Local Products Fuel Business Growth and Empower Communities

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Winners of Shopee Celebrates Local campaign share how locally-made products impact the lives of other Filipinos

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues to support local sellers through the #TatakPinoy: Shopee Celebrates Local campaign. During the campaign, Shopee held a contest where users voted for their favorite among 12 Filipino sellers. Uniq.mnl, Chelssydresstaytay, and Mighty Clean emerged as the top three winners, where they not only exemplified excellence in their businesses but also supported the community by providing job opportunities amidst difficult times.

Sharing their success to empower others

Sisters Ira and Ireen Cruz have been in the garment industry for five years, but when the pandemic hit in March 2020, their business was greatly affected. Instead of cutting their losses and ceasing operations, the siblings decided to try selling online through Shopee. Their business flourished and they have been consistently hitting their sales targets. The shop’s significant growth also led to more employment opportunities for skilled Filipinos specializing in garments, a point of pride for the entrepreneurs.

Ira Cruz, Owner of Uniq.mnl, said, “It was such an honor to be part of the ‘Shopee Celebrates Local’ campaign. We are happy to be able to provide job opportunities to our community. It is the most rewarding experience of all and we are truly blessed with loyal staff. Since we started, we have grown the team from a handful to now over 50 staff members. We hope to pay it forward and be able to offer more jobs to help improve the livelihood of the people around us.”

In addition, they continue to encourage their team members, resellers, and other small business owners to explore and try out e-commerce and help others find a way to earn a living during this time.

Providing locally-made quality products for the Filipino household

Second runner-up Mighty Clean has been manufacturing household chemicals that fit the needs of every Filipino home since 2004. With a desire for continuous improvement through extensive research and development, Mighty Clean stays true to its promise of providing consumers with high-quality products at affordable prices.

Mico Cruz, Brand Manager at Mighty Clean, said, “We strive to create a difference in every Filipino’s household through high quality and value for money products. With Shopee’s support, we were able to grow and provide our customers with the kind of products and services that they deserve. ”

Like Uniq.mnl, Mighty Clean pivoted to e-commerce in March 2020– a move that allowed them to thrive as they reached even more customers nationwide. Through Shopee’s extensive seller support tools and initiatives, Mighty Clean is able to grow brand awareness through innovative ways, and attract more customers by giving them deals such as flash sales, vouchers, discount promotions, bundle deals, and many more.

Catering to the Filipina’s fashion needs

First runner-up Rochelle Estandarte started joining bazaars and night markets when she was still in college. Armed with her love for fashion and the help of her mother who has been in the industry for 20 years, she began her own clothing business in 2005.

Rochelle’s keen eye and ability to keep a pulse on Filipinas’ evolving fashion needs led to the growth of her sales and orders, as well as an increase in followers. After taking her business online in 2020, she was also able to hire more employees, giving other Filipinos an opportunity to earn and provide for their families amid the pandemic. She attributes her success to Shopee’s marketing tools, campaigns, and support from relationship managers who helped her and her team understand the industry easily.

Rochelle Estandarte, Owner of Chelssdresstaytay, said, “ We are very proud to market our locally-made apparel. We design our clothes with Filipinos in mind and are happy to say that our products are also well-loved by shoppers overseas as well. Since my mother has been in this business for the past 20 years, I picked up a few lessons on ladies’ fashion trends, allowing me to provide a wider variety of clothing pieces that Filipinas can enjoy wearing. We are also grateful for all the support we have received from Shopee and we strive to scale our business further on Shopee.”

These entrepreneurs are only three of the many MSMEs who found success and thrived on the e-commerce platform. At Shopee, sellers can leverage the extensive marketing tools, participate in monthly campaigns, and learn how to maximize the e-commerce landscape through proper guidance and support through the Shopee Seller Education Hub. For current and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to grow their business online, learn more about Getting Started on Shopee here.

VSTECS becomes the first Amazon Web Services Distributor in the Philippines

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VSTECS, Phils. Inc., a leading ICT distributor in the country, has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Distribution Program in the Philippines as an AWS Distributor. 

VSTECS, Phils. Inc. will offer AWS’s portfolio of highly scalable and cost-effective cloud services to technology and system integration partners in the country, helping them access and use AWS capabilities, resell solutions, and expand customer reach, locally and globally.

The AWS Distribution Program enables AWS Partners to grow revenue opportunities by reselling AWS products and solutions. AWS Partners work with AWS Distributors to leverage their go-to-market support, offload billing and operations, receive funding benefits, and gain technical expertise.

Through the AWS Distribution Program, VSTECS Phils. Inc. will be able to guide and provide support to its partners on go-to-market strategies, customers’ cloud adoption journeys, gap analysis, cloud operating models, cloud business value, billing, and assistance, among other benefits. This support is expected to bring a new wave of cloud adoption among partners as they will learn how to effectively sell cloud solutions, understand the cloud billing process, and tap into needed resources to upskill or reskill their workforce. Customers can leverage VSTECS Phils. Inc. and its strong technical capabilities, along with the AWS services it provides, to scale their own businesses in a simple, flexible, and cost-effective way.

“Becoming an AWS Distributor is a great opportunity for us and our channel partners to use AWS cloud technologies and capabilities in architecting digital transformation journeys. Being part of the AWS Partner Network (APN) Program, we can provide our partners with access to a global knowledge base, consulting services, skillsets, and AWS expertise to guide customers on their cloud readiness, architect the appropriate migration strategy, maximize cloud investments, and most importantly grow their cloud business,“ says Jimmy D. Go, president and CEO, VSTECS, Phils. Inc.

The addition of AWS further expands VSTECS’ portfolio of cloud offerings to address private, public, and hybrid cloud requirements.

To learn more about AWS’s cloud offerings and accelerate your digital transformation journey, contact VSTECS Phils. Inc. at rsgonzales@msi-ecs.com.ph.

About VST-ECS

Ranked in the Top 100 companies in the country, VST-ECS Phils. Inc. offers an impressive breadth of offerings for mobility, retail, commercial and enterprise markets. Its wide spectrum of products and solutions include smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, virtual desktops solutions, printers, copiers, gadgets and accessories, gaming, power management, 3D printing, networking, software-defined network, network security, data back-up and protection, big data, hyper-converged infrastructure, software, commercial digital displays, I.P. surveillance, POS solutions, AIDC, document imaging, CAD and graphics, collaboration solutions, cloud computing, containers and micro-services, IoT, AI, Robot Process Automation, data center solutions and managed services, everything as a service, and training.

A member of the VST-ECS Group, one of the largest IT distributors in the region, VSTECS continues to partner with the leading brands in the industry to offer its channel partners best-in-class IT solutions.

Plastic pollution reaching Philippine waters equivalent to 14 Titanics. WWF’s three-year project with Grieg foundation, a Norwegian foundation, aims to reduce the waste by 50%.

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Plastic trash in the sea results in many problems for the environment, animals, and human settlements. A recent study found that there is a significant amount of plastic waste not adequately disposed of and end up polluting the environment. WWF-Philippines/Neal Roxas

Filipinos consume about 2.15 million tons of plastics in a year and from which 9% are recycled and 35% leaks into the open environment, according to a study conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), in a project funded by Grieg Foundation.

That amount of total plastics is equivalent to the weight of 41 Titanics. And out of that total, 14 of those massive ships (35%) end up as plastic waste in the ocean every year. A key pathway in how plastic pollution ends up in oceans is through ports where there is a high level of activity and traffic.

“Plastics do not belong in our oceans. Sometimes we forget that we are part of a world that is a living breathing organism on which our own well-being and survival depend,” Katherine Custodio, WWF-Philippines Executive Director, said.

“There are three big important things we need to do together and at scale to truly address the problem of plastic pollution. First is to close the tap by reducing the amount of plastics we produce. Second is to close the loop by improving recycling, reuse, re-design and doing some very exciting innovative work looking at alternatives. Third is to stop plastic waste from leaking into the environment. We are very pleased to be working alongside partners such as the Grieg Foundation and Grieg Group of Companies in work that will contribute to end-changing impact for our country.” Custodio added.

WWF-Philippines has partnered with Grieg Foundation for a 3-year project that aims to reduce plastic wastes by 50% in three Philippine ports, namely Manila North Port, Port of Batangas, and Port of Cagayan de Oro, and to provide input to the national plan of action on marine litter. WWF also receives valuable input from the Grieg Group companies.

A key component of the partnership project called ‘Clean Ports, Clean Oceans: Improving Port Waste Management in the Philippines’ is the conduct of a Solid Waste Management Baseline Study in Philippine Ports which found that about 114,927 kg of plastic wastes are generated from ports and 128,970 kg of plastic wastes from vessels.

The study attributes the amount of plastic pollution to the waste leakage from ports that happens between collection and disposal - which is connected to the city waste management system. Ports, at least 552 in the country, are likely pathways for plastic waste going into the oceans.

With the national baseline study results, WWF-Philippines worked with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), terminal operators, communities, and concerned LGUs in determining project interventions.

WWF-Philippines’ baseline study recommends several measures to reduce plastic pollution at ports:

• Stricter implementation and review of plans, programs, policies, and law
• Better coordination and teamwork among stakeholders
• Better data management framework
• Installation of properly designed and fully functioning Materials Recovery Facilities
• Installation of trash traps at drainage outfalls when necessary
• Monitoring and utilization of plastic wastes
• IEC campaigns
• Standardization of waste bin color- coding scheme

“Marine litter is one of the fastest-growing environmental problems in the world and threatens biodiversity, ecosystems and livelihoods. In the Grieg Group, we have committed ourselves to be part of the solutions in restoring our oceans. We are happy to have partnered with WWF, trying our best to solve a critical challenge to life below water. Hopefully, we are able to create solutions that can be used in ports worldwide”, says Gry Larsen, Leader Sustainability and Public Affairs, Grieg Group

With this project, WWF-Philippines will identify and implement solutions with the concerned PPA - Port Management Offices (PMOs) in Manila North Port, Port of Batangas, and Port of Cagayan de Oro. The project looks to document these solutions so that other Philippine ports can adopt these solutions to stop plastic pollution.

About Grieg Foundation and the Grieg Group

Grieg Foundation is a Norwegian foundation established in Bergen by the Grieg family in 2002. For generations, the Grieg family has been conscious of leaving footprints, by giving back, by supporting humanitarian, social and cultural aspects of life. They are committed to improving the lives of future generations through the support of national and international projects and initiatives that create meaningful change for individuals and communities. To learn more about Grieg Foundation and the projects they support see www.griegfoundation.com

The Grieg Group derives from a long and proud maritime tradition, which began with Joachim Grieg’s shipbroking firm in Bergen in 1884. Today, the Grieg Group operates within shipping, logistics, maritime innovation, finance, shipbroking, seafood and finance. The Grieg Group is owned by the Grieg Family (75%) and the Grieg Foundation (25%). For more information about Grieg Group activities, see www.grieg.no

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in nearly 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF-Philippines has been working as a national organization of the WWF network since 1997 and implements various conservation projects to help protect some of the most biologically-significant ecosystems in Asia. WWF-Philippines works to improve Filipino lives by crafting solutions to climate change, providing sustainable livelihood programs, and conserving the country’s richest marine and land habitats.

To learn more about WWF and the Solid Waste Management Baseline Study in Philippine Ports, please visit: wwf.org.ph/what-we-do/plastics/cleanportscleanoceans/.

Teleperformance joins the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment

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Teleperformance (TP), a leading global group in digitally integrated business services, strengthens its advocacy of advancing gender equality in the workplace by joining the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE). 

This partnership was formalized through the recent virtual signing ceremony attended by Jeffrey Johnson, Senior Vice President for Human Capital Resource Management of TP Philippines, Tanya Famador-Japitana, Executive Vice President for Operations of TP Philippines and Chairperson for TP Women Philippines, and Maria Aurora Boots Geotina-Garcia, Chairperson of Philippine Women’s Economic Network and Co-Chair of PBCWE.

PBCWE was established in 2017 as an inaugural project of the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN) in partnership with Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government. As the newest member of PBCWE, Teleperformance joins other 18 member companies in leading efforts towards building a business case for gender equality, creating knowledge on best practices in the workplace, communicating the benefits of empowering women in the workforce, and institutionalizing policies based on best practices.

“I thank PBCWE for the opportunity to be part of this partnership. There is so much that the society can contribute when we are all welcome and empowered. I am personally committed to seeing all levels being represented in the organization – not just women – but other areas that may be underrepresented. I am proud to be working side by side with PBCWE and I look forward to the success that we’ll see in the coming months as we take this partnership to the next level,” shared Jeffrey Johnson.

“It’s truly an honor to be part of PBCWE. We believe that it’s high time that we tie up with organizations like PBCWE to help provide the structure in our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts so that we can measure how far we’ve gone since we’ve launched TP Women and truly pave the trail for the next phase of our cause. I look forward to and fully support the plans of PBCWE and TP Women together,” Tanya Famador-Japitana added.

TP’s global commitment to the principles of diversity, respect, fairness, empowerment, and equality are reflected through its TP Women initiative which seeks to maintain an overall equal gender distribution in the TP Group’s workforce and in management positions, and to increase the proportion of women in governing bodies. Currently, TP’s global employee base is comprised of 52% women. By 2023, TP committed to its global target of 30% women in the senior leadership roles.

As part of its membership package, TP will undergo the Gender Equality Assessment, Results and Strategies (GEARS), a tool developed in partnership with Investing in Women. GEARS provides companies with the information and resources necessary to start the change process towards gender equality. It evaluates the company’s current gender equality strategies, plan future gender equality objectives, and track their progress over time.

“Gender equality in the workplace plays an important framework in facilitating business productivity, operational efficiency, and financial resiliency. Today, many companies are eager to set clear targets and metrics to create sound policies and programs. In PBCWE, we offer a unique and one-of-a-kind opportunity for companies to undergo a simple and streamlined workplace gender equality assessment tool that can help them take concrete steps in their current practices on talent recruitment, succession planning, and employee retention. We are happy to know that Teleperformance is committed to pursue this as a core business strategy,” said Aurora “Boots” Geotina-Garcia.

TP stands firm with members of the LGBTQIA+ community. In June 2020, TP Philippines celebrated diversity and inclusion through its TP Pride initiative which sought to strengthen employee engagement, promote a diverse and inclusive culture in the workplace, and recognize the contribution and influence of each and every individual.

In 2021, TP Philippines was re-certified as a Great Place to Work® and is the only organization in the country to receive this certification from the Great Place to Work® Institute for four years in a row. This 2022, TP will be celebrating its 26th year of continued excellence and leadership in the country. This milestone highlights the company’s commitment to steadily provide the best employment experience for Filipinos, proactively support the nation’s IT-BPM sector, and uphold its socio-civic engagements to create a difference in the lives of the Philippine community.

NEW PRODUCT ALERT: Cherry Home Smart Swivel Camera S2

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Wherever you are, make sure you don’t miss out on any of life’s special moments at home with the new Cherry Home Smart Swivel Camera S2. With its 1080P Full HD video quality, you can see your family’s activities inside your abode just as if you are there. It also supports live streaming and lets you watch recordings so different time zones won’t hinder you from catching up on gatherings and occasions. 

It also features a wide viewing angle so you’d have a better picture of every simple joy and achievement—from your toddler’s first step at the living room to your significant other’s new dish. It likewise supports intelligent auto-tracking so you can constantly monitor every movement. It also enables two-way audio between your smartphone and camera, made possible through the Cherry Home application. This way, you can communicate in real-time with your family members even while watching them from the opposite part of the globe. This smart security device also supports 24/7 video recordings so it is easier for you to backtrack on the different milestones under your roof. These recordings can be stored via a micro SD card that is up to 128GB.

The Cherry Home Smart Swivel Camera S2 is powered by a universal adapter and highlights flexible installation using only easy-access wall screws.

What are you waiting for? Feel closer to home by getting the Cherry Home Smart Swivel Camera S2 for only P1,499 at:

Cherry Shop PH: www.cherryshop.com.ph