Alaska gives 70 days of ‘Lakas at Talas’ to foster kids

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As we greet a new year, new challenges have inevitably arisen given the current state of the world. With these problems that we face during these uncertain times, Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk sought to uplift vulnerable communities and share the spirit of giving. Last Christmas, Alaska invited members of its Facebook community, MOMs of Alaska (MOMAs), to make the holidays a little brighter for the children from the company’s partner orphanages, Christian Compassion Ministries Foundation, Inc. and House of Refuge Foundation, Inc. Over a hundred members of the Alaska MOMAs community came together to create special Christmas cards, with creative designs and personalized messages dedicated to each of the children.

Social Worker Jessa Mae Masalon of House of Refuge Foundation, Inc. receives Christmas cards made by Alaska MOMA members and 70 days’ worth of “Lakas at Talas” from Alaska Milk Corporation representative Miriam Maramba, Associate Manager for Marketing Services

Alaska collected the Christmas cards and held a turnover with the partner institutions, donating 70 days’ worth of “Lakas at Talas” in the form of Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk products that can give the children the added nutrition to help with their brain and body development while they are growing. Gift packs with toys and educational materials were also included in the turnover, which the children welcomed with smiles and loud cheers.

Mailyn Balairos, Center Head of Christian Compassion Ministries Foundation, Inc. (CCMFI), a church-based Christian organization that aims to provide children with educational assistance, shelter, medical aid, skills training and nourish their souls with the word of God, shared her appreciation to the moms who took their time to create Christmas cards for the children under their care. “On behalf of CCMFI and the children, I wanted to convey my deepest gratitude to the moms of Alaska and to Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk for this unforgettable event for the children,” Mailyn shared.

Riza Lepasana, OIC and Directress of House of Refuge Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting orphaned and abandoned children in Metro Manila, also expressed her gratitude for the initiative. “On behalf of House of Refuge, I sincerely thank the moms who made an effort to make this Christmas feel special for our kids, and to thank Alaska for sharing their blessings of ‘Lakas at Talas’ with our children,” Riza said.

Center Head Mailyn Balairos joined by the staff Christian Compassion Ministries receive Christmas cards and 70 days’ worth of “Lakas at Talas” from Alaska

Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk also thanks its partner orphanages for assisting and providing homes to children in need and giving them the “alaga” or care that they deserve. In these challenging times, Alaska reaches out to the children of House of Refuge and Christian Compassion Ministries Foundation and hopes to continue their mission of providing affordable quality nutrition to Filipino children and families everywhere.

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

New Year, New Phone: Five reasons why the A95 is the glow up you need in 2022

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Are you one of those people who looks to upgrade their smartphones to suit their lifestyle, but finds that there are way too many options to choose from?

If you are still undecided on what to purchase for your smartphone glow-up this year, here's a list of things that you might want to consider when choosing your next device:

Can I document my favorite memories in high resolution?

We all love taking selfies, and capturing our everyday moments filled with food, pets, scenery and more - that’s why camera features are definitely one of the top priorities when looking to upgrade your phone. Don’t just settle for high megapixels! Look out for a phone with AI-enhanced Image Capture capabilities that will automatically turn your photos into professional-looking shots, just like the A95. Its 48MP triple rear-facing camera and 16mp selfie camera are powered by AI features to make your photos more lifelike and defined.

Can I stream videos or play games uninterrupted?

If you use your smartphone to unwind with games or movie marathons, there’s nothing more annoying than lags or neverending notifications interrupting your stream. The OPPO A95, powered by ColorOS11.1, helps get rid of these problems with its Hyper Boost technology which ensures a more stable gaming experience, less battery consumption, and better temperature control. Plus, with Game Focus Mode and Bullet Notifications switched on to only alert for essential notifications, you can get a fully-immersive and interruption-free gaming experience.

Can the battery last the whole day?

Lengthy battery life is nothing new for smartphones, so look out for high mAh levels, and even features to safeguard your battery’s longevity so that your new phone can keep up with your busy days. The OPPO A95 doesn’t just have a 5000mAh battery, but also 33W Flash Charging. This means with just a five-minute charge, you can stream Youtube videos up to 1.8 hours, chat with family and friends via call up to 5.73 hours, or doomscroll Instagram for 1.37 hours.

But that’s just the start - OPPO A95 has a unique Battery Guard feature, which learns your sleep habits and personalizes how your phone charges based on these, so you don’t have to worry about overcharging your battery. Other features that help prolong battery life include temperature control, especially useful while you’re gaming or streaming; Super Power Saving Mode, so you don’t have to worry about calling a ride home while your phone’s at 5%; and Super Nighttime Standby, which keeps your A95 on standby mode for 8 hours with just 2% battery remaining.

Can the smartphone run smoothly?

To keep up with your fast-paced lifestyle, you need a smartphone that can run smoothly and without any lags, even with multiple apps open. To help you multitask seamlessly, the A95 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 and a large 8GB RAM+128GB ROM. It even has a System Booster feature, to give you a consistently smooth working experience on your gadget. These top-of-the-line hardware specs are exactly what to look for when upgrading your smartphone.

Is it easy to use or hold the smartphone?

Although design and comfort may seem like trivial qualities when it comes to choosing a smartphone for you, these things matter when you use a smartphone all day. Even with its large battery, the slim and light OPPO A95 weighs just 175g in a 7.95mm thin body. It also comes in two stylish colors - Glowing Starry Black for those who prefer neutral tech accessories, and Glowing Rainbow Silver, which can put you in a Very Peri mood for 2022. Its back cover is also resistant to scratches, wear, fire and even your fingerprints, so it stays durable and looking clean at all times.

With the all-new smart performing OPPO A95, the answer to all these questions is yes! A power-packed device with a stylish design and ultra-long battery life, it’s the perfect gadget glow-up to get you started this 2022.

The OPPO A95 retails at PHP15,999 and is available via the OPPO Flagship Store at Lazada and Shopee, and OPPO Brand Stores nationwide. For more information, visit the OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com.ph, or its official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

ePLDT, Microsoft continue empowering PWDs through inclusive workplaces

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(Manila, Philippines ) ePLDT recently marked its first year as a Microsoft employer-partner for the Microsoft Enabler Program. This seeks to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the workplace by fostering inclusivity and helping them increase their employability through training and mentorship.

PLDT Enterprise AVP & Head of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances Fay Ocampo and ePLDT Group Head for Workplace Management Fe Arlene Villanueva-Bassig

As a Microsoft employer-partner, ePLDT accommodated two students from its accessibility partner Virtualahan to take their internship under the group and acquire the necessary digital skills to help them secure gainful employment.

Rowell Navarro and Alfrey Redd Umali are aspiring graphic artists who have hard-of-hearing conditions. They were trained under ePLDT’s People Experience & Communications Team to hone and contribute their skills in developing creative visuals for the company’s awareness campaign on social sustainability.

“My internship has given me the opportunity to learn more about the company and essentials in Graphic Designing. The team [PWM – People Experience & Communication] gave me advice that was indeed helpful for me to accomplish my tasks more creatively and efficiently,” Navarro shared.

Likewise, Umali expressed his gratitude to ePLDT for the invaluable learning experience he attained as a graphic artist intern, and for the opportunity to support the group in producing short videos and other publicity materials.

“Working with the People Experience & Communication team has been a pleasure as I have gained much practical knowledge about graphic designing and video editing… Thank you again for making my internship a rewarding experience,” Umali said.

ePLDT reflects Microsoft’s commitment to giving utmost importance to building accessibility and a culture of inclusion at work.

The team that assisted Navarro and Umali was encouraged to use a meeting platform with closed-caption capabilities, to convey instructional procedures in text form, and to also attend a sensitivity training organized by Virtualahan to fully equip them towards inclusivity.

“The ePLDT Group is steadfast in its commitment to foster an inclusive working environment that provides opportunities for growth to persons with disabilities. We look forward to assisting more talented individuals through this engagement program with Microsoft,” said Fe Arlene Villanueva-Bassig, ePLDT Group Head for Workplace Management.

Meanwhile, during the launch of the APAC Microsoft Enabler Virtual Hackathon, PLDT Enterprise AVP & Head of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances Fay Ocampo said that as a Microsoft partner, ePLDT’s main goal is to expand their initiatives that foster disability-inclusive workplace within the group.

“Our hearts are full when we on-boarded two Virtualahan interns, Alfrey and Rowell who provided digital creative inputs in ePLDT’s company announcement under the wing and the guidance of People Experience & Communications Team,” Ocampo said.

“Now that we move to the next chapter, we carry on our purpose for having an ever-evolving culture of inclusion which starts by expanding our talent pipeline and connecting job-seeking PWDs in having ICT roles within ePLDT,” she added. 

For more information, visit epldt.com.

COMCO Southeast Asia’s Leader Ferdinand Bondoy elected to UK-based Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) International Committee

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COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director, Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy, has been elected to the International Committee of the United Kingdom (UK) based Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) composed of PR leaders from across the world – Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.

Mr. Bondoy is the only committee member based in the Southeast Asian region and he brings in diversity and representation in the globally renowned professional body for public relations practitioners. He will also be the lead for online events of CIPR International.

Founded in the United Kingdom, the CIPR is the world’s only Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners, with nearly 10,000 members across the globe. As pioneers in the industry, the CIPR champions its expertise in public relations through standards and skill guidance to accelerate development among PR practitioners.

“Now that the CIPR has become a fully virtual international organisation, there are equal opportunities for PR professionals across the world to become involved in our activities or even to get Chartered. I am delighted that Ferdinand Bondoy has joined our committee, and we look forward to collaborating with him to expand our activities and reach in the Philippines and across Asia,” said Ms. Samantha Seewoosurrun, Chairperson of the CIPR International Committee.

As an industry trailblazer, Mr. Bondoy’s election to CIPR adds to his extensive responsibilities in the industry. He is also the current Corporate Secretary of the International Association of Business Communications (IABC) Philippines and the Co-Chair of the Philippine Student Quill Awards. Last year, he was also elected to the Board of Trustees of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and led the successful run of the 2021 PRSP Students’ PR Con, the 1st virtual, interactive and nationwide edition of the organization’s annual activity for the students. It will be concluded this coming February 2022 via the Grand Prix Hack Sprint edition, which is also a first for the organization and the industry.

Mr. Bondoy is also part of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Philippines composed of PR icons and leaders in the country and he served as one of the regional jurors of the ICCO (International Communications Consultancy Organization) Next Generation PR World Cup. The Southeast Asian leg of the competition for young PR practitioners was organized by the Public Relations and Communications Asia Pacific (PRCA APAC) where Ferdinand Bondoy represents COMCO Southeast Asia as a corporate member.

On top of all that, he is the Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director of COMCO Southeast Asia, a powerhouse and global award-winning integrated communications agency he co-founded. Last year, he led the celebration of the Agency’s Blazing Sapphire 5th Anniversary which launched COMCO Middle East & Africa and COMCO AOX League of Enterprises, the umbrella group for all of COMCO’s existing and upcoming ventures, initiatives and advocacies. He also takes time to pay homage to his roots by serving as a mentor, often referred to as “Coach”, in COMCO Southeast Asia’s Camp COMCO Mentorship Program, an intensive and comprehensive talent incubation initiative, industry linkage course, and apprenticeship program designed to transform communication, marketing, and multimedia arts students and fresh graduates into revolutionary practitioners of the industry.

“It is an honor and a responsibility to represent the country and the region in CIPR and work for the industry on a global scale. And we will continue to contribute, be heard, and be part of this international community of PR experts and leaders to further grow the discipline and impact social change across the globe,” said Mr. Bondoy.

For more information about COMCO Southeast Asia, please visit www.comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comco-hq and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

About COMCO Southeast Asia

COMCO Southeast Asia is a powerhouse and global award-winning integrated communications agency formed by the coalition of premier brand architects, inspired storytellers, and communication trailblazers in the region. Based in the Philippines and with affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, COMCO SEA takes the lead in the innovation of premier brands and growth of up-and-coming businesses through the emerging global disciplines of New PR – a strategy based, content-driven, and channel-agnostic way of doing PR, and Smart Social – a holistic, authentic and integrated approach in the maximization of digital and social channels.

At the core of COMCO SEA is its unique brand of Meaningful Storytelling based on its corporate mantra and the mission to Ignite Brand Love, Social Change, Talent Growth and Regional Collaboration. In just 5 years, the Agency has done groundbreaking works for more than 70 local, regional and international brands including reputable development and humanitarian organizations. COMCO SEA has been awarded twice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards, Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year in Asia at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, Best PR Agency in Southeast Asia – Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards, and 85 metals from various local, regional and international award-giving bodies.

The SM Store opens 2022 by sharing toys with partner organizations around the country

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Despite the pandemic, The SM Store’s Share-A-Toy collected more than 45,000 toys in December 2021. Customers and partner organizations donated new and pre-loved toys to The SM Store and Toy Kingdom branches nationwide. Customers received a P100 discount voucher for every donation courtesy of The SM Store.

Representatives from The SM Store, Toy Kingdom and HSBC’s Global Resourcing Corp. during the turn-over of donations held at The SM Store North EDSA

The toys collected will be distributed to children from the SM Foundation and The SM Store partner organizations. Among the recipients in Metro Manila are pediatric patients from the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine General Hospital.

Recipients outside Metro Manila include non-government organizations such as the Heart Warriors Tarlac Chapter and the Islamic orphanages under the Arkat Lawanen network in Mindanao. Indigenous groups, the Mangyan community in Sipitsaburan, Puerto Galera, Palawan tribe in Brooke’s Point, and the Panay Bukidnon in Calinog, Ilo-ilo, will also receive toys from The SM Store’s Share A Toy.

In addition to the toys collected from The SM Store and Toy Kingdom branches, a global resourcing company and its employees shared 2,000 gift boxes containing educational materials and toys. Students of Doña Luisa Obieta Elementary School in Amungan, Iba, and the Sta. Martha Elementary School in Pangolingan, Palauig, will receive these donations. Both schools cater to the Aeta community in Zambales. Children of fishing folks from Panglit Elementary School will also receive toys and learning materials.

Watch out for more stories as The SM Store visits and distribute toys to partner communities around the country. For more information, see The SM Store’s website.