UnionBank holds 10th E-TalkTales focusing on ‘People Tech’ advocacy

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Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) held its 10th E-TalkTales media event last April 21, wherein the Bank talked about its people-centric digital transformation and how this has helped not only its employees but also external stakeholders in line with the Bank's goal of enabling inclusive prosperity in the country.

UnionBank Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer Michelle Rubio opened the discussion by talking about the Bank's successful digital transformation, which she attributed to its people. She then said that for digital transformation to succeed, organizations must focus more on equipping their workforce with the right skills and helping them become more agile, as this can give them more mileage than just investing in the latest software and equipment.

"Contrary to popular belief, digital transformation is less about technology and more about people. You can pretty much buy any technology but our ability to adapt to an even more digital future depends on developing the next generation of skills, closing the gap between talent supply and demand, and future-proofing your own and others’ potential,"Rubio said.

Rubio underscored the importance of continuously upskilling employees because of the possibility of skill sets becoming obsolete in a few years as a result of the rapid advance of technology, citing a recent study by multi-national advisory firm Deloitte that reported that many skills are expected to become obsolete in five years and may even continue to shrink as the world becomes increasingly more digital.

"UnionBank continuously upskills employees true to its commitment of growing and developing its talents and the talent community," Rubio said. "Holding on to its purpose of co-creating innovations for a better world, UnionBank was able to forge a strategy that could accelerate talent at any point of interaction with the Bank. This is called People Tech: people at the core, technology at the fore. Aligned to the Bank's purpose of co-creating innovations for a better world, UnionBank focused on People to make the transformation happen."

"People Tech advocates digital delivery to build capabilities and bring it to hyperspeed, allowing accelerated talent development and capability building inside and outside the organization," Rubio added.

In line with its People Tech advocacy, UnionBank has been successfully implementing various programs aimed at equipping people with the necessary skills for them to thrive in the digital workplace. One of these programs is the Xcellerator series, which offers accessible education not only to UnionBank employees but also to anyone outside the Bank who wishes to learn more about topics that are relevant in the digital world. Since introducing the Xcellerator series, the Bank has helped thousands of learners become more knowledgeable in different topics related to digitization, including blockchain, application programming interface, project management, digital marketing, data privacy, coding, and fintech, among others.

"Through Xcellerator, we advocate digital delivery through capability building, so that innovations may happen ensuring no one gets left behind. We 'tech-up' the Philippines by educating and mentoring our community members in emerging technologies, contributing to the higher purpose of co-creating innovations for a better world, possibly opening up opportunities for Filipino tech talents," said Special Projects Head for UnionBank's Fintech Group and Xcellerator Program Lead, Nix Syjuco.

Another highlight of the discussion were UnionBank's numerous initiatives aligned with the People Tech advocacy that have benefitted various external stakeholders especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these are the GoBeyond Communities initiative, which encourages UnionBank employees to join community centric activities that are in line with their personal advocacies; the HEROES 2021 initiative in partnership with Thames International School that aims to train educators on how to conduct classes online; and the Climathon Online Ideation initiative which encourages people to help in the creation of solutions that address the most pressing issues today.

Speaking about the Bank's efforts to help enable inclusive prosperity in the country, UnionBank Vice President for Sustainability Dave Devilles said that the goal is to continuously change the way people see technology, and help them realize its potential to create lasting positive impact and how it can be used for the greater good.

"It's really about changing the mindset and moving the behavior, and we have witnessed how UnionBank has evolved from our desire to build capabilities internally, to share these, and to help communities and ultimately our country,"

Devilles said.

Your Foolproof Guide to Summer Skincare and Makeup Essentials with Shopee Beauty

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Summer’s upon us once again! How are you dealing with the sweltering heat? As we stay home, the challenge is looking cool and crisp for all our online meetings and managing hulas and sweat stains. To look and feel fresh this summer, you need lightweight and non-sticky beauty products that won’t just hold up throughout the day, but also protect your skin from the harsh heat. Focus on looking for gentle, hydrating ingredients.

From hair care to makeup, Shopee Beauty has all your summer makeup and skincare needs! Starting April 21, enjoy up to 90% off when you buy your beauty essentials on Shopee. Here’s a roundup of the products you need in order to stay sleek despite the heat:

The first step to beating the summer heat is a thorough cleanse. Choose a non-comedogenic facial wash as it won’t clog your pores. Neutrogena Foaming Cleanser removes excess sebum while maintaining your skin’s natural moisture balance. Are you prone to oily, congested skin during summer? Remove pesky little blackheads without damaging your skin by choosing a product with healing ingredients. Breylee Blackhead Mask contains centella asiatica extract to soothe broken, irritated skin. If you’re shaving more often these days so you can enjoy sleeveless tops, don’t forget to give your pits extra TLC. NIVEA Deodorant is made with aloe vera, which can help heal razor cuts and prevent ingrown hairs. Lastly, all that sweating isn’t good for the scalp, so de-clog your hair follicles with Palmolive Shampoo. It’s infused with natural lemon oil, which removes dead skin cells and dandruff. 

Suffering from prickly heat? Give yourself a luxurious shower with Dove Body Wash. It’s packed with avocado oil, which helps red, itchy skin calm down. If you’re too shy to wear shorts because of dark spots on your legs, Vaseline Gel Lotion, which contains niacinamide, can give you flawless gams. You’ll also love its easily absorbable and minty formulation that’s perfect for humid days. The excessive heat can damage your hair, so restore it to its healthy appearance with Cream Silk Conditioner. It contains argan, rosehip, and marula oils, which protect damaged follicles, encourage hair growth, and tame frizz. 

Want to go foundation-free to let your skin breathe? Use Vitamin C to brighten dark spots so you can finally flaunt a bare face. Aside from Vitamin C, Lanbena Vitamin C Serum is packed with hyaluronic acid to moisturize the skin. Meanwhile, retinol is your best bet against aging—it significantly reduces wrinkles and fine lines. Pond’s Day and Night Cream contains not just retinol, but also niacinamide and hyaluronic acid for clear and hydrated skin. Suffering from dry, brittle locks? Protein treatments strengthen keratin in your hair and promote growth. With L’Oreal Repair Mask’s gold quinoa and protein extracts, your hair will truly look like your crowning glory.

Hot summer days require makeup products that won’t slide off your face. Oil-free, water-based makeup is the way to go! For that natural flush, dab Maybelline Gel Blush onto your cheeks. It’s lightweight and blendable, so you don’t need to worry about overapplying it. For brows that stay put no matter how sweaty you get, choose gel formulations. With Sace Lady Eyebrow Gel, you can draw long-lasting, natural-looking arches with its creamy gel texture.

Find more summer skincare and makeup essentials at Shopee Beauty starting April 21. For more information, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-beauty. 

More beauty and healthcare brands such as Fresh PH, BLK Cosmetics, Lanbena, GSK, Sanofi, Garnier, Happy Skin, Revlon, The Body Shop, and L’Oreal Pro are going on sale up to 90% off at Shopee’s Beauty Fair this April 27-28, so stay tuned. Watch out for even bigger deals at 5.5 Brands Festival as well. Visit https://shopee.ph/m/5-5 for details.

Don’t forget to top up your ShopeePay for even more discounts on your beauty haul! Get free shipping with a minimum spend of ₱199. You can also enjoy 8% cashback with a minimum spend of ₱1,000.

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

Link Your Debit Card to ShopeePay for Fast and Easy Top-Ups

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ShopeePay now accepts debit cards from more than 30 financial institutions, making it more convenient for users to top-up

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, makes it easier for users to top up their ShopeePay mobile wallets with the all-new debit card integration feature. 

The digital economy in the Philippines has seen a solid annual growth rate of 12.2%. In the government’s roadmap for e-commerce, the Philippines is expected to shift to a cashless society by 2030 driven by seamless customer experience, convenience and a secure digital infrastructure. 

Shopee recorded a 4x uplift in the total number of orders completed by its mobile wallets across the region in 2020, and this is set to increase as more people adopt digital payment options. Shopee aims to provide users with a seamless and convenient shopping experience through its integrated ecosystem. Enhancing ShopeePay with additional top-up methods is one of the many ways that Shopee is doing so.

Martin Yu, Director of Shopee Philippines, said, “We aim to provide our users with the most convenient shopping experience through ShopeePay. With the new debit card integration feature, users can enjoy convenient and secure payment options while making purchases online, and get access to exclusive promotions, vouchers, and overall greater cost savings. We are continuously looking for ways to deliver a seamless online shopping experience for our users during this pandemic.”

ShopeePay users can link their debit cards to their accounts through six simple steps: 

1. Go to ShopeePay on the application Homepage and select “Top-Up”

2. Input desired top-up amount (the minimum top-up amount for Debit Cards is P1,000)

3. Go to payment methods and tap on “Add Debit Card”

4. Input card number, expiry date and CVC 

5. Enter captcha

6. The newly added debit card will be displayed under the ‘Debit Card’ section

For users who are looking to activate their ShopeePay accounts, follow this easy two-step process: 

1. Go to ShopeePay on the Shopee Homepage

2. Enter personal information such as name and ID number and create a PIN for payment authorization

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

HAIL TO THE QUEEN! Give Mom the Love She Deserves on Mother’s Day

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Mother’s Day is perhaps the most universally celebrated occasion. This modern holiday was first observed in 1907 when Anna Jarvis from the United States held a memorial in honor of her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church. Since then, different countries have observed this day in various ways.  In Australia, white chrysanthemums are given to mothers, while countries like Finland consider it a public holiday with the president awarding medals to moms who made an exceptional contribution to society. 

On May 8-9, 2021, Century Park Hotel honors the woman who loved you unconditionally even before she gave birth to you.  For only P1,495net, give a treat to the queen of your life with our Mother’s Day Indulgence Set.  

The package includes a Mixed Seafood Platter, an assortment of grilled mussels, prawns, salmon, squid and tanigue fillet.  Cap off this mélange of rich flavors with our Strawberry Torte Sponge Cake, a yummy dessert made of strawberry marmalade, strawberry pastry cream, and fresh strawberries on the top.  The Queen of the House will surely be delighted with this wonderful surprise.

 

Open for takeout and delivery, kindly book in advance by sending a text or Viber message to 0917-6332497.  Transactions can be made through our Paypal account at payments@centurypark.com.ph, send your proof of payment to the Viber number afterwards and advise of the pick-up time and date (May 8 – 9 only from 10:00AM to 4:00PM).  For home delivery, you may arrange for Grab, Lalamove or other delivery services.  Transport fees will be shouldered by the customer.

 

“We celebrate our mothers all the time and Mother’s Day is the occasion when they are made to feel that this is their official day.  We hope that through our Indulgence Set, we are able to show the love and care they truly deserve,” said Anthony Tan, Century Park Hotel’s General Manager.

i2i Mobile ATM marks first year of providing digitally-enabled access to funds to communities

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i2i, the nation’s fastest growing payments and cash disbursement network, celebrates the first anniversary since the launch of its groundbreaking Mobile ATM solution. Developed and operated by UBX, UnionBank’s fintech spin-off, the i2i platform digitally enables financial institutions and other community based financial service providers to drive financial inclusion in the country. 

 

i2i Mobile ATM was a timely response to the pandemic and the need to digitally enable distribution and access to funds. In the last 6 months of 2020, i2i Mobile ATM volumes increased 3000% monthly. In 2021, i2i kicked off the year by welcoming over 1,300 new financial service providers and agents to the network via a joint venture with the Irish financial services technology giant Fexco. 

 

Robert Serdena, the owner of Rodhess Ticketing and Travel Services, i2i Mobile ATM’s first partner, said, “Salamat nalang at nakilala ko si i2i Mobile ATM. Malaking naitulong nito sa aking pangkabuhayan. Subalit hindi lamang sa pangkabuhayan, malaking tulong din ito sa aking mga kabarangay dahil hindi na nila kailangan mag-biyahe ng lima hanggang sampung kilometro para mag-withdraw sa pinakamalapit na ATM dito sa aming lugar.”  

 

i2i Mobile ATM provided significant support to communities and businesses during the pandemic. It brings ATM services to the community while providing an additional source of income for small businesses. Reducing travel and bringing cash distribution closer to home means safer access to funds while saving ATM customers time and money. 

 

One of i2i Mobile ATM’s sari-sari store owner partners, Elsie Dizon, said “Natutuwa ako kasi kahit wala pa akong isang buwan, nadagdagan ‘yung customers ko. At siyempre dahil naka-withdraw na sila, may pera na sila, namimili din sila ng ilang items sa tindahan ko. Masaya din sila kasi merong mas malapit at kahit sa ibang barangay, dito rin sila nagwi-withdraw sa akin. Nagpapasalamat ako sa i2i Mobile ATM dahil nadagdagan ang kabuhayan ko.” 

 

As community-based financial service providers, i2i Mobile ATM partners are essential for many, including pensioners. This at-risk population cannot travel to nearby towns or the nearest ATM, either of which could be several kilometers away. i2i Mobile ATM provides safer access to DSWD 4Ps & SAP program beneficiaries closer to home in far-flung or remote areas. At the same time, small businesses directly affected by the quarantine like travel & tour operators, sari-sari stores and carinderias have found an alternative line of business in the midst of the pandemic. i2i Mobile ATM has augmented the incomes of these entrepreneurs and SMEs who may now recycle otherwise idle liquidity for an additional source of revenue.  

 

More Filipino business owners are signing up for i2i Mobile ATM for additional income. The i2i team conducts webinars every 2 weeks to assist interested business owners. 

To learn more about i2i Mobile ATM, follow i2i and i2i Mobile ATM Philippines on Facebook. You may also visit https://www.i2i.ph