduet. She also liked how #BinibiningMarikit delivers an empowering theme for  Filipinas to feel confidently beautiful about themselves.

Before ending the interview,  Zendee imparted an message to her fellow content creators:

“TikTok is a big family who’ll support your craft. You can showcase your talent on TikTok. Collaborate with different creators so that we grow together. Let’s support each other, especially to the starting content creators!” 

TikTok as an enabler for learning

“It made me a better educator outside of TikTok,” shared educational content creator Lyqa Maravilla looking back through her 4 months of experience in the platform. Aiming to democratize education in the Philippines, Lyqa started mid-May of 2020 when discussion of virtual learning for students started.

“My concern at that time was student’s fear and anxiety from learning online. Joining TikTok was me being compelled to convince the young ones that learning is possible even from short-form content. I am so happy that the learning audience took to it. This time we get to convince them that: yes, kaya nilang matuto, sa loob ng isang minuto,” shared Coach Lyqa. Her account @teamlyqa actually grew to a million subscribers in six weeks since she started -- a testament that the Filipino youth really love to learn. For a fact, the education-focused local campaign #TikTokU became a top content with 1.8 billion views as of writing. 

Given the young generation’s short attention span, educators are challenged to be creative in their content. Lyqa shared how simple and easy it is to create a video and edit in the app. Ending her interview, she encouraged teachers and co-educators to utilize TikTok as a learning platform, “if you think you have something you know that can help others, share it on TikTok. It is really a good place to start.”

TikTok embraces the unique, creative and weird you

Yanyan de Jesus is now one of the country’s most followed TikTok content creators at 9.7 million. He is the Grand Champion for Talent in the region-wide competition TikTok All-Star Southeast Asia  2019.

“What if one day I become one of them?,” was Yanyan’s question 3 years ago. He shared that gaining 10 followers back then was already a happy moment. He shared that he was a victim of bullying and did not have many friends because he was weird. Little did he know at that time that there’s a huge community out there waiting for this star to realize his greatness.

Yanyan shared that he started on TikTok by creating videos for his own entertainment. One positive video at a time, he continuously explored his individuality and expressed his creative self. Yanyan’s feed today is diversity itself. He can wow you with his moves, make you laugh, and give you all the feels. Asie from doing these things for expression, he also wants to infect his audience with joy, “in my videos, even if I can’t interact personally, I want to make you happy.”

When asked what’s the secret formula for creating viral videos, Yanyan revealed that what matters on TikTok is expressing one’s truth and individuality. Originality is what people will love about you. 

Yanyan invites everyone to start creating their content today, “TikTok has a support system among content creators. We support each other. Be in your comfort zone, then explore. Try new things. Diversify your content.”

 

it starts on TikTok - bringing infectious joy and viral content

For all these reasons, #itstartsonTikTok campaign is a love letter to these local creators and a proper acknowledgement of the campaigns and trends that brought joy to the community.

For every content creator that starts on TikTok, a new story unfolds. One positive content on TikTok is a message of hope and inspiration to multitude of users from many parts of the globe. For every video upload, culture and experiences are shared, amplified, and celebrated in a tic of a sec. These small acts of positivity and goodness collectively shaped the culture trends that we have today.

TikTok welcomes you for who you are. Now’s the best time to start your creative journey. Download TikTok today on your iOS and Android devices and start your TikTok moment with #itstartsonTikTok and #TikTokPhilippines.

PHINLA: Empowering Waste Workers and Their Communities at the time of COVID-19

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Chris Macas has been a waste collector since 2018. While he is proud of his contributions to the cleanliness of his community, he has been hoping for changes.

With only gloves to protect him, he would worry about his health and also his family's. There were days, he said, when he couldn't report for work for a week because he'd often get sick.

The situation of Chris is not new in the Philippines. Although the country has several laws related to solid waste management, strict implementation remains a problem, causing adverse impact not just to the environment but also to waste workers' welfare.  A compliance audit on 178 local government units (LGUs) showed that from 2011-2017, 27.53% did not comply with regulations for segregation at source while 23.03% did not comply with regulations on segregated collection.

The PPEs are now a necessity for the safety of waste workers like Chris who collects and segregates waste to help keep communities clean.

PHINLA

Recognizing these challenges and the vulnerability of waste workers like Chris, World Vision and Ecowaste Coalition, with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Global Development (BMZ) are implementing the PHINLA Project. PHINLA, coined from the name countries the project is being implemented in (the Philippines, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka) seeks to empower waste workers and communities affected by poor waste management by using waste as a resource to create meaningful employment and to earn income, while tackling health and environmental issues associated with waste management. 

In Barangay Cugman, Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao, where Chris comes from, one of the project's main initiatives, to date, involved organizing the waste workers association and training them to create a better collection system and MRF for the community.  People from the village, mostly volunteers who identify themselves as eco warriors, do daily house to house waste collection using the 17 pedicabs and 5 motorbikes that the PHINLA project provided. To further help them earn income in this phase of the project, the village created an incentives-based system depending on the weight of the recyclables collected to encourage the practice of proper waste segregation. 

On the next phase of the project, PHINLA will help the village establish the waste collectors’ association as a business enterprise, functioning and earning income on its own to provide salary for waste workers. 

Chris Macas, Waste Worker from Brgy Cugman, CDO, receiving PPE and motorcab from PHINLA Project through a turn over ceremony officiated by barangay officials. Photo courtesy of: Brgy. Cugman Facebook page

A relief

Since the group of waste workers was officially organized on the first week of August 2020, Chris has seen significant changes.

The community used to collect garbage using just one garbage truck. It would take them at least 4-5 hours for collection alone. With 17 pedicabs, they can now collect simultaneously, saving them time and delivery to the MRF situated on top of the mountains is made easier with the use of the motorbikes.

"We are also frontliners. I can't even imagine the damage it would cost me and my family if I get the virus while doing my work because I did not have protective gears. I am extremely grateful to PHINLA for this support,” said Chris Macas, one of the recipients of the PHINLA project.

The PHINLA project through World Vision and Ecowaste Coalition continue its work, not only in CDO, but also in Quezon City and Davao, providing training and equipment necessary to help the community and its waste workers.  

“Through our Global Program that intends to develop livelihood opportunities for poverty affected population through a multi-sectoral established and monitored waste management system, we have already seen important achievements in all three countries of implementation from program inception in September 2019 till now. Still, more work needs to be done in ensuring its sustainability, including engaging more  and more vulnerable groups in income generating activities at Waste Collection/Recycling Centers, increasing awareness of general public in waste reduction/recycling/reuse matters and adherence of households to the different waste segregation practices and laws in the country," shares Giorgi Devidze, PHINLA Global Program Director. 

To know more about World Vision and its programs in the Philippines, you may visit www.worldvision.org.ph.

DepEd strengthens preparations for distance learning with NEAP transformation and dry-run simulations

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With the opening of classes being moved from August 24 to October 5, the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to strengthen its rigorous preparations for SY 2020-2021. DepEd is using the weeks leading up to October 5 to fill in the remaining gaps for this year’s school opening, and to address the challenges of adjusting to education’s new normal. 

The printing of self-learning modules (SLMs) has been the utmost priority of the Department, especially with modular learning being the preferred learning modality across different regions. Most regions such as Region I, Region IV-A, and NCR are already at the advanced stage of preparing these modules, with 80-100% of SLMs already printed. Other regions are also making good progress, with only four out of over 200 School Division Offices (SDOs) having a completion rate below 25%. 

DepEd also has the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) transformation, which is set to provide interventions for schools throughout the school year. According to Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan, schools were asked to conduct self-readiness assessments before the start of the school year. Those who have rated themselves below 50% will receive necessary assistance, such as professional development training and physical and psychosocial support. These training programs have already begun, and are set to continue for the rest of SY 2020-2021.

The Department’s dry-run simulations have also been ongoing for the past several months. These dry-runs determine areas of improvement and best practices when it comes to implementing the learning delivery modalities. Approximately 500 schools from various regions with diverse circumstances have already conducted these simulations, and the results have been promising.

Sucao Elementary School, which is located in the mountain province of Abra, conducted a modular distance learning simulation in cooperation with the Baay-Licuan local government unit. The school gave learners transistor radios and flash drives containing pre-recorded lessons. The school also showcased how these flash drives can also be plugged into the radios, making it easy for learners to access their modules. 

Schools under the alternative learning system (ALS) also participated in the dry-runs. Tagum city’s TAGUMpay Palengskwelahan, a learning center that offers ALS programs for elementary and secondary learners, showcased how they implemented modular distance learning and online learning by using 20 computers, e-modules, and radio-based instruction. The modules were sent to student homes and retrieved the week after through DepEd’s Knowledge on Wheels mobile. The school is located within the Tagum City Public Market.

Indigenous groups in Calay IP School exhibited resourcefulness and innovation by inventing the Learning Resource on a WiFi Hub for Expanded e-learning in Sarangani (LR on WHEeLS). Using intra-net technology, access point antennas were set up in communities where learners can connect their gadgets. All self-learning modules and video lessons were made accessible on LR on WHEeLS. Students sent their teachers messages in-app if they had any clarifications, and were prohibited from accessing social media pages or online games to ensure that the technology could only be used for learning.  

These are only some of DepEd’s efforts that showcase how continuous preparation and collaboration between education stakeholders can create a promising future for education’s new normal. The Department assures the academic community that they will identify and address the needs of each school before the opening of classes.

“We trust that this is the final adjustment of the school opening,” said DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones. “We will use this time to make the necessary adjustments, look after our school and education stakeholders, and ensure that all preparations have been made for the successful opening of classes for School Year 2020-2021.”

Reel and real-life characters spice up TV5’s game shows

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Interesting characters from showbiz and real life are out to unveil their competitive spirit in TV5’s leading comedy game shows this week. “Fill in the Bank” and “Bawal na Game Show” feature amusing personalities from all walks of life – from barbers, LGBTs, body builders, beauconteseras, to TV’s renowned kontrabidas.

 

Barbers try their luck to snip some cash in the September 21 episode of “Fill in the Bank on as they vie for the jackpot money of as much as Php150,000. An LGBT couple will invade the studio on September 23 as they play in the money-saving rounds Enter your Pin Code, Cheque or X, Coin Rush, and Huli Cash.

On September 25, “Fill in the Bank” will have female body builders getting cozy with funny hosts “Manedyer” Jose Manalo and “Madam Poky” Pokwang. Catch them compete in the show’s creative games Ayuda Teh! Machine (ATM) and Panghakot na Papremyo Equipment (PPE). 

“Fill in the Bank” airs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:30 p.m.

 

“Bawal na Game Show” brings in more intriguing personalities with a bunch of gym instructors sweating it out on Tuesday, September 22. Ghorl Twins Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros strut their stuff with beucontesera players on September 24 as they try to take home as much as Php50,000.

 

Kontrabida celebrities Ryan Eigenmann, Nina Ricci Alagao, Pinky Amador and Mon Confiado will be the certified pasaways in the September 26 episode. They can either follow or defy the rules in “Bawal Ma-Fall,” “Bawal ang Da Moves,” “Bawal ang Sablay,” and “Bawal ang Sumuko.” 

“Bawal na Game Show” airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 7:00 p.m., only on TV5.