UNIQLO To Open Its First Store In Butuan

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Japanese global apparel retailer, UNIQLO, is set to open its first store in Butuan City on March 26, 2021. Situated at the ground floor of SM City Butuan, along JC Aquino Avenue, the opening of the store marks the brand’s commitment to provide affordable, stylish, and functional essentials to more locals in helping them with their everyday clothing lifestyle needs.

With 859 square meters shopping space, Butuanons can soon have access to the complete lineup of LifeWear clothing for women, men, kids, and babies, including UNIQLO shirts, pants, jeans, denims, dresses, the AIRism collection, and UV Protection pieces. On the opening week, customers can enjoy special offers on selected UNIQLO items perfect for the summer season.

For more updates, please visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph and download the UNIQLO APP via Google Play Store or Apple Store. 

Follow UNIQLO Philippines’ social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial). 

FUN PLUS ONE! Chill out with Century Park Hotel’s bucket specials

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The best beers are the ones we drink with family and friends. Because we all long for those happy times we used to spend over cold bottles, Century Park Hotel invites your squad to a chill-out session at the Atrium Lounge with our special bucket offers.

 

Complimentary bottles are up for grabs.  Avail of our “Beer na Beer 5+1” bucket for P595 net and our “Heineken 4+1” special for P695 net. Pair it with your favorite pica-pica or any hearty dish served at the Atrium Lounge which is open daily from 8:00AM to 10:00PM. Check out our menu at bit.ly/AtriumLoungeMenu.

 

“We gladly bring back our bucket plus one offer as this is a sought-after item in the hotel.  I look forward to guests and our regulars to continue making happy memories at the Atrium Lounge despite of the pandemic as everyone could use a fun and relaxing time right now,” said Century Park Hotel’s General Manager Anthony Tan. 

This offer is ongoing until further notice.  

 

Even during the pandemic, enjoying a relaxing time at the hotel with beers, food and lovely music need not be taxing.  Century Park Hotel strictly enforces stringent health protocols for your assurance and safety.

 

Call your beer buddies now and say cheers to more happy moments at Century Park Hotel. For table reservations or advance orders, contact 8528-5924.

Be the Next 3.3 Shopee Milyonaryo and Join Our First Lucky Jackpot Prize Winner from General Santos

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Jovie Garcia, a caregiver from General Santos, wins ₱1M on the first day of 3.3 Shopee Milyonaryo

Caregivers have been called the unsung heroes of the pandemic, and with good reason. Caregiving is one of the toughest jobs around, made even more difficult by the additional health risks COVID-19 poses. 

As a caregiver, her job is never easy, but Jovie Garcia from General Santos City remains grateful for being able to keep it. She is also thankful that her husband can continue working as a tricycle driver, so they can both support their 14-year-old daughter and her ailing mother-in-law. “Buti nga po may trabaho kami nitong pandemic. Hindi naman po nai-stop,” she said.

Jovie was on duty when she won the opportunity to play 3.3 Shopee Milyonaryo, an interactive lucky draw contest on Shopee Live, last February 22. Her ward, 92-year-old Lola Maria, was right beside her, encouraging her during the game. 

Despite comments from other users telling her to pick boxes labeled with other letters, Jovie chose S, believing it to be a lucky letter since her daughter’s name starts with it. “Feeling po namin and’un talaga yung isang milyon,” she said.

Sure enough, the box was opened to reveal the ₱1M jackpot prize. Jovie, who was overwhelmed to the point of tears upon winning, was only able to announce the big news to her family over the phone as she was on 24-hour duty. She looks forward to sharing the joy and excitement with her loved ones in person. 

She also plans to use the prize money to buy medicines for her mother-in-law and fund a small business. “Hindi po talaga ako makapaniwala. Salamat po sa Panginoon. Maraming maraming salamat po sa Shopee family sa napalanunan kong ₱1M.”

Want to be the next Shopee Milyonaryo?

3.3 Shopee Milyonaryo is just one of the many exciting games Filipinos can look forward to at the 3.3-4-4. Mega Shopping Sale, Shopee’s first mega sale of the year. With millions worth of prizes to be given away, Shopee makes online shopping meaningful, entertaining, and rewarding for Filipinos.

Join Jovie in becoming the next lucky 3.3 Shopee Milyonaryo! Simply log on to the Shopee app and claim your raffle code. Winners will be announced daily until March 3, 2021. During the show, the winners will pick one out of six boxes, one of which contains ₱1,000,000 in cash.

For more information about Shopee Milyonaryo, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-milyonaryo.

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

BDO posts P28.2 billion net income in 2020

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BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) posted a net income of P28.2 billion in 2020 from P44.2 billion in 2019, due mainly to pre-emptive provisions of P30.2 billion set aside against potential delinquencies from the pandemic. The Bank relied on its strong and resilient business franchise and balance sheet to support core business operations, despite significant hurdles from the pandemic and ensuing economic lockdown. 

Net interest income (NII) grew by 12 percent to P133.7 billion.  Loans managed to grow 3 per cent to P2.3 trillion driven by consumer and corporate accounts.  The Bank continued to assist its borrowing clients, ensuring their uninterrupted access to credit facilities, in addition to granting loan moratoria under Bayanihan I and II.  

CASA deposits continued to climb, growing 17 percent to P2.1 trillion, as clients were able to access BDO products and services through its branches, ATMs and digital channels even during quarantine restrictions.  

Non-interest income declined 8 percent and settled at P55.2 billion, supported by fee-based income, trading gains and insurance premiums.  Business volumes were initially impacted by mobility restrictions, but have since begun to recover gradually.  Wealth management, on the other hand, remained resilient with trust volumes and fees sustaining growth.  Trading gains increased as the Bank capitalized on favorable market conditions while insurance premiums grew modestly despite the initial impact of the lockdowns.

Operating expenses decreased 2 percent to P112.6 billion due to a reduction in marketing and volume-related expenses.

The Bank’s provisions of P30.2 billion were in line with prudent credit and provisioning policies, meant to further strengthen its balance sheet.  The NPL ratio stood at 2.65 percent with NPL coverage at 109.5 percent. As of yearend, the Bank’s total Loan Loss Reserves were equivalent to 3 percent of Gross Customer Loans, and are considered more than sufficient to cover for potential losses.

The Bank’s capital base expanded to P393 billion with its Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) at 14.4 percent and 13.2 percent, respectively, comfortably above minimum regulatory levels.   The Bank’s capital increased by 6% despite the pre-emptive provisions and the business impact of COVID-19. Book value per share likewise increased 6% to P88.11 from P83.03 in 2019.

BDO remains cautiously optimistic on a gradual upturn in 2021. With its extensive market reach and devoted workforce, the Bank remains committed to providing banking products and services attuned to its customers needs. These include digital upgrades that allow easier and safer access to services, such as QR code-based ATM and merchant transactions. These are part of the benefits expected from its ongoing Next Generation IT upgrade. 

 

About BDO

BDO is a full-service universal bank that provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services.  These services include traditional loan and deposit products, as well as treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, retail cash cards and credit card services.  

BDO has the country’s largest distribution network, with over 1,400 consolidated operating branches and more than 4,400 ATMs nationwide.  It also has 18 overseas remittance and representative offices (including full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore) in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

BDO ranked as the largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits and trust funds under management based on published statements of condition as of December 31, 2020. For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph.

Communities are better prepared to combat OSEC, Child labor trafficking

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The cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Taguig and the municipality of Cordova are now better equipped to fight Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) and Child Labor Trafficking (CLT) as a result of World Vision’s work in these cities under the Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership.

The CPC Partnership is a multi-year plan developed between the U.S. Department of State and the Philippines Department of Justice's Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), demonstrating the shared commitment of the two governments to strengthen efforts to prosecute and convict child traffickers, provide comprehensive, trauma-informed care for victims of child trafficking crimes, and improve existing community-based mechanisms to prevent and combat OSEC and CLT cases in the Philippines.

Implementation of objectives and activities under this CPC partnership is carried out by non-governmental organizations focused on anti-trafficking efforts, including International Justice Mission and its sub-recipient, World Vision.

“Helping keep children safe from any form of harm and abuse is a mission which partnerships can do so well. As we conclude the Child Protection Compact Project, allow me to thank our partner organizations and governments. May our achievements today continue to inspire more people in the future to positively impact the lives of vulnerable children,” shares World Vision Philippines National Director, Rommel V. Fuerte.

World Vision’s focus is on strengthening existing community-based systems and services meant for the protection and recovery of children affected by OSEC and CLT, and preventing these crimes.

For over four years of implementation, local government units in the barangay level reactivated their Barangay Child Protection Council with integration of anti OSEC and CLT advocacies. Community groups and key individuals such as faith-based organizations, care groups, students, and government officials became empowered and are now the guardians in their respective communities. A guidebook was also formulated for both duty bearers and CLT survivors. Academic institutions, especially the University of San Carlos and the University of the Southern Philippines, joined World Vision in its work, extending the reach of the program. Local government units also changed some of its existing programs based on World Vision's research-based recommendations.

“Partnerships are essential to ensure that all the hard work in protecting the most vulnerable children continues after a program concludes. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with World Vision under the Child Protection Compact. I am confident that the seeds we’ve planted together, all the successes we share, will continue to bear fruit,” says Atty. Samson Inocencio, Regional Vice President of the IJM Global Hub Against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children and National Director of IJM Philippines.

A youth advocate of anti-OSEC and CLT campaigns

Angel, a 17-year-old student, is empowered and became a champion of anti-OSEC and CLT campaigns. She was part of the many capacity-building workshops of World Vision in 2019 and became an advocate ever since.

“Youth empowerment is the key to fight CLT and OSEC. When they are informed and empowered, they have a better chance to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation,” Angel expressed.

A celebration highlighting World Vision's work was held virtually and it was participated by around 750 participants who are part of the project. The celebration was also streamed live on Facebook.