COMCO Southeast Asia is the lone Philippine agency finalist in PRCA APAC Awards 2022

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Global award-winning and trailblazing communications agency COMCO Southeast Asia is the lone Philippine communications agency to be included among the finalists in the prestigious PRCA APAC Awards 2022. COMCO Southeast Asia is a finalist in 5 categories in the industry acclaimed award-giving body in the region.

PRCA APAC Awards 2022 is organized by the Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific (PRCA APAC), the world’s largest professional PR body representing more than 35,000 PR professionals in 70 countries worldwide and a global advocate for excellence in public relations.

The Agency is vying for the Purpose Award for their “Dear Survivor: COMCO Southeast Asia’s Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2” co-presented by Eastern Communications and Jobstreet, sponsored by AirAsia and Xiaomi Philippines and supported by Teleperformance. It aimed to inspire and empower everyone affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the stories of bloggers and content creators across the country.

Another campaign that caught the award-giving body’s attention is the “Blazing Sapphire: The COMCO Southeast Asia Year-Long 5th Anniversary Celebration”. The campaign is for the Agency’s 5th-anniversary celebration where their growth from a start-up to a multi-awarded boutique communications agency has been celebrated through a 5-part celebration – the Blazing Sapphire kick-off which unveiled COMCO SEA’s brand evolution; the Camp COMCO Alumni Society “Unity Games”, a celebration of the company’s strong alumni culture; the Dear Survivor: Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2; Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program’s “5 Gifts to the Community” via the Cause Marketing for Good initiative with World Vision; and Blazing Sapphire Main Event where several major initiatives were unveiled including the launch of COMCO Middle East & Africa and COMCO AOX League of Enterprises which will house the current and upcoming ventures and initiatives of the group.

Another category group that the agency dominated is the Team Awards, wherein COMCO Southeast Asia lands finalist spots for the Medium Consultancy and the Workplace Champions Awards. 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 and won 85 metals from various local, regional and international award-giving bodies.

In 2021, the Agency has posted a 50% increase in revenues vs. 2020, with 75% growth in gross profits. From 2020 to 2021, COMCO Southeast Asia grew its team by 17% and has a retention of 79%. Of its homegrown talents who started as associates, 46% have been promoted to Partners, Managers, Associate Managers and Officers.

Lastly, COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director Ferdinand Bondoy, a global award-winning communications practitioner and a certified digital marketer and crisis counselor in Asia-Pacific, is a finalist for the PR/Communications Leader Award under the Individual Awards Category. From a PR Academic Scholar in his collegiate years to a PR Industry Thought Leader at present time, Ferdinand is a champion of strategic integration and meaningful storytelling and an advocate of environment conservation and children and youth education.

“This citation from our peers in the Asia-Pacific region is a confirmation of the trailblazing work we do not just in the Philippines but in a global scale. This inspires us to further continue our commitment to excellence in public relations and communications and ultimately contribute to social change,” Ferdinand Bondoy shared.

The unveiling of winners and awarding ceremony of the PRCA APAC Awards 2022 is on March 30, 2022.

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

Thinking of a short vacation? Get the most out of the long weekend with ShopeePay

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Need a change of scenery or want to take advantage of the long weekend? Then a getaway with family or friends is just what you need! But before you get too excited about taking a vacation, remember to assess and determine if it’s advisable to travel. Whether it’s an out-of-town trip that’s weeks in the making or just a quick, laid-back staycation—safety should always be the number one priority.

Once you’ve ticked all the safety boxes, then it’s time to plan the perfect getaway. Here are some ideas on how to get the most out of your vacation when you use ShopeePay, Shopee’s all-in-one e-wallet:

Choose an accommodation that can give value for money.

Are you missing the country’s wonderful beaches and dying to bask in the sun? Then head over to the white sands of Boracay or fly to the clear waters of Palawan. Complement your trip with a stay at a top-notch hotel to enjoy the full experience. Get 20% cashback when you make your hotel bookings, including Estacio Uno Boracay, Mithi Resort and Spa Bohol, and White Breeze Palawan on Shopee and pay with ShopeePay.

If you’re looking to stay somewhere close to home but don’t want to miss out on the rewarding feeling of an out-of-town trip, then a staycation is just what you need. With amenities like pools, spas, game rooms, restaurants and more, hotel staycations are a great way to unwind after a week of hard work. To check out more hotels in your preferred destination or around the metro, simply select ‘Hotel’ when you visit “Load, Bills, & Travel'' on the Shopee app and get 20% cashback when you book with ShopeePay.

Save up as you plan wisely for your trip.

Once you’ve settled on a destination, time to prepare your essentials. Stock up on your baon or shop for your beach (or poolside) OOTDs on Shopee, and get daily free shipping vouchers when you check out with ShopeePay. Don’t forget to pack personal items like travel documents, masks, sanitary kit, and, of course, your camera or phone to capture the moments. Some local government units or establishments may ask you to show proof of vaccination so bring your vaccine card with you.

Ahead of your trip, reload your SIM so you can stay updated and keep in touch with your friends and family. Get a 10% discount when you buy load across all networks with ShopeePay. Sending money to any Shopee user or bank account is free via ShopeePay so you and your travel buddies can conveniently use it when collecting payments for shared expenses. You can also maximize ShopeePay's free transfers feature when making payments to merchants that only accept bank transfers as mode of payment.

Make the most out of your road trip by going cashless.

On your way to your destination, you’ll need to make a few stopovers to eat, buy emergency items like medicine, or pick up some stuff you might have forgotten. Use ShopeePay to score deals when paying in stores. Simply use Scan to Pay with ShopeePay to receive 20% cashback for your food or merchandise purchases at partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Puregold, The Generics Pharmacy, National Bookstore, Gong Cha, Papa John’s, Army Navy, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

Did you know that you can also save on gas and toll fees? Simply purchase ₱1 Deals via “ShopeePay Near Me” on the Shopee app to get additional discounts and cashback. Redeem your vouchers when you pay for gas, motor products, and other services with ShopeePay at partner gasoline stations like Seaoil, Phoenix, and Metroil. You can also get 15% cashback when you load your Autosweep or Easytrip RFID with ShopeePay.

Make sure that everyone joining the trip is in good health and fully vaccinated. Familiarize yourself with the health & safety guidelines and take all the protective measures you can before, during, and after your vacation so the fun doesn’t stop!

When you get back from your trip, don't forget to see what's in store for you this February 28 Payday Sale. Enjoy free shipping with no minimum spend, vouchers to get 10% off your purchase, and 50% cashback when you pay your bills with ShopeePay. Activate ShopeePay now to experience the rewards of its features and services.

­JobStreet, Tech in Asia holds Asia’s biggest virtual career fair, offers digital and tech jobs across the region

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The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally transformed the way we work, live, and play, with many activities shifting online. This accelerated the need for digital and tech-savvy workers, driving up the demand for quality talents in IT and tech on the end of employers.

Understanding and addressing these changes in the digital age, leading online job portal JobStreet partners with technology news website Tech in Asia (TIA) to bring in the biggest career fair in the region, “Hire the Future” happening on March 9 to 11 with thousands of digital and tech-related job opportunities across the region.

About 900 hirers from Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines will participate in the simultaneous career fair. Meanwhile, Filipino jobseekers can access more than 80,000 opportunities within the platform—with over 2,000 tech jobs. These jobs are being offered by more than 200 various notable local companies such as Globe, ePLDT, BDO Unibank, Cognizant, ING Bank, and more.

Additionally, Filipino candidates can explore more than a thousand jobs in the country with some positions available like IT Helpdesk, IT Developer, IP Network Engineer, Java Developer among others.

This digital shift has birthed more career opportunities in IT Development, JAVA, Cloud, and SQL to name a few. This region-wide initiative is in line with SEEK Asia’s evolving Let’s Get To Work campaign, which is targeted at encouraging participation and empowerment in the workforce. The portal also aims to connect job seekers with Asia’s top companies with an accessible platform to search for jobs that are meaningful to them.

“It has always been at the core of JobStreet to provide jobs that matter. We are grateful to partner with Tech in Asia in launching Asia’s biggest career fair to bring the freshest and most in-demand tech and digital jobs to each country, especially now that job markets are ready for digital transformation,” shared JobStreet Philippines Country Manager Philip Gioca.

“Hire The Future” virtual career fair will have a mobile-first interface to enable employers and candidates to seamlessly participate virtually. Candidates and employers can access the virtual platform for on-the-spot recruitment through real-time connection via chat and online interview schedulers.

Moreover, jobseekers will have the opportunity to interact with some of the participating companies such as Food Panda, Xendit, Carousell, YouTrip, Gcash, Gojek, Grab, The Parent Inc., and Aspire through virtual office tours and masterclasses on career talks and tips that will be available on-demand via the website during the virtual career fair period.

In preparation for the upcoming virtual career fair, JobStreet advised candidates to update their resume upon registration with relevant skills, rehearse virtual interviews, and research on the position and company they are vying for.

Through this initiative, JobStreet also aims to empower the employers from participating countries by giving them access to millions of digital and tech talent and various features in the platform.

Pre-registration is now ongoing. Applicants who will participate will also get a chance to win exciting prizes from JobStreet. 

To learn more about this, visit their official Facebook page or https://www.jobstreet.com.ph/VCF-TIA22/go.

Protect the health of your fur babies with Cebuana Lhuillier Pet Insurance

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Cebuana  Lhuillier now offers insurance products for your pets with the launch of insurance for dogs

Cebuana Lhuillier, one of the Philippines’ leading and largest micro-financial service providers and a champion in financial inclusivity and mobility, recently launched its new insurance product for dogs.

The Philippines has one of the highest dog populations in the world at11.6 million as of 2020. Furthermore, the Philippines have the highest rate of pet ownership among the Southeast Asian countries at 83%, led by dog owners at 67%. In the course of the pandemic alone, the interest of Filipinos in owning pets grew 88% compared with 2019 figures. With the continuous growth of the pet industry, a big chunk of this is limited to grooming, nutrition, and the like. With a limited option for health care, pet owners are constantly challenged financially in order to provide for the medical needs of their fur babies.

This is the inspiration behind Cebuana Lhuillier’s Pet Insurance Basic, a microinsurance product especially made for fur babies which is expected to serve as a welcome respite for dog-owners saddled with large veterinary bills for checkups, procedures, and medical emergencies.

“Dogs have always been loyal life companions, so it’s only right that we take care of them, especially during their health emergencies. With responsible pet ownership in mind, Cebuana Lhuillier is proud to introduce a product that’s both accessible and affordable for many of our kababayans who would like to provide their pet dogs with the best care possible, regardless of breed. This highlights our company’s commitment in providing the most relevant and reasonably-priced financial products that correspond to their needs,” said Cebuana Lhuillier and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier.

We can’t deny that dogs provide much-needed companionship, comfort, and happiness in the everyday lives of its owners. This unmistakable bond between pet and owner was further amplified by the more than two years of isolation among Pinoys, especially in the midst of the pandemic. In turn, pet owners are known to only provide the utmost love and care to these pets, whether in the form of pet food and accessories, veterinary consultation, and medicine.

Pet Insurance Basic provides reimbursement from any veterinary treatment or confinement in a vet hospital in the event of an accident or disease, as well as burial assistance in case of death. Pet Insurance also offers a liability coverage feature for when the insured dog causes damage outside the owner’s home. Aside from that, owners are also insured for personal accidents for up to Php 25,000.00. For as low as P1,100.00 or P3.00/day, you can get all of these insurance benefits and features for a one-year coverage.

“Being a responsible pet owner is a commitment to provide for our pet’s needs and it consists of more than simply feeding and playing with them. Part of responsible pet ownership is addressing their physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being for the remainder of the pet's life. Our pet insurance aims to cover the risks that are involved in owning dogs, not just to protect them but to protect pet owners as well,”added Jonathan Batangan, First Vice President and Group Head Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Brokers, Inc.

The introduction of Pet Insurance Basic is a part of Cebuana Lhuillier’s push on producing innovative products that tend to the needs of the general public, especially those covering their protection requirements. Make sure your pets are insured by shopping Pet Insurance Basic online through Shopee and Lazada and get your pets protected, anytime and anywhere.

What pushed Senator JV Ejercito continue serving the Filipinos

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Former Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito seek a Senate position in the 2022 elections.

(Here's  a quick and exclusive interview with the bloggers last Sunday, simple and straight question and answer)

What Pushed Senator JV Ejercito to continue serving the Filipinos?

Ejercito, who is eyeing a comeback at the Senate, to continue the "Unfinished business’, wants to focus on 3 important things when winning again as a Senator. These are the following:

*Universal Healthcare

*Human Settlement or Housing

*Infrastructure Development

His re-run is the promise of a better life for the people and this is the proof of some resolutions and bills that he has served until they are enacted.

* Universal Healthcare

Ejercito said he will continue his fight to provide the Filipinos a better healthcare system, strengthening the implementation of Universal Healthcare Law (UHC), which he authored.

Ejercito expressed hope he could "pick up where he left off" while working at the Senate. He said

"Sayang, especially with this pandemic, I feel that it is my obligation and my duty all the more to push the Universal Healthcare Law, which I sponsored and authored while I was still at the Senate,"

Senator JV Ejercito filed Senate Bill No. 1458, also known as the "Universal Healthcare for All Filipinos Act" which has been approved just recently into law, signed by the President.

"Ito'y aking passion, obligasyon na maisakatuparan ang isang tunay na healthcare system na ang bawat Pilipino ay makikinabang at hindi na mahihirapan without the financial burden."

"Now more than ever, the UHC (Universal Health Care), which is still a work in progress, has to be prioritized and implemented properly."

* Human Settlement or Housing

Senator JV Ejercito also filed Senate Bill No. 1578 or the "Creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development".

Ejercito said the government, for the last 30 years, has no rational and systematic way of addressing the nation’s housing needs.

“We continue to be challenged with problems of overcrowding, restrictions in unlocking land for human settlements, increasing number of homeless people and multiplying families living in slums, riverbanks and danger zones."

What we need is one housing department with one board working towards one direction, creating the roadmap for housing and urban development, leading its implementation, setting the general direction for everyone and able to follow through each and every project with clear functions, policies, budget and financing.”

The lawmaker said the creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development would combine the administrative functions of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the planning and regulatory functions of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

The department would be responsible for all housing and urban concerns, including planning, policy-making, regulations, program coordination, and performance monitoring.

*Infrastructure Development

Ejercito also vowed to prioritize creating a Philippine Comprehensive Infrastructure Master Plan should he get elected again in the Senate.

This master plan, according to Ejercito, will serve as a blueprint for major infrastructure projects in the country that would be in operation for decades.

“Regardless kung sino ang uupong Pangulo, ito ay magiging master plan ng ating bansa for major infrastructure projects. Maaaring tumagal ito ng ilang dekada, ” he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRvmMPMkB98

Ejercito noted that when he was in the Senate, he was one of the most vocal advocates of major transportation infrastructure projects, like the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul in Southern Luzon and the Mindanao Railway System.

Ejercito also said the nation needs major transportation projects like, railway system for economic growth by spreading the development to the countryside.

Ejercito, (with the tag as The Good One)  believes that the aspirations he started will not remain just a dream if he is given another chance to serve our nation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcZu1PPVcFU&t=58s