‘Digital Pilipinas: a Closer Look at the Philippine Sandbox' launched, head by government and industry leaders from Ph and Singapore

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A movement that aims to influence change through technology and innovation across the local and global sphere, Digital Pilipinas launch, July 22, with the visionaries, paradigm changers and emerging superstars of Fintech, Esports, Insurtech, Cybersecurity, HealthTech, Edutech, NFTs and other emerging fields as the Philippines brings the digital convergence conversation to a whole new level.

Supported jointly by the governments of Singapore and the Philippines, Digital Pilipinas and World Fintech Festival Philippines seek to help industries #TechUp where there is money to be made and lives to be touched.

Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Chief FinTech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez all expressed their support for a more technologically-capable and innovation-driven digital landscape in the Philippines and across the ASEAN region.

Digital Pilipinas, the movement, has a 12-point agenda to provide solutions to overcome challenges within the Philippine industry and economic ecosystem, and introduces a method to leverage on ICT-driven opportunities.

The 12-point agenda covers FINTECH, GOVTECH, and REGTECH; PROPTECH; DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION; OVERSEAS FILIPINO BANKING; FUTURE OF MOBILITY; INSURETECH; E-COMMERCE; CYBER SECURITY; INTERNET OF ENERGY; FUTURE OF EDUCATION; DIGITAL CITIES; and GAMING.

Digital Pilipinas Convenor and GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications, Inc. Co-Founder Amor Maclang said during her welcome remarks, “Innovations are being spearheaded in the sandbox of Asia. We need to do more than just raise our innovation quotient as a country and as a people to remain competitive. More importantly, we need to demand a technology and innovation quotient from our future leaders."

In his keynote speech, Mohanty said, “You must ensure that the sandbox will benefit all the citizens for public good. We are promoting technology for people to progress, so the public good is important to make the sandbox successful.” He added, “If there’s one market in Asia which has the biggest potential to completely transform, it’s the Philippines.”

Lopez supported this in his keynote speech and said, “Before the pandemic, the government has already been utilizing digitalization to push the ease of doing business. The adoption of e-commerce facilitated the digital transformation of business. The government remains committed to its role in enabling different stakeholders in our country to ensure our people benefits in ecommerce.”

Dominguez affirmed this in his keynote speech, saying, “Our economies will need to adjust to modern technologies if they want to remain viable. Even before the pandemic, the Philippine government encouraged the rapid rise of FinTech in our country, and our revenue agencies have fully embraced digitalization."

With the theme, ‘A Whole of Nation, Whole of Society Approach for Technology and Innovation’, the panel discussion was led by Global Impact FinTech (GIFT) Co-Founder and Chairman Malik Kotadia. He was joined by Mohanty, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Director Ace Alvaro, DTI Asec. Mary Jean Pacheco, AFIN/APIX: ASEAN Financial Innovation Network Director Pieter Franken, and Overseas Filipino Bank President and CEO Leila Martin in an engaging discussion about the importance of technology and innovation as a means for national progress and prosperity.

The first segment of the fireside chat led by Maclang and FinTech Philippines Trustee Ida Tiongson gathered innovation market leaders in an engaging discussion about how they are dealing with industry issues and challenges and how they are pushing boundaries through tech. They shared how they applied what they learned from the transformation of their companies to the tech development of their industries to make it even more competitive. They were joined by Dragonpay President Robertson “Dick” Chiang; MYNT Chief Customer Officer Winsley Bangit; Insular Life First Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Gwendolyn Kelley; KPMG in the Philippines Head of Cybersecurity and IT Advisory Jallain Manrique; Union Bank of the Philippines Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Operations Officer Henry Aguda; and Tier One Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Tryke Gutierrez.

Meanwhile, the second segment of the fireside chat moderated by best-selling Filipino NFT artist and NFT63 Co-founder and CEO Luis Buenaventura focused on emerging voices in the tech industry. The discussion centered on the groundbreaking methods they used to persuade people to embrace innovations like cashless payments, cloud tech, online education, and e-commerce. He was joined by Angkas Chief Transport Advocate George Royeca; The Bow Tie Duck Co-founder Julien Marie; Kimstore Founder and CEO Kim Lato; Locad CEO and Co-Founder Constantin Robertz from Locad; Philippine Coding Camp President Gabriel Avelino ‘Gino’ Sampedro; UNObank CEO and Co-founder Manish Bhai; 8Ventures Chairman & CEO Jay Ricky Villarante; and Xendit Philippines Managing Director Yang Yang Zhang.

The Digital Pilipinas movement is a multi-month series of activities that will culminate on November 11-12, 2021 at the World FinTech Festival Philippines, which will gather the top tech leaders in the country to share their insights on trends and how organizations can become stronger in the new normal. 

To support the movement and materialize the vision for a digitally-empowered Philippines, conferences, forums and other initiatives aimed at addressing the 12-point agenda will take place, spread across several months.

The series will be composed of pioneers, change-makers, and leading voices in the tech and innovation industry as well as emerging start-ups that flourished as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Digital Pilipinas ecosystem is made up of frontrunners in the technology and innovation scene including national line agencies, foreign and local industry groups, and corporations.

Maclang, who also moderated the panel discussions, reiterated, “We are not truly free until we control our digital destiny as a country.”

To join the movement, click on www.digitalpilipinas.ph or email info@digitalpilipinas.ph. 

(L-R, by row) Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Chief FinTech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty, GeiserMaclang Co-founder and Digital Pilipinas Convenor Amor Maclang, Global Impact FinTech (GIFT) Co-Founder and Chairman Malik Kotadia, AFIN/APIX: ASEAN Financial Innovation Network Director Pieter Franken, Overseas Filipino Bank President and CEO Leila Martin, DTI Asec. Mary Jean Pacheco, DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Director Ace Alvaro and DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.

(L-R, by row) Insular Life FVP & Chief Technology Officer Gwendolyn Kelley, GeiserMaclang Co-founder and Digital Pilipinas Convenor Amor Maclang, FinTech Philippines Trustee Ida Tiongson, Dragonpay President Robertson “Dick” Chiang; MYNT Chief Customer Officer Winsley Bangit, Tier One Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Tryke Gutierrez, KPMG in the Philippines Head of Cybersecurity and IT Advisory Jallain Manrique and Union Bank of the Philippines Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Operations Officer Henry Aguda.

(L-R, by row) 8Ventures Chairman & CEO Jay Ricky Villarante, Kimstore Founder and CEO Kim Lato, Angkas Chief Transport Advocate George Royeca, The Bow Tie Duck Co-founder Julien Marie, UNObank CEO and Co-Founder Manish Bhai, Xendit Philippines Managing Director Yang Yang Zhang, NFT63 Co-founder and CEO Luis Buenaventura, GeiserMaclang Co-founder and Digital Pilipinas Convenor Amor Maclang, Philippine Coding Camp President Gabriel Avelino ‘Gino’ Sampedro and Locad CEO and Co-founder Constantin Robertz.

“Only when a nation is in charge of its digital destiny can it ever truly be free.” - Amor Maclang, Digital Pilipinas and World Fintech Festival Philippines Convenor

PascualLove: From Our Family to Yours

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PascualLab joins hands with health guru Dr. Willie Ong to share the love via “MEDtalks with Doc Willie Ong” and donations to less fortunate sectors

(Quezon City, Philippines, July 21, 2020)  -- After a memorable digital celebration #PascualLoveLiveat75, Pascual Laboratories, Inc., one of the trusted pharmaceutical companies in the Philippines¹, extends the celebrations to more Filipinos by joining hands with health guru Dr. Willie Ong.

True to its 75th anniversary campaign #PascualLove, the company found it fitting to partner with Dr. Willie Ong because of their shared passion for health and social responsibility. Dr. Ong or “Doc Willie” as he is more popularly known, is a cardiologist and a known philanthropist.

As part of the partnership, Dr. Ong will be mounting two “MEDtalks with Doc Willie Ong” to provide more health information. Dr. Ong who is an advocate of more affordable medicine for a wider public, shares his knowledge through his newspaper column, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and youtube @Doc Willie Ong

Through the tie-up, PascualLab will be donating vitamins and food supplements to Dr. Ong’s chosen donees. Dr. Ong is a philanthropist who has been donating medicines and beyond, to less fortunate members of society.

Leveraging on what PascualLab has to offer in terms of health innovations, Dr. Ong has been sharing Poten-Cee adult and pedia products to community members in Southville III, Muntinlupa City; frontliners at San Lazaro Hospital; and residents at Baseco Compound in Tondo starting last year.

This July, officers of PascualLab will welcome Drs. Willie and Liza Ong to Balagtas, home of PascualLab’s manufacturing plant, to personally turn over Poten-Cee N.A., Poten-Cee Plus, and C-Lium Fibre Special Edition to the residents, children, and medical frontliners in the municipality through the Regional Health Unit.

The partnership is part of PascualLab’s CSR program SEED which stands for Sowing to Empower, Educate, and Develop. Driven by the company’s value of social responsibility, PascualLab’s CSR program hopes to plant the seeds of charity, fellowship, and volunteerism through initiatives in health, education, and the environment — all in the hope of helping transform Filipino communities

for the better.

*Based on the latest IVQA results

Solve your Online Learning Woes with the POCO M3 PRO 5G

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With schools and universities still implementing blended modules and online classes, having access to the right tools has become essential to maximize learning from home. A powerful, affordable and battery efficient smart phone can make it the best study buddy for cash-strapped students.

Enter the POCO M3 PRO 5G, the latest smart phone in the POCO series packed with the latest technology to make online learning stress-free. Here are some reasons why the POCO M3 Pro 5G is the perfect online learning tool.

Seamless multitasking and app switching with the powerful MediaTek 700 Processor

Watching virtual discussions while taking notes and browsing the internet at the same time but worried that your phone might crash? Worry no more as for the first time, POCO is making use of MediaTek Dimensity technology, which offers enhanced overall performance and speed. MediaTek Dimensity 700 and its leading 7nm process provides a flagship-level experience with power efficiency. Switching to other apps from Microsoft Teams to Viber or Zoom to Facebook Messenger is hassle-free with no hiccups.

The phone also comes with an octa-core CPU that operates at up to 2.2GHz, and fast UFS 2.2 storage, supporting ts power users with high performance when streaming videos, watching video conferences or snapping pictures. Split-screen for these apps has never been this easy!

In terms of RAM and storage, it comes with 2 variants, the 4GB ram and 64GB internal storage and 6GB ram and 128GB internal storage with up to 512GB expandable storage. This means more apps, files, photos, and heavy documents to store. No need to uninstall apps to make room for new ones. In terms of software, POCO M3 Pro 5G runs the latest MIUI 12 based on Android 11. This OS is known for its clean look, friendly interface, and packs lots of awesome wallpapers.

Dual 5G connectivity for faster connection and quality video viewing for online learning

Another helpful feature is its dual 5G connectivity, which offers faster download and upload speeds without hurting your wallet for areas with 5G connectivity. This is the most affordable 5G smartphone released by POCO up to date.

With more areas becoming 5G-enabled, using the POCO M3 Pro 5G ensures you to get most out of your mobile internet. You get to enjoy a more stable internet connection thus no more dropping signal during your classes on Zoom or MS Teams, plus experience less buffering and load HD-quality videos while you research on YouTube and other streaming platforms. This also ensure you don’t miss deadlines especially when uploading big files or downloading digital modules and reading materials.

Massive battery perfect for long hours of online classes and meetings

You won’t have to worry about longer online classes or meetings as this packs a 5,000 mAh battery that can even last up to 2 days depending on usage. Added by the power of the MediaTek 700 Processor, you get less battery consumption with more power. It also comes with a 22.5W in-box charger and supports 18W fast charging so you can power up your POCO in a snap.

Smoother display with 90Hz refresh rate and a 360° Light Sensor for eye care for a better visual experience

POCO M3 PRO 5G offers faster visuals and a smoother experience for users with its 90Hz 6.5" FHD+ display. With its 90Hz refresh rate, scrolling up and down through the app drawer, images and webpages become so much smoother, while higher refresh rates can make your eyes feel a lot less tired. More details and vibrant colors provided by this high-definition display is perfect for your phone editing projects, creating visual presentations or watching online lectures.

It also comes with a 360° Light Sensor on the front and back that adjusts the brightness naturally, smartly, and precisely to help reduce eye strain. This newest technology helps take care of your eyes especially for those that have long periods of online classes, projects, or watching long educational videos. Whatever the light condition in your environment, the 360° Light Sensor is there to adjust smartly and give you the best viewing experience without causing eye strain.

The updated Reading Mode 3.0 also adds warmer colors and paper texture to the background, perfect for users who are into reading e-books or reviewing through their files. POCO also retained the all-time user’s choice features such as the 3.5mm headphone jack with Hi-Res Audio certification for greater audio quality, IR blaster for controlling smart devices, and NFC for seamless content sharing.

This phone is perfect for students looking for a budget-friendly phone that provides the latest features to help them study and play – and it’s a great looking phone too, with its unique 3D curved back design and glossy finish and comes in three eye-catching colors: Power Black, Cool Blue, and its signature POCO Yellow.

POCO M3 Pro 5G is available for only ₱8,990 for the 4GB RAM variant with 64GB internal storage and ₱11,990 for the 6GB RAM variant with 128GB internal storage. Its available in any POCO Authorized Stores or the POCO official store in Shopee and Lazada. You can also follow POCO’s official Facebook page to stay up to date on their latest news.

About Xiaomi Corporation

Xiaomi Corporation was founded in April 2010 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 9, 2018 (1810.HK). Xiaomi is an internet company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an Internet of Things (IoT) platform at its core.

With an equal emphasis on innovation and quality, Xiaomi continuously pursues high-quality user experience and operational efficiency. The company relentlessly builds amazing products with honest prices to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology.

Xiaomi ranked 3rd globally in terms of smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter of 2020. The company has also established the world’s leading consumer AIoT (AI+IoT) platform, with 324.8 million smart devices connected to its platform, excluding smartphones and laptops. Xiaomi products are present in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. In August 2020, the company made the Fortune Global 500 list for the second time, ranking 422nd, up 46 places compared to 2019. It also ranked 7th among internet companies.

Xiaomi is a constituent of the Hang Seng Index, Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, Hang Seng TECH Index and Hang Seng China 50 Index.

5 facts and fallacies on vaccines

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Vaccines have been around for a while, but an age-old debate has resurfaced along with the availability of those that address COVID-19. Are they safe and effective?

AXA, one of the Philippines’ leading insurance providers, takes a closer look at the myths and misconceptions, as well as the hard facts, which can help you decide if vaccines, indeed, do the job they’re intended for.

Myth 1: Vaccines can make a person sick.

Fact: According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can’t get sick when administered with a vaccine. However, some people can experience mild side effects, such as soreness on the part of the body where the vaccine was injected. Such side effects disappear quickly, and more serious side effects are not common.

Myth 2: Vaccines can cause the very disease it aims to address.

Fact: It is unlikely that a vaccine can cause a disease to develop, but certain individuals may not reach the needed immunity level from the vaccine to fight the disease. Like most medicines, some vaccines aren’t 100% effective and people react to it differently, affecting its efficacy, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This doesn’t mean that a vaccine isn’t safe or effective or is a catalyst for the disease. It only shows that a few may not respond to it as well as others, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma &Immunology (AAAAI).

Myth 3: It is better to get natural immunity from a disease than get it from a vaccine.

Fact: Without being vaccinated, your body may build immunity from natural infection, but you also put yourself at risk for serious complications and even death. For example, when you don’t get your child vaccinated for Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b), this may cause intellectual disability. Without getting vaccinated for measles, this may lead to death, according to WHO.

The same is true with the COVID-19 vaccine that has been hotly debated recently. Without getting vaccinated, it may lead to hospitalization or death. According to the CDC, you may also develop what is called “long-COVID,” where you may experience the chronic symptoms associated with the disease, like headaches or shortness of breath-.

Myth 4: COVID-19 vaccines can give you the disease or may have serious side effects.

Fact: COVID-19 vaccines are designed to build immunity against the disease by using weakened or killed SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19. As for the adverse effects, there are some mild or short-term effects associated with these vaccines, such as fever, headaches, or body aches, which signal that the vaccine is working to build your immune system against the disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic in the U.S. However, it is recommended that you consult a doctor if you have allergies or any other pre-existing medical condition to assess your risk.

Myth 5: You get immunity for life when vaccinated against COVID-19.

Fact: According to the CDC, it’s still early to tell if a shot or two of the COVID-19 vaccine can give you life immunity. Studies continue to be conducted on a regular basis to check for its long-lasting effects, and formulas continue to be adjusted to develop immunity against other strains or variants of the disease.

Immunity against certain diseases doesn’t happen overnight, but research has shown that vaccines effectively provide protection against some of life’s most dreaded diseases. For critical illnesses that you may encounter as you get older, the best way to safeguard your health against them is to get protected as early as now.

The best way to do this is to get yourself a health insurance plan like AXA’s Global Health Access, which offers customers the best access to healthcare services here and abroad.

“Aside from the threats of COVID-19, critical illnesses like cancer, stroke, and heart attack remain in our midst, so we should also protect ourselves against them. With Global Health Access, it is easier for policyholders to avail of medical care wherever they are in the world through our partnership with over 1,400 hospitals and clinics locally and over 9,000 hospitals worldwide,” says Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer of AXA Philippines.

Global Health Access policyholders can now reimburse COVID-19 vaccine costs up to P5,000 and other eligible home care expenses, boosting the confidence of our customers in these challenging times. See here the full details of the coverage.

Global Health Access also includes coverage for epidemic and pandemic diseases like COVID-19, allowing customers to get comprehensive treatment for such illnesses, on top of other top-tier health benefits, such as up to P175 million coverage for inpatient and outpatients treatments and executive health checkups of up to P20,000 per year. Moreover, the health plan allows cashless payments, which makes it more convenient for customers these days due to the ongoing pandemic.

When it comes to health, it’s always better to boost your protection. 

To know more about Global Health Access, visit www.axa.com.ph/health-protection/global-health-access.

Why these influencers are showing 27 different emotions in online portraits

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(MANILA, PHILIPPINES, July 2021) -- Content creators and celebrities have been taking to social media to share their emotional journey throughout lockdown, via selfie portraits. Dubbed #27EmotionsChallenge, these social media stars, including model Jessica Yang and Tiktok stars Dasuri Choi and Yanyan de Jesus to name a few, bared a full spectrum of their authentic emotions from the past year or so, including anxiety, confusion, triumph, and satisfaction, to encourage everyone to embrace every emotion they feel may it be good or bad.

[Link to Dasuri Choi’s post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRQ6M2qJ9g3/]

Each post featured a collage of selfies, representing their range of feelings captured with the OPPO Reno6’s powerful AI camera technologies, and was captioned with a personal story, diving into what these emotions were. While they each revealed intimate details about their anxieties and uneasiness during the lockdown, they also found what they needed to focus on, leading to feelings of gratitude, enlightenment, and excitement as they look ahead to their next projects and even growth.

[Link to Yan Yan De Jesus’ post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRQ2wnRn2cN/]

The #27EmotionsChallenge is a call to share your most authentic self through your real and unfiltered emotions captured in portraits. Take the challenge too and share your authentic emotions on social media. Aside from that, you may also check out the fun 27 Emotions Filter on Instagram and Facebook and guess which of the 27 emotions you’ll need to capture in portrait for your story.

Earlier this month, James Reid and Nadine Lustre kicked off the OPPO Reno6 series campaign, sharing their own emotions in portrait on Instagram. While keeping specifics about the Reno6 series quiet for now, the global smart device brand promises more emotions captured in portraits to be shared on social media, leading up to the official launch of the newest addition to the Reno series.

[Link to Jessica Yang’s post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRLNPZfBcHH/]

To stay up to date with the OPPO Reno6 announcements, visit the OPPO Philippines official website at www.oppo.com/ph or its official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.