Project on digital game-based reading intervention from UP and La Salle wins top prize at inaugural TCS Sustainathon in the Philippines

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First TCS Sustainathon in the Philippines brings together students and stakeholders from the private and public sectors to push for inclusive education

Leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization Tata Consultancy Services concluded TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021 last January 28, 2022 in an exclusive online event, with the students from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and De La Salle University Manila bagging the top place with their entry Read-IO Works.

Many challenges and issues came to fore when the country’s education sector embraced distance and flexible learning amid the pandemic. Foremost of these are lack of resources, internet access, and a clear and stable line of communication between teachers and students. Through TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021, TCS hopes to encourage and empower the Filipino youth in using technology to explore solutions for these problems, which their generation experiences first-hand, and collaborate with local stakeholders such as businesses and schools.

Students from various parts of the Philippines pitched their proposed solutions for the local theme. Among the submissions, 10 groups successfully made it to the finals.

The technologies developed by the teams involve web and mobile applications, wherein different programs are incorporated to provide convenience and flexibility in education.

TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021 first place Read-IO Works developed Read-IO. The team comprises of Jose Javier Lasala and Janos Lance Tiberio. Their entry dove into realizing a deep-learning enabled, digital game-based reading intervention centered on phonics and oral reading fluency. The invention gives way to evidence-based instruction as well as game-based assessments that is not only accessible for offline use, but leverages the gadget distribution initiatives of the Department of Education. With Read-IO, it’s all the more possible to improve students’ reading comprehension, spelling, letter-sound knowledge, and all the other indicators of literacy.

SchoNEXT won second place. Prince Loven Abestano, Abe Apao, Esmael Amatonding, and Gwyneth Chiu explored the bounds of technology in their entry, where they seek to create a distraction-free, student-centered virtual environment for studying. Indeed, distance learning has brought in a huge change into how students learn today. As students study from their homes, an effective, self-regulated studying habit and system can go a long way—and this is what SchoNEXT aims to highlight with this virtual studying environment.

Third place went to GOLS: Gamified Online Learning Space delivered by Racquel Moran, Lance Sangcal, and Migs Ganzon. Their entry is about gamifying students’ online learning space which helps in initiating active thinking and peer-to-peer learning through interactive games. More than anything, learning is best done with peers where students can not only learn vital knowledge, but develop values of teamwork and leadership.

TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021 Finals’ third and second placers will take home Php50,000 and Php100,000, respectively. The champion will receive Php150,000 in cash prize. TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2021 was in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, Converge ICT Solutions, Inc., Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines, Inc., Edukasyon.ph, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth, and ADB Southeast Asia Development Solutions (SEADS).

“TCS Sustainathon Philippines showed us the extensive knowledge and passion of the younger generation to deliver solutions to improve the current situation of our education sector. We, together with our partners, are all impressed with the work that we saw coming from these students and how they utilized technology for the better. We are looking forward to see what their initiatives can achieve and how these can help them and the country,” says TCS Philippines Country Head Shiju Varghese.

The champion and second placer will also compete against the Sustainathon winners from Singapore and Malaysia at the TCS Sustainathon ASEAN finale later this year.

Madiskarte Moms PH celebrates Filipina entrepreneurial spirit at the first-ever Gawad Madiskarte

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PLDT Home Biz honors Filipina mompreneurs on International Women’s Day

 

Unsung heroes. In the past two years of the pandemic, that’s what our moms have proven to be.

 

Despite bearing the brunt of COVID-19’s impact in the labor sector (many of whom lost their jobs or suffered pay cuts), these women made sure their family needs are taken care of by finding alternative ways of providing for their households.

 

For many, this meant going out of their comfort zones and starting their own online businesses. Based on data from Investing in Women, one in four micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines is owned by a woman. And this number has only risen during the pandemic with more than 88,000 new e-commerce businesses registered just in 2020.

 

Recognizing their immense contribution to their families as well as the potential of online home businesses in pushing for economic recovery, PLDT Home and a group of Filipino mompreneurs launched Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) last September 2020.

 

MMPH is an online community where moms can get a head start on their own online home businesses or get tips and know-how to grow and expand their side hustles. Now with more than 98,000 members from all over the Philippines, MMPH has become a safe space where moms could exchange best practices, share experiences, and motivate each other to pursue their passions while also becoming financially independent. The community provides members with a 24/7 virtual venue of relevant information and networking opportunities to help mompreneurs kickstart their own online home businesses.

 

Gawad Madiskarte 2022: Pagkilala sa Tagumpay ng Madiskarteng Pinay

 

To recognize the hard work of Filipino mompreneurs and celebrate their success, MMPH is holding its first ever annual awards – Gawad Madiskarte 2022: Pagkilala sa Tagumpay ng Madiskarteng Pinay – this coming March 2022.

 

Powered by PLDT Home Biz, the annual awards ceremony is a tribute to the Filipina entrepreneurial spirit. Inviting moms of smarts and style to a big virtual gathering, Gawad Madiskarte salutes the achievements of mompreneurs who have created and grown their online businesses amid an economically challenging pandemic — armed only with their drive and personal diskarte. The special awarding ceremony fittingly happens on March 8, 2022, which is International Women’s Day, hoping to inspire other moms and women to start their own businesses from home as well.

 

Gawad Madiskarte introduces two main award categories: The Start-Up Division, which honors mompreneurs who have bravely started their online side hustles (at least six months operation) despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, and The Scale Up Division, which recognizes those who successfully started and maintained their businesses for at least 13 months.

 

Awards in the Start-Up category include Diskarteng Solid (Strongest Start-Up Business Model) for those who have developed a business model that reflects their vision and gives exceptional customer value; Diskarteng Malikhain (Most Innovative Product) for those whose creative minds have brought forth fresh and unique products and services; and Diskarteng Eco-Friendly (Most Green Business) for those who have made conscious efforts to be socially responsible and environmentally friendly in their business.

 

Meanwhile, the Scale-Up division includes awards for Diskarteng Angat (Fastest-Growing Business) for those who have achieved exceptional growth with their robust vision and strategy; Diskarteng Digital (Best Multi-Channel Business), for businesses that have capitalized on the benefits of a multi-channel approach; and Diskarteng May Puso (Best Social Enterprise), for those whose goal meant giving back and empowering communities through their businesses. (The Scale Up Division entrants are required to have either a physical or e-commerce shop, and supporting documents including a DTI Permit and Barangay Certificate.)

 

A special award, the Diskarteng HomeBiz (Mompreneur’s Choice Award), will be given to the exceptional mompreneur whose business success story has greatly inspired others to do the same.

 

Gawad Madiskarte will award each winning mompreneur a P100,000 cash prize, a one-year PLDT Home Biz Plan, and a laptop to help them go further in their side hustle.

 

To add prestige to the event, Gawad Madiskarte has commissioned award-winning sculptor and contemporary artist Glenn Cagandahan for customized trophies as part of the major prizes. Cagandahan is known for his expressionist works featuring farmers, their family on carabaos, and other rural images that bring to mind the Filipino’s unwavering sense of hard work.

 

For more information on Gawad Madiskarte 2022, join the Madiskarte Moms PH group at https://bit.ly/JoinMMPH2.

Beko parent company ranked as one of the world's most sustainable firm

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Beko's parent company, Arçelik A.Ş., the global leading consumer durables and electronics manufacturer, has for the second year in a row ranked on the Corporate Knights' 2022 Global 100 Index, coming in at 57th place.

Corporate Knights Inc (CK). is a media and research company focused on quantifying and animating sustainable economy drivers for decision-makers. Its best-known rankings include the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada and the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. CK is also proud to be the first print business magazine and research firm in the world to be a Certified B Corp.

The list of awardees has been published annually by Corporate Knights since 2005 in recognition of companies that deliver superior financial performance and lead the race to zero emissions. Their methodology is based on up to 24 key performance indicators covering resource management, employee management, financial management, clean revenue and clean investment and supplier performance.

The 2022 Global 100 Index looks at the performance of almost 7,000 companies with more than $1 billion in revenues, taking into consideration their action on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

And this year’s recognition came after Arçelik reiterated its commitments to energy transformation and a more sustainable future.

"We are delighted to rank on the Corporate Knights' 2022 Global 100 Index. As a business we understand we have a commitment and a responsibility to sustainability and this recognition continues to spur us on. At Arçelik, we've taken great steps on our sustainability journey and are continuing to. We are proud of what we have achieved with all our employees, and our revised commitments to Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions are a demonstration of that,” said Arçelik CEO Hakan Bulgurlu.

As part of Arçelik’s commitment to sustainability, Beko unveiled seven sustainable products including a washing machine/washer dryer, oven, tumble dryer, refrigerator, espresso coffee maker and dishwasher to help consumers reduce their impact on the environment. The innovative products use recycled materials such as PET bottles, fishing nets; bio-composites such as coffee residue and eggshells; as well as detergent saving technologies for sustainable living.

As Europe's leading appliance brand, Beko is always looking for new technologies that help preserve nature and allow people to live a healthy lifestyle.’

"As makers of appliances, we will help ensure a more sustainable future for the next generations. We are also eager to adapt our existing technologies to make all our appliances more environmentally friendly too," said Gürhan Günal, country manager of Beko Pilipinas Corporation.

For more information about Beko in the Philippines, go to http://bekopromos.ph or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bekoph.

ABOUT BEKO

Beko is the global home appliances brand of the Arçelik Group and belongs to the Koç Holding, one of the largest conglomerates in Europe. The brand has been in the Philippine Market for -six years and is currently available in select All Home, Anson’s, Asian Home Appliance, Automatic Center, Fair N Square, Goldtech, Great World, HAT, Lazada, Manila Imperial, Robinson’s, Savers, Shopee, SM Appliance and Western Appliance. This year, Beko will be made available soon in other appliance stores nationwide as it continues to expand its distribution to other retail channels. For information, follow @bekoph on Facebook and Instagram or go to http://www.beko.ph.

Beko, Beko Pilipinas, Beko Pilipinas Corporation, Arçelik, Home Appliances, European Appliances, Live Like A Pro

PayMaya makes government payments easier and more rewarding with Bills Bayad Rewards promo

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 Enjoy cashback rewards when you settle your SSS, PAG-IBIG, PRC, and BIR fees  

   

PayMaya is bringing Filipinos the convenience, safety, and time-saving benefits of paying for their fees and dues to the Social Security System (SSS), the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) with the Bills Bayad Promo.  

   

From February 1 to March 31, customers who will pay for their Pag-IBIG, SSS, PRC, and BIR fees and dues for the first time using PayMaya can get a 10% cashback voucher. Meanwhile, existing customers who are paying their recurring fees using PayMaya can also enjoy a 5% cashback voucher monthly during the promo period. Users can get up to P200 cashback.  

   

"We are always looking for ways to make everyday transactions easier and more rewarding. These include encouraging more consumers to use digital payments when transacting with national government agencies. We want to give users a more convenient experience as we also help promote ease of doing business with the government," said Pepe Torres, Chief Marketing Officer at PayMaya.   

   

Paying fees and dues to the four participating national government agencies is easy - here are the different channels where you can pay using PayMaya:   

• SSS – pay for your social security contributions via the PayMaya app and the SSS mobile app  
• Pag-IBIG – remit your regular housing amortizations via the PayMaya app and the Pag-IBIG website  
• PRC – pay for your professional fees via the commission’s website   
• BIR – settle your taxes and fees via the PayMaya app.   

 

On top of the cashback rewards, individuals who will sign up and upgrade their account can enjoy a P100 voucher when they use the code BILLSBAYAD upon registration.   

   

So if you have government fees and dues to pay—pay now with PayMaya and enjoy the sweet benefits of getting your money back! Basta government payments, pay it with PayMaya!   

   

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. It provides more than 41 million Filipinos access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 380,000 digital touchpoints nationwide.     

    

Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 60,000 partner agent touchpoints serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country, including "every day" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants, as well as government agencies and units.     

    

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on Smart Padala, visit https://smartpadala.ph/   

 

To Push E-Commerce Forward, Developing Tech Leaders is Key

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Shopee Nurtures Top Tech Talent with the Global Leaders Program

The continued rise of Southeast Asia’s “digital decade”, now projected to gross around $1 trillion across the region by 2030, has increased the demand for tech talents who can drive the digital economy. Amidst this growing digital landscape, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues to seek for the next generation of industry leaders through the Global Leaders Program (GLP).

The Shopee Global Leaders Program is a 2-year graduate program consisting of four 6-month local and overseas rotations. It is designed for highly enthusiastic and ambitious young Filipino talents who have the potential to boost the country’s e-commerce industry. Final-year students or young professionals with up to two years of working experience can apply for GLP and be part of a structured learning and development program. Participants will also receive dedicated mentorship from Shopee leaders.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Digital transformation has been an ongoing focus in several key economic sectors. As a result, the demand for tech talent has been on the rise in recent years. Shopee remains committed to developing the next generation of talents in the Philippines through immersive training and mentorship initiatives like the Global Leaders Program. We will continue to come up with various programs that aim to value-add to the Philippines’ digital economy.”

Now in its 4th year, the program continues to provide its participants with eye-opening experiences and regional exposure

CJ, a GLP participant, shares why she chose Shopee to grow her career in e-commerce. “Shopee has been taking big strides to enhance the user experience and keep up with the recent changes in the retail market industry. It’s evident that the company is constantly growing bigger, better, and faster—and I want to be part of this growth.”

Among the many interesting components of the GLP, CJ says what caught her attention the most was the regional experience and exposure it offers. “Working with other teams from various countries is a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and gain new perspectives and insights that can help further the industry in our country.”

Currently working with Shopee’s Business Development team, CJ’s exposure to different functions allowed her to grow, adapt and learn new things every day. “I am constantly pushed and supported to become a better version of myself every day. The projects that I handle allow me to develop problem-solving, critical thinking, good leadership, and proper time management skills. Seeing how e-commerce campaigns are brought to life, and how people communicate and collaborate to achieve success regularly definitely inspire me to keep growing and eventually contribute.”

CJ takes pride in being part of the GLP. “If you want to become a future tech leader and be part of the growing digital economy in the Philippines, the Global Leaders Program is the best way to jumpstart your dream. You get the best training and development possible: close mentorship from Senior Management, rotating stints in different markets, and you get to drive crucial projects across the business. The program is truly for those who are willing to push themselves every day to be better and keep growing. I am grateful and humbled to be part of all this.”

Are you an aspiring tech leader and interested in learning about the e-commerce industry? Apply to be part of Shopee’s Global Leaders Program starting February 14, 2022. For more information about the program, visit https://careers.shopee.ph/GLP.