Packaging Company Betafoam Rebuilt Itself From The Ashes with The Help of This Energy Expert

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How does one rebuild from literal ashes? You do it with strength, character, a lot of optimism, and the right partners. For Betafoam Corporation, an insulation and packaging company located in Dasmariñas, Cavite, this holds true.

During the pandemic, Betafoam increased its operations for products that saw higher demand, including packaging for essential goods and logistics companies, bubble wrap, and plastic sheets.

Betafoam Corporation has been manufacturing insulation and specialized packaging since 2003.

In 2014, Betafoam was on its eleventh year in manufacturing polyethylene (PE) foam when its two-building facility in Dasmariñas Technopark, Cavite was decimated by a fire. “Our entire factory got burned. We had to start from zero. The product we make is injected with LPG so it’s flammable at a certain point of manufacturing. Unfortunately, that sparked the fire and it burned the building down,” says President Greg Marañon.

While planning their new facility, Betafoam knew that they were going to need the help of Meralco. Good thing the energy distributor has a dedicated segment handling small and medium enterprises -- the Meralco Biz Partners group. A dedicated Biz Partner Manager was assigned to Betafoam to help them power through.

The Restart

Marañon (right) with Meralco Biz Partner Manager Kim Gabilo.

In 2017, Betafoam rebuilt and moved back to Dasmariñas Technopark, the same site their original facility was in. They expanded from a modest 2,000 square meter factory to an ample 10,000 square meters of manufacturing, warehousing, packaging, and administration space. The facility was intended to be low-risk and high in safety, with each standalone building designed with its own function and energy needs in mind.

The new compound was energized by Meralco right on time to keep up with its production and delivery schedules. But more significantly, this energization allowed them to experience the reliability of being connected to the power grid. The company previously had to rely on the use of generators while operating from their temporary facility, which was located in an area that didn’t have a three-phase power line—which they needed for their machines to operate optimally.

Since the company has already been operating 24/7, Meralco also recommended to have their manufacturing operations subscribed to their Peak / Off-Peak (POP) rates program to further cut costs. They can operate their power-intensive machinery at night when power rates are lower, while the low-power-consuming machines run during the day. Through this scheme, Betafoam has been enjoying significant savings of up to P50,000 a month.

Partners Through the Pandemic

POP continues to be effective for the company with Betafoam seeing their current operations at nearly pre-pandemic levels. “Our subscription to the Peak / Off-Peak program is still beneficial to us as our production is almost normal.”

But regaining this almost-normal production seemed unimaginable in March 2020 when ECQ was implemented. Work halted due to checkpoints that kept their employees from going to work and their trucks off the road. “We had to close our operations for 1.5 months. We had skeletal force operations starting May, as we had customers asking us to serve their orders.”

Marañon, just as he did with the 2014 fire that engulfed his facility, rose to the challenge. He and his firm forged on and adapted to the situation, producing products that their customers needed.

Further building on their partnership with Meralco, Betafoam installed solar panels in their production facilities early in 2021 with the help of Spectrum.

Spectrum is a solar power company built with Meralco's energy expertise and service standards. They provide safe and high-quality solar power that seamlessly integrates with Meralco’s grid. With solar power, Betafoam generated additional monthly savings of almost P60,000.

He added that Meralco became a formidable partner during the pandemic. To ease the payment burden of business customers, Meralco suspended the Guaranteed Minimum Billing Demand (GMBD). This was initially implemented for bills from March 16 to June 30, 2020 but was eventually extended until end of 2020 for businesses that were not allowed to operate based on IATF guidelines. This resulted to significant savings for Betafoam.

Viewing and paying bills were also made convenient and easy despite the quarantine restrictions. “For our safety, we limited our transactions to online channels. Good thing we signed up to Meralco Online which allowed us to view and pay our bills online”,

What Lies Ahead

All things considered, Betafoam Corporation has now become an embodiment of what it means to get back on one’s feet and what it takes to move forward—a reflection of Marañon’s indomitable spirit. Rising from the ashes and surviving one of the most challenging years in 2020, Betafoam has rebuilt itself to a sustainable, well-designed, and efficient company.

Ben&Ben push the mental health discussion forward with “Lunod” music video

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The MV is accompanied by an EP release featuring multiple versions of the track, and an exclusive launch of Lunod-themed café

It doesn’t always have to be sink or swim when it comes to mental health.

Ben&Ben chronicle the experience of drowning in torrential distress and anxiety on the music video of their new single “Lunod.” Directed by award-winning filmmaker Jerrold Tarog (Heneral Luna, Sana Dati), the visual narrative pushes the discussion forward with its metaphorical depiction of individuals trying to keep their head above water and find their way out of a dark, harrowing tunnel.

“The music video is a deeply introspective and symbolic interpretation of the song, which is all tied in together from the concept and writing, down to the location,” lead vocalist, guitarist and Lunod chief songwriter Paolo Benjamin explains. “In the video, the song is narrated as the band, with Zild and juan karlos, move deeper and deeper into the tunnel slowly—losing breath, then in the latter half taking powerful strides to move out of it. This signals a ‘rebirth’ into a new, more mature version of the self.”

The cinematic visuals were shot at the El Deposito water reservoir, an underground location known for its historical significance to the events that lead to the Philippine Revolution, Philippine-American War, and World War II.

“Lunod” serves as the band’s reunion project with Jerrold Tarog, who helmed the music video for their 2018 track “Susi,” off the historical epic drama, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral. “We love collaborating with visionaries in their fields, and so it was a dream working with him,” the acclaimed folk-pop group reveals.

Ahead of the music video release, the nine-piece collective dropped a live acoustic performance of “Lunod” last month. The version, which features collaborators Zild and juan karlos, strips down the bluesy, classic rock arrangements of the original for a more subdued take. The intimate interpretation of the song is part of an exclusive EP release featuring multiple iterations of “Lunod” in various formats, including an extended version of the track.

“The multiple versions for ‘Lunod’ were intended to bring a full listening experience to our listeners; for them to hear what more could be brought out of the song,” Ben&Ben shares in a statement. “We decided to release for streaming the acoustic jam of ‘Lunod,’ the extended version in the music video.”

Aside from the EP, ‘Lunod’ received a remix treatment from hip-hop artist Zelijah, who channeled his struggles with mental health on the production level, and even added a rap verse to convey the mental strains that he went through during the pandemic, and after being diagnosed as bipolar. The “Bipolar remix” of the track gives Zelijah the opportunity to put his own character into the song, and reinterpret it with ethereal sonic elements that blend trap, hip-hop, modern electronica, and rock music genres.

Apart from the ‘Lunod’ EP, Ben&Ben and its label, Sony Music Philippines, recently opened a Lunod-themed café at Latitude Bean+Bar in Malate, Manila as part of Ben&Ben’s Kuwaderno Pop-Up Café activities, which run from November 25-27. The pop-up café includes a Lunod art installation inspired by Zelijah’s Bipolar Remix, as well as other art activities related to mental health.

The Kuwaderno Pop-Up Café features several exclusive activities for Liwanag and ordinary folks to immerse themselves into Ben&Ben’s critically acclaimed album and upcoming digital concert. The two other exclusive pop-ups are located at Jess + Pat’s in Maginhawa, QC, and Kale Café in Fairview, QC.

Music fans can also purchase tickets to Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert directly at the three pop-up locations in Metro Manila. Set to redefine the concert-going experience with the biggest headline concert of their career, Ben&Ben’s upcoming digital concert will be integrating live music performance with multiple creative disciplines such as theatre, dance, orchestra, and technology to create an audio-visual spectacle like no other.

Ben&Ben’s “Lunod,” featuring Zild and juan karlos, is out now on all streaming platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines. Watch the music video here.

“Lunod” collaborators Zild and juan karlos are also set to join Ben&Ben on Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert, happening on December 05, 2021 (Sun) from 8pm to 11pm. Get your tickets here.

Have a Healthy, Merry Christmas with Lysol, Enfagrow Four & Lactum 3+6+ and Shopee!

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Reckitt, home to well-loved and trusted hygiene, health and nutrition brands, together with Shopee, extends their early holiday wishes for a healthy, happy Christmas to one and all!

This, as your fave Reckitt brands for disinfection and nutrition -- Lysol, Enfagrow A+ Four, Lactum 3+ and 6+, Sustagen, and the new Provital Immuna Plus Adult Milk -- become available at up to 50% off during the Shopee Super Brand Day on November 28-30, 2021.

 

Ensuring a safe and virus-free holidays with Lysol

 

For a safe and well-disinfected home during the holidays and beyond, stock-up on your most trusted Lysol products. Or you can give them out as gifts too!

 

Enjoy up to 50% off on Lysol Disinfectant Concentrate (LDC) -- proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria, eliminates odor-causing bacteria and flu viruses while cutting through tough grease and grime -- for up to 50% off on LDC Pine 500ml twin pack purchases.

 

Take advantage of up to 20% off on ecom bundles when you buy a LYSOL Disinfection Pack consisting of Surface Wipes Lemon 40s & Lysol Disinfectant Spray (LDS) Max Cover Lavender, Lysol All-Around Disinfection Starter Kit consisting of Crisp Linen & Marine, and the Lysol All-Around Disinfection Starter Kit consisting of Crisp Linen & Lemon.

 

Additionally, get P50 off for a minimum spend of P500 when you use the code LYS50SBD and receive free Lysol Liquid Hand Soap for a minimum spend of P999.

 

Of course, as lab tests have shown, Lysol products are effective in inactivating the virus strain which causes Covid-19 pandemic—demonstrating reduction of infectious virus in 5 minutes.

 

The Gift of Nutrition Support with Enfagrow A+ Four and Lactum 3+

 

To help support your child’s cognitive development, Enfagrow A+ Four Nurapro has an early Christmas present at up to 30% off plus a free Lysol bundle worth P718 (minimum spend applies)!  Get an extra 5% off when you buy any 2 Enfagrow Four, plus enjoy an extra P350 off for a minimum spend of P4,000.

 

Enfagrow A+ Four Nurapro contains the blend of DHA, MFGM Pro and 2’FL-HMO. It contains 35mg/serve of DHA which helps support brain development. Enfagrow A+ Four Nurapro is also the only one with MFGM Pro that plays an important role in supporting your child’s cognitive development. It also has the dual prebiotic blend of 2’-FL HMO that may contribute to a healthy gut microbiome

 

Meanwhile, to help support your child’s brain, immunity, and bones, get up to P1,321 off on Lactum 3+ and 6+ plus a free Lysol bundle worth P718 (minimum spend applies). Even better, get an extra 7% off when you buy any 3 Lactum 3+ or 6+! Finally, an extra P200 off for a minimum spend of P2,500, can be yours as well.

 

Vitaminized Lactum 3+ and 6+ contains nutrients that help support your child’s brain, immunity and bone development. The new Lactum 3+6+ now has 5X more DHA versus previous formulation and it helps support brain development. It also has Vitamins A, C, E, Zinc and Selenium to help support immunity and Calcium plus Vitamin D to support bone development.

Help strengthen the body against common conditions during the holidays with Sustagen

With nutrients that make up the Multi Defense System that helps strengthen the body’s resistance against common conditions in our adulting lives, Sustagen comes at an excellent value with up to 26% off. Get a FREE Lysol bundle worth P783 when you reach the minimum spend for Sustagen purchases plus an extra 5% off when you buy any 2 Sustagen. Last but not the least, get an extra P350 off for a minimum spend of P4,000!

Here’s to healthier new year with Provital Immuna Plus

For those in the golden years of their lives, you're never too old to set new goals and dreams. Provital Immuna Plus Adult Milk is a high calcium adult milk that contains nutrients to help support the immune system. It also contains Selenium and Vitamin C, and is also a high source of protein, iron and folic acid.

Try the new Provital Immuna Plus adult milk for adults 50 years and up for as low as P248 and enjoy up to 24% when you buy in bundles. What’s more, get an extra P350 off, for a minimum spend of P4,000!

This holiday season, Reckitt wants everyone to have a merry, healthy Christmas. And what better way than to shop for your most trusted Reckitt products at great price with the Shopee Super Brand Day.

Moms bond over family nutrition in #AlagangAlaska Nutri-Talks Forum

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“Mother knows best” is more than just a saying. From your best friends to your favorite food, to your hobbies and even your favorite celebrities – your mom knows them all. They may not be the most in touch with current trends or technology, but when it comes to their children, mothers have proven time and again that they surely know best.

Top row, from left: Celebrity Mom Rica Peralejo, Nutritionist and Dietitian Reginna Emiliene Lat, RND and Event Host and Radio DJ Mama Emma; Bottom row, from left: Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink Brand Manager Mark Henry Camacho and Assistant Brand Manager Patricia Domingo

This is true for nutrition as well. Because of the pandemic, moms had to wear different hats these past few months – educator, cook, and even amateur nutritionist. And while providing proper nutrition remains a top priority for them, it has become more of a struggle for many moms recently, which is why Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink launched its “Super Sulit Pack” to help make nutrition more affordable amidst the pandemic.

Top row, from left: Celebrity Mom Rica Peralejo and Nutritionist and Dietitian Reginna Emiliene Lat, RND; Bottom row: Event Host and Radio DJ Mama Emma

During the virtual launch event for Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink “Super Sulit Pack,” celebrity mom Rica Peralejo shared her concerns and personal experiences in providing nourishment to her children.

“The pandemic has made it harder to plan meals for the family. It's difficult because your movements are limited and you can't go out freely to buy groceries personally and think of nutritious food pairings that your kids will like,” Rica said.

“It takes a whole lot of creativity to actually make nutritious foods appetizing to kids,” she answered when asked about how she changed her children's eating habits. “It's all about variety at the end of the day. Children want to taste and experience different things, which is challenging for moms. Before, we could go out and eat at places that offer a variety of nutritious foods, but now you have to do it yourself at home...You have to consider things like plating, the set-up of your dining area, just so it would be a different kind of experience from day-to-day.”

Rica also shared her experience in encouraging her children to drink milk. “Actually, milk is one of the easiest things to give to our kids…Sometimes it’s overwhelming for moms to think about what nutrients we can add to our children’s diets, so thankfully we already have milk drinks with the additional nutrients that our kids need. Milk is honestly a godsend for me and for moms because of its affordability, nutrition value, and of course, its kid-approved taste,” she said.

Nutritionist and dietitian, Reginna Emiliene Lat, RND, also joined the virtual launch event to share her experiences in providing nutritional advice to low-income families, which became even more challenging during the pandemic.

“Families are experiencing job loss during the pandemic, with some not having sufficient income to provide proper nutrition for their children,” she mentioned. “But despite these challenges, moms are not ones to compromise on health and are devoted to ensuring that their children get the nutrition they need.”

“So with a few tweaks to their diet like adding fruits and vegetables to their food to ensure balance and variety to their meals, and including nutritional supplements and nutrient-dense drinks, they can make sure that their family can get the nutrients they need while staying within their budget,” Reginna said.

While children are still in their early stages of development, proper nutrition is essential in keeping them healthy and building the foundation for their future. Which is why Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink remains committed to nourishing Filipino families and helping children grow with “Lakas at Talas.”

Containing protein, calcium, vitamin C and vitamin D for “Lakas” (strength) which helps with body development, and choline, iron and iodine for “Talas” (sharpness) which helps with brain development, Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink is a delicious drink that kids can enjoy every morning, paired with a healthy and balanced breakfast.

Moms and media attendees share a toast of Alaska Fortified Milk to show their commitment to affordable nutrition

“We know that Filipino moms are faced with the challenge of providing nutrition for their families within their limited budget. They have a lot of things to consider and prioritize, and they make these decisions every day. True to Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink’s mission and purpose of bringing affordable nutrition to Filipinos, we are here to answer to every Filipino mom’s need with our most affordable milk pack yet – the 300g ‘Super Sulit Pack’ for only PHP 70 – to help give their children the added nutrients they need and foster the ‘alaga’ they deserve,” said Mark Henry Camacho, Brand Manager of Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink.

Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink 300g “Super Sulit Pack” is now available until December 2021 in Shopee, Lazada, leading supermarkets, grocery stores nationwide. 

For more information on Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink, visit www.alaskamilk.com and www.facebook.com/alaskamilkph.

Hellbound - A New World Created by Director Yeon Sang-ho Tops Netflix’s Global TOP 10 TV (Non-English) List Rise In 71 Countries Around the World!

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Netflix’s Korean Series Hellbound climbed to the streaming service’s top 10 list in 71 countries immediately upon its release. 

Netflix Launches “Netflix TOP 10” Website for Subscribers

Most Popular Series and Films Unveiled Every Tuesday

Hellbound Records 43.48 Million Hours Viewed, 

Ranks TOP 10 List in 71 Countries 

(Image: Home Screen of Top10.Netflix.com Website)

 

Hellbound, the epitome of dystopia envisioned by Director Yeon Sang-ho, is a global phenomenon. Hellbound is a Netflix Series on supernatural events caused by otherworldly beings who appear out of nowhere to issue a decree and condemn individuals to hell, causing mayhem and enabling the religious group The New Truth to grow in power and clash with those trying to uncover the truth.

According to Netflix’s “Global TOP 10” Website (top 10.netflix.com), Hellbound recorded an accumulated 43.48 million hours watched 3 days since its release, and ranked number 1 in the top 10 list in 12 countries, including not only South Korea but also Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, crowning it as Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) as of the 24th (Wednesday). Also landed in the Top 10 List in 59 countries including India, US, France and Germany. This result is more outstanding considering Hellbound's record only includes 3 days' sum of the viewing hours out of the week (November 15th to 21st) since its release was on Nov 19th.

Hellbound’s superb reception was anticipated even before its release. Global interest in K-Content is at its peak following Squid Game, and Director Yeon Sang-ho has already awed global audiences before with Train to Busan. What added to the hype was Hellbound’s partial release in prestigious global film festivals, such as Toronto International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival, where the series was acclaimed for its quality. As expected, Hellbound won the hearts of global viewers. In addition to co-writing the original webtoon series, Director Yeon Sang-ho took charge of co-writing the script and directing to expand his own unique universe. With the shocking and refreshing premise of sentencing people to hell, Director Yeon awes and stimulates the audience, forcing them to ask questions on universal topics like life and death, crime and punishment, and justice. On top of that is the stellar cast lineup of seasoned actors – Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, Park Jung-min, Won Jin-ah, Yang Ik-june – that lures the audience to Hellbound.  

Netflix launched its “TOP 10” website (top10.netflix.com) on the 17th, which unveils lists of the most popular series and films on Netflix on a weekly basis. The weekly lists are based on the total number of view hours, updated every week on Tuesday (PST / 4AM every Wednesday Philippine Time) with data from Monday through Sunday. The list is separated into English and non-English, and Film and TV. 

Title: Hellbound

Original work: The Hellbound, a webtoon by Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok

Directed by: Yeon Sang-ho

Written by: Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok

Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo,  Park Jeong-min, Won Jin-ah, Yang Ik-june, Kim Do-yoon, Kim Shin-rock, Ryu Gyeong-soo, Lee Re et al.

Produced by: Climax Studio

Distributed by: Netflix

Premiered on: November 19, 2021