UnionBank wins big at the 2021 Asian Technology Excellence Awards

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The bank secured the Philippines Technology Excellence Awards for E-Commerce - Financial Technology and AI - Financial Technology categories.

UnionBank once again proved to be the Philippines’ leading digital trailblazer after winning awards for E-Commerce - Financial Technology and AI – Financial Technology categories at the Asian Technology Excellence Awards 2021. The bank was recognized for its responsive efforts to assist e-commerce of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) during the pandemic.

The bank won their E-Commerce - Financial Technology award for the successful launch of the Sentro Online Store Builder, a project aimed to help Philippine MSMEs launch their own online stores in the fastest and easiest way possible. The said project was conceptualized by the Bank’s fintech spinoff UBX, before the pandemic hit in 2019, but became more timely as more businesses moved their transactions online.

“When the pandemic hit, going online was no longer an option but a necessity. We decided to push our launch up as we knew that the Philippines needed us more than ever,” said John Januszczak, UBX President and CEO.

The key features of Sentro Online Store Builder were the integration of payment and logistic services to its banking features. These features enabled its users to have a smoother deal within the platform and have their transactions monitored in just one system.

“We made sure to pre-integrate payments and logistics services into Sentro so MSMEs would not have to think about who and how to integrate these necessary services. Because of our intimate understanding of the pain points of MSMEs, we were able to quickly sign up over 30,000 users,” Januszczak explained.

UBX aims to follow through with the initial success of the project and plans to add more logistics partners. It also aims to launch a Marketplace that comprises all stores built on the Sentro platform.

UBX also recognized that the success of the project for small-scale enterprises could be replicated and multiplied on a larger scale. This moved the company into helping the Philippines’ first Wedding Expo Organizer, Themes, and Motifs, take their physical expos online. The positive outcome of the expo then led to the launch of TheBridalMarketplace.com – The First and Only Wedding Marketplace in the Philippines.

“We soon realized that it was not just MSMEs that needed help going online. Larger enterprises, such as mall operators, event organizers, professional associations and many more, needed their businesses to get online... We currently have a long pipeline of businesses looking to launch their own marketplaces and we plan to go live with several more before year-end,” UBX said.

Meanwhile, the second award of UnionBank for the AI - Financial Technology category was earned for their innovative approach in revamping loan processing in the country through the SeekCap Alternative Credit Scoring Model.

SeekCap uses a technologically advanced credit scoring system that integrates the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to create a risk-based lending approach. For UnionBank, this new system is the future of banking and shall overcome traditional limitations of the past. Through the implementation of this innovative system, UnionBank was able to manage risks better and offer loans in a more efficient manner to a wider range of individuals and small businesses—that profoundly needed lifelines during the uncertain pandemic economy.

“Most of the time, traditional credit and risk assessment methods simply assess loan applicants using hard-coded, preset rules, sometimes unfairly ruling out potential loan prospects. This is why we developed the new AI-powered credit scoring models. These credit scoring models intelligently and autonomously go through the application, alternative, and external data to create a more holistic, comprehensive profile of loan applicants with insights into customer behavior and needs,” said David Hardoon, UnionBank’s Senior Advisor for Data and Artificial Intelligence.

Hardoon explained that SeekCap helped both parties in multiple ways. It not only empowered previously underserved groups to have access to products and services that were not available through older conventional means, but it also increased the rate of efficiency of the banking process.

“Our new model is now giving us a monthly average approval rate of 54% - nearly double the performance of our old process. Overall, our loans services have generated over US$5 million (over P280 million) in new loans with low delinquency rates. In terms of customer experience, the loan approval process can take as short as one day if no issue is found in the application,” Hardoon explained.

UnionBank will receive the awards at the 2021 Technology Excellence Awards, the most prestigious awards programme in the region dedicated to technological projects and innovations. The award-giving body aims to recognize exceptional companies that are riding the digital disruption wave and leading the technological revolution and digital transformation journeys in their respective industries.

#MaxiCares: Maxicare Healthcare Corporation Donates Flu Vaccines to Orphanages across PH

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True to its mission of serving Filipinos through quality healthcare, leading HMO provider Maxicare Healthcare Corporation reached out to orphanages and non-profit organizations across the Philippines to give free flu vaccines.

Vaccines against the common flu were donated to CRIBS Foundation, Virlanie Foundation Inc., Tahanan ng Pagmamahal, and several others, by Maxicare through its #MaxiCares program.

“Our current public health crisis underscored our commitment to provide the best possible healthcare services to Filipinos. This commitment isn’t limited to our members and stakeholders alone but likewise extends to the underprivileged and marginalized,” said Archie Rillo, Chief Marketing Officer of Maxicare Healthcare Corporation.

Aligning its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), specifically UNSDG 3: Health and Well-being, the company started #MaxiCares to ensure that more Filipinos live healthy lives and encourage well-being for all ages by supporting relevant organizations and communities across the Philippines.

Gift of gratitude

At the height of the pandemic when mobility was limited and everyone was encouraged to stay at home, orphanages in the Philippines had a challenging time. They had to close their doors and set up bubbles to protect the children under their care. This proved to be a daunting task as most of the organizations relied on aid to sustain their services.

“The pandemic and lockdowns limited our movements in doing our face-to-face work especially in the street and community programs. We opted to stop the ongoing livelihood training, visitation, and other activities for the safety of everyone,” said Arlyne Fernandez, Virlanie Foundation Executive Director.

Virlanie Foundation, Inc. is a private, non-profit and non-sectarian organization reaching out to marginalized children and communities in the Philippines. They provide the most disadvantaged children with a caring family environment, opportunities for their healing and development through a multi-disciplinary approach, and in collaboration with all stakeholders, so they can reach their full potential and mainstream to society.

Since its creation in 1992 by the French social worker Dominique Lemay, Virlanie has helped more than 17,000 children in need of special protection through its various programs and services.

During the lockdowns, one of the main concerns of the Virlanie Foundation administrators was to ensure the health and safety of those under their care.

“The biggest challenge for us is the impact of the pandemic on the children – physical, mental, and social. We had to make adjustments on the online and modular schooling, doctors’ check-up and therapy, socialization, and extracurricular activities. We had to adapt as an organization to transition everything online and implement health and safety protocols across our programs. It was a big adjustment, but thankfully our staff and partners were very supportive,” added Arlyn.

Through Maxicare’s flu vaccine donation, Virlanie Foundation was able to continue providing healthcare to children in need.

“Maxicare’s flu vaccine donation helped Virlanie in providing prevention and care to improve the general well-being of the children especially in the time of pandemic. We hope this partnership will continue so we can help more children in need.”

#MaxiCares

Maxicare Healthcare Corporation, one of the pioneers in the health Maintenance Organization (HMO) industry, was established in 1987 by an esteemed group of doctors and businessmen with the vision to deliver a better healthcare system for the Philippines.

More than three decades later, Maxicare has progressed into becoming the leading HMO provider in the Philippines, servicing over 1.6 million members across the country.

Driven by its vision to serve and provide value to its customers and the Filipino community, Maxicare remains passionate and dedicated to its mission of helping people achieve peace of mind and giving the finest healthcare service - - extending this commitment to vulnerable and in-need Filipinos in different communities across the country, through its CSR programs.

“#MaxiCARES is a testament to our commitment to be every Filipino’s partner in healthcare. Our commitment to help people live their best lives is not just limited to our members, but extends to the rest of the Filipino community as well.” said Archie Rillo, Chief Marketing Officer of Maxicare Healthcare Corporation.

#MaxiCares is a CSR program of Maxicare Healthcare Corporation Inc.

To know more about Maxicare Healthcare Corporation, visit www.facebook.com/maxicarehealthcarecorp

AirAsia Philippines soars with Unbreakable Commitment to remain resilient amid crisis

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Airlines world over continue to look at ways to overcome the significant challenges brought by the on-going effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions on international and domestic travel caused ripples of setbacks which necessitates collaboration among industry players to enable themselves to bounce back stronger. 

For AirAsia Philippines, their struggles from the pandemic prompted them to renew their unbreakable commitment to serve their guests despite turbulent times. No matter how dark the clouds seem during the flight, there is always a silver lining amid the storm.

“I shall never forget March 19, 2020. There was a total lockdown; all flights were canceled, and the airports were closed. It was tough…We know that it will take us two to three months to get back our commercial flights, thus we have to be agile,” said AirAsia Philippines Chief Executive Officer Ricky Isla. 

The company immediately implemented multi-layered approaches to safety, such as enforcing rigorous sanitation processes on the ground, inside the aircraft,  equipping their ground staff, pilots, and cabin crew with protective equipment, thermal screening, and implementing strict social distancing, among others.

“The most important question that our passengers would always challenge us is, is it safe to ride in an aircraft considering that you’re close to your seatmate? But to us, we made sure that there’s proper education regarding our Highly Efficient Particulate Air Filtration process. Because of that, we were able to rebuild immediately the confidence of our passengers to fly…” Isla noted. 

While commercial flights are still recovering, AirAsia shifted to chartered flights for both passengers and cargo. In partnership with various government agencies, AirAsia safely mounted chartered repatriation flights among Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to help them return to their provinces to reunite with their families. They also accommodated chartered trips to transport personal protective equipment (PPEs) and medical supplies to the country, which are essential for medical front liners in the fight against COVID-19.

The volatile climate did not prevent the business from seeing the silver lining on the horizon. In fact, it opened doors of opportunities for growth and expansion as it launched airasiaSuper App, the fastest growing digital, travel, and lifestyle platform that features not only flights but flights plus hotel bundles under snap, unlimited deals, cargo and logistics venture Teleport and soon more offerings that will cater to the growing eCommerce business in the Philippines.

AirAsia augmented their customer services to better assist the concerns of their guests through an efficient customer interface to address queries on changing traveling requirements effectively.. They also adopted contactless solutions to seamlessly verify passenger information through FACES, a facial recognition technology pioneered, developed and operated by AirAsia which will replace boarding passes and make traveling in the new normal better, convenient and unique. 

This was made possible by having a reliable partner who provided them with the necessary support in embracing technology to adapt to the new normal. PLDT Enterprise, through its ICT arm ePLDT, supported AirAsia in providing exceptional customer experience to their patrons. Through its slew of digital solutions, AirAsia was able to uphold its unbreakable commitment to keeping its customers satisfied despite all the regulations they need to follow.

“During this pandemic, we made sure that PLDT Enterprise was with us the whole time. They provided AirAsia with a very well-managed Emergency Disaster Hotline Service, through ePLDT, which is powered by Curo Teknika,” Isla said.

 Moreover, with the launch of the AirAsia Super App in the Philippines, they expanded their presence in providing a comprehensive travel experience to passengers, as they now also assist other travel necessities, including bookings for hotel and medical requirements, shopping, and activities, among others.

“AirAsia is known to be a disruptor in the industry. With the help of our Malaysian group and all other subsidiaries in Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan, we transformed into a digital airline company.; we are now more than just an airline,” Isla added.

“Marami pong salamat sa ePLDT. The service aims to support a full online customer service delivery for AirAsia and it's complete with all the digital platforms which are conducive to our customers to address all their needs even beyond post pandemic. And we will continue to build this up aside from our AVA (Allstar Virtual Assistant); we will make sure that our ePLDT powered by Curo Teknika is with us the whole time,” Isla highlighted.

“We are very happy that we shall be keeping this partnership with PLDT Enterprise as we progress and move forward to a better pandemic-free future.” 

PLDT Enterprise’s Unbreakable Commitment campaign highlights its collaboration with businesses and organizations in the country to demonstrate how creating partnerships has helped companies succeed amid various challenges and in turn, contribute to the lives of Filipinos.

The campaign also reinforces PLDT Enterprise’s unbreakable commitment to empowering organizations through technology.

“PLDT Enterprise is a reliable partner that companies can depend on for technologies that will empower their business to overcome the limitations of face-to-face transactions. During these times, companies are left with no choice but to go digital and it is our unbreakable commitment in PLDT Enterprise to value their trust by delivering solutions that will take their business to greater heights,” said Jojo Gendrano, FVP and Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise.

PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT have been instrumental to companies including AirAsia Philippines. as it takes off on its journey to business recovery. The times have been turbulent, and the skies have been dark, but with the help of the right partner who catapulted the business to reach its goals, the business found boundless opportunities onboard. 

Watch AirAsia’s interview here: https://youtu.be/cFtMyPLSkuk

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com. 

The Itchyworms release second installment of holiday-themed album, Christmas Starts When The Bers Begin

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The continuously expanding record contains two new tracks “Halo-Halo and “Meri Xmas 2 U”

The Itchyworms continue to celebrate their 25th anniversary with the second installment of their holiday-themed album, Christmas Starts When The Bers Begin—out today, December 8, 2021 (Wednesday) on all digital music platforms via Sony Music Philippines

Capturing the spirit of Pinoy Christmas with songs that will surely make its way into classic status, Christmas Starts When The Bers Begin contains two new tracks, “Halo-Halo” and “Meri Xmas 2 U,” and last year’s “Have A Merry Christmas” and “Maligayang Pasko.” 

Written and produced by drummer and lead vocalist Jazz Nicolas, “Halo-Halo” is a festive reinforcement of the classic tradition with characteristically Pinoy sensibilities. It’s an upbeat tune that celebrates the Yuletide season in a way that feels home.

According to Jazz, “Halo-Halo” is a metaphorical reference to the various beliefs and traditions of Filipinos about Christmas. “There are people who believe in God, there are people who just shop, and there are people who consider it as a perfect time for receiving gifts. It all happens during Christmas, and it’s a magical feeling for everyone.”

Another new offering, “Meri Xmas 2 U” is a fun and sparkly reimagining of the Pinoy Christmas carols in one rocking shimmy treat. Complete with kundiman-charged guitars, raw percussions and tambourine sounds, and infectious vocal harmonies, the track pays tribute to the street caroling traditions in the country during the pre-pandemic times. 

“This is an ode to the kids who knock on doors to sing Christmas songs,” lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jugs Jugueta shares. “They rarely have real instruments with them, but sometimes when they’re lucky, they bring acoustic guitars or makeshift tools. They use cans with stretched plastic on top for the ‘drums’ and flattened tansan as tambourines. While they don’t sing in perfect tune, the happy Christmas vibe that they bring is what gets you and tugs your heartstrings.”

“Meri Xmas 2 U” is written by Jugs Jugueta, and performed by the alt-rock band with their families and friends who sang and played makeshift instruments: Jug’s wife Andie, Chino’s brother Echo, Jazz’s brother Peavey and his fiancé Antonette, and their road manager Gabs.

The 2021 AWIT Awards Winner for Best Musical Arrangement also plans to add more songs every year to complete the Yuletide-themed album. This well-curated process gives them the opportunity to create music at their own pace while giving casual listeners something to uplift their spirits before the year ends.

As Jugs put it, “It is an ever-growing Christmas album. We released two Christmas songs last year, then we added two more this year, and we plan on releasing more Christmas songs every year! And every time we add songs, we also add elements to the album cover. It’s now streaming on Spotify and other digital platforms, but once we have enough Christmas songs, we hope to release it as a physical album on vinyl.”

Christmas Starts When The Bers Begin is part of the band’s celebration of their 25th year in the Philippine music industry, which follows the release of their original track “Eto Na (Ang Maliligayang Araw)” and the six-part series, Worms Upon A Time: An Itchyworms Podcast. 

The year-long musical treat commenced with the vinyl pressing of their album, Waiting For The End To Start, which immediately sold out upon its release, the launch of “The Life I Know,” the first of its kind in the Philippine stop-motion animation music video, and the release of “Waiting For The End To Start” music video, which serves as an artistic take on the ‘dystopian future post-pandemic’ life in the Philippines.

The Itchyworms are also set to drop a mockumentary that chronicles their 25 years in the music industry at the end of the year.

“Halo-Halo” and “Meri Xmas 2 U” are out now on all digital music platforms via Sony Music Philippines. Listen to the partial batch of ‘Christmas Starts When The Bers Begin’ here.

The perfect gift of protection from Lysol during the Shopee 12.12 Sale!

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With Christmas just around the corner, Lysol would like to share a timely Holiday message: that perhaps the best gift you can give this season is protection -- towards the health and wellbeing of your family and loved ones! And to make that happen, Lysol again teams up with Shopee for generous deals up to 50% off on Lysol products during the Lysol 12.12 Shopee Sale!

On December 12, 2021, exclusively, use the voucher LYSOL1212 to enjoy P112 off for a minimum spend of P1299. Meanwhile, via the Co-Sponsored voucher, get P50 off for a P500 minimum spend, this time from December 12 to 15, 2021.

But the generous promotions don’t end there. Other irresistible offers include up to 50% off on Lysol Disinfectant Concentrate 500ml twin pack -- eliminates odor-causing bacteria, viruses, and everyday dirt and grime -- during Flash and Rush Hours, happening at 12AM to 2AM, 12PM to 2PM, and 6PM to 8PM.

Also perfect for gifting, take advantage of up to 22% off on online exclusive bundles such as the Lysol Disinfection Pack (Surface Wipes Lemon 40s & LDS Max Cover Lavender), Lysol All-Around Disinfection Starter Kits in Crisp Linen and Marine and Crisp Linen and Lemon.

As well, enjoy the following gifts with the following purchases:

For a minimum spend of P1,299 from 12mn to 2 am during 12.12; free Scotch Brite Easy Clean Sponge for every order of Multi-Action Cleaner Bundle (900+800ml Refill or 450+400ml Refill) on December 12, 2021, from 1am onwards until December 14, 2021. Plus, get free Lysol Antibacterial Hand Soap during Rush Hours (12-2AM, 12-2PM, 6-8PM).

Truly, with these fabulous deals that you simply cannot miss, Lysol wishes a safe and protected Christmas for one and all!