What drives an entrepreneur to start a business?

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The rise of e-commerce platforms in recent times has made it easier for Filipinos across the country to start their own online businesses.

Apart from generating income, there are multiple factors – both personal and external – that inspire a person to start their own business. With this increasing interest, what are the motivations that drive someone to become an entrepreneur?

For overseas Filipino workers like Donald, becoming an entrepreneur meant being able to spend more time with his family. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Donald worked in the UAE hotel industry. Although he was able to provide for his family, being away limited him from celebrating special occasions and milestones, so he decided to go home in 2019. When he got back to the Philippines, he made a living out of selling hotel-grade curtains and bedsheets to leverage his hotel industry experience. Initially, he marketed his products through door-to-door sales, but since he was away from his family for a long time, he wanted to spend more time at home. This is why he decided to start selling online.

Donald set up a shop on Shopee to expand his reach to a nationwide audience and boost his sales, all from the comfort of his own home. Today, he has over 100 employees helping him run his Shopee store, and is now able to spend more time with his family. “When I was away, I was never able to celebrate holidays with my family. I took the leap to go home and start my own business – which has changed my life for the better,” shared Donald.

“Because I started selling online with Shopee, time with my family is now a luxury I can enjoy since I can run my business from home. I’ve learned a lot from my journey as an entrepreneur, but I know that business is always changing. I need to adapt, change, and innovate, and Shopee makes it easier for me to do that with new features, tools, and online courses that I can access from my home.”

Meanwhile, for hobbyists like Heron, starting his own business enabled him to build relationships with his customers, and even foster a sense of community with those who share the same interests as him. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he was already an avid collector of imported action figures. When he chose to sell some items from his personal collection, Heron realized he could make a business out of his hobby. With his knowledge on the niche market of collecting action figures, Heron successfully set up his own store. Although he initially started out with a traditional brick and mortar store, he eventually transitioned to e-commerce and sold collector’s items on Shopee.

With Shopee, he was able to grow a customer base who have the same interests and hobbies. He maximizes the platform’s features to directly communicate with his buyers, and build affinity for his business. “I never expected that my hobby would turn into my full-time job. When I needed to sell some of my items to build my savings, it felt like a happy accident that there were many people like me who share the same interests and are interested in buying my action figures,” shared Heron.

“When I joined Shopee, it helped me take my business even further because it became easier to track my stocks, monitor sales, and reach new customers with the different in-app features. My relationship manager has also been a big help in guiding me every step of the way. I didn’t know how to start, but it became a lot easier with Shopee. Everything just fell into the right place at the right time.”

If there’s anything Donald and Heron’s stories have shown, it’s that becoming a successful entrepreneur is within arm’s reach. It takes drive, determination, and personal experience that spark a sense of entrepreneurship for one to take that leap and start their own business. Shopee commits itself to helping entrepreneurs drive their businesses forward through the multiple benefits of e-commerce.

If you want to become an entrepreneur and grow your business online with the numerous benefits of e-commerce, start your online selling journey with Shopee today. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

The Sandman: The dream continues

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The Sandman will return with new episodes based on multiple volumes of the Neil Gaiman graphic novels to explore even more stories of the Endless.

Courtesy of Netflix

Watch the announcement here.

About THE SANDMAN:

When the Sandman, aka Dream (Tom Sturridge) — the powerful cosmic being who controls all our dreams — is unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for over a century, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused.

Based on the beloved award-winning DC comic series written by Neil Gaiman, THE SANDMAN is a rich, character-driven blend of myth and dark fantasy woven together over the course of ten epic chapters following Dream’s many adventures. Developed and executive produced by Gaiman, showrunner Allan Heinberg, and David S. Goyer, THE SANDMAN is Produced by Warner Bros. Television. 

The series also stars Boyd Holbrook, Patton Oswalt, Vivienne Acheampong, Gwendoline Christie, Charles Dance, Jenna Coleman, David Thewlis, Stephen Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston, Vanesu Samunyai (formerly known as "Kyo Ra"), John Cameron Mitchell, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Joely Richardson, Niamh Walsh, Sandra James-Young and Razane Jammal.

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UnionDigital Banks 1.73-M Customers in Four Months, Onboards PDAX as First Corporate Account Customer

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UnionDigital Bank, the digital banking subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines, today announced that it has acquired 1.73-M customers, reached US$ 70-M in loan book size, and collected US$ 50-M in deposits from its first four months of operations in the country. UnionDigital Bank has achieved double digit growth in digital loans to mass market communities through ecosystem partnerships powered by UnionBank.

“Since our launch, UnionDigital Bank has been focusing on serving the needs of the underserved communities within UnionBank by offering digital deposit and lending products to our ecosystem, and we will continue to support the needs of these customers with additional products overtime,” shared Arvie de Vera, co-founder, President, and CEO, UnionDigital Bank. “The series of milestones that we have been able to achieve is a testament to the strong execution power of the team, in accordance with our community-led business model.”

de Vera further credits this achievement to the Digital Bank’s “laser focus” on the fundamentals: prioritizing the balance sheet.

“As a bank we’re very clear: it’s not just about having a cool app or millions of users who don’t generate revenue - it’s about a balance sheet. It’s about growing the loan book because that’s where the revenues come from- it doesn’t come from payments, it doesn’t come from sign ups. Valuation is great, but it’s not profitability.”

As a subsidiary of the Philippine’s largest techglomerate, UnionDigital Bank’s success in growing its loan book is due in part to its sophisticated use of available data of consumer behavior within the larger Aboitiz ecosystem to create tailor-fit loan products.

“If you’re lending within an ecosystem, you have an anchor community, and that’s a robust way to provide credit because you have more data. Rather than using payments data, which is really not a good proxy for someone’s capacity and willingness to pay. But if you have robust set of data with context on their financial behavior, then you can properly price the risk, because you have historical data on the customer, you know you can give him a customized interest rate. A one-size-fits-all pricing is an inappropriate lending business strategy and sub-optimal consumer experience.”

UnionDigital Bank’s mission to drive financial inclusion begins with improving access to credit to the underserved communities by capitalizing on technology and decades of alternative data from the UnionBank ecosystem to create robust credit models that fit the Philippines.

In yet another milestone, UnionDigital Bank onboarded its first corporate account customer, Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX), marking the commencement of accumulating corporate account openings at UnionDigital Bank. Following PDAX, UnionDigital Bank aims to expand its partnership base with other leading communities and corporates, following its commercial launch.

Starting with PDAX, UnionDigital Bank has been expanding its partnership base with other leading communities and corporations. UnionDigital Bank looks to provide a smooth customer experience for corporates to make payments, transfer money, and even more core banking services such as treasury services, empowering businesses to do more with their financial assets.

"Corporate partnerships are vital to helping us reach the communities who need it the most. They are integral to the cohesive network the bank seeks to build and I believe their involvement is critical to reaching a fully digital Philippines," said de Vera. "With this in mind, the start we’ve had with PDAX joining us on our journey affirms my excitement to include more corporate partners. We look forward to collaborating with partners of the same caliber to maximize the difference we bring to the financial lives of fellow Filipinos.”

The PDAX corporate account partnership demonstrates how UnionDigital Bank is committed to being approachable to fintechs and regulated institutions by offering products relevant to them, their community, and partners.

“We are confident that UnionDigital Bank offers the banking solutions that digital natives, such as PDAX, need to continuously grow,” said Nichel Gaba, Founder & CEO, PDAX.

UnionDigital Bank dares to make bold strides that result in direct changes to how Filipinos interact with their finances digitally. A homegrown fintech expert, PDAX, being the digital bank’s first customer is a good start to kick things off, continuing our rally to support our higher purpose of Tech-ing Up Philippines.

The UnionDigital Bank app is now live for a limited set of customers. For now, the app is currently available by invitation only. Future updates on the launch will be available through the digital bank’s social media channels on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

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About UnionDigital Bank

UnionDigital Bank is a digital bank entity wholly owned by UnionBank of the Philippines. We are a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) licensed digital bank that aims to empower the country’s journey towards a fully digital economy. We enable Filipino communities, businesses, and regulators to leverage FinTech, Blockchain, and Open Finance technologies to achieve inclusive prosperity.

UnionDigital Bank is primed to pave the way for the future of finance and for the democratization of access to digital banking and virtual assets, empowering the lives of Filipino communities. Learn more at www.uniondigitalbank.io.

PDAX believes that blockchain technology and digital assets are the key to financial inclusion in the Philippines and can create a level playing field that can empower Filipinos. For more information on PDAX, visit www.pdax.ph.

REP CAROUSEL stars share the thrill and weight of mounting one of musical theater’s masterpieces

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Karylle Tatlonghari and Gian Magdangal talk about the challenge of bringing ‘troubled’ roles to life

How does it feel being part of a restaging of one of Broadway’s iconic musicals? For the stars of the upcoming Repertory Philippines (REP) production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CAROUSEL, the opportunity is both a thrill and a responsibility. 

Sought-after theater leading man Gian Magdangal and singer, actor, and OPM royalty Karylle Tatlonghari, who are both headlining a REP show for the first time, have shared their experiences in the past months of preps and rehearsals. CAROUSEL is directed by writer, director, producer, and congressman Toff De Venecia.

“As theater actors, we are all just so enthusiastic to be given this chance to do what we’re passionate about. As for me, I couldn’t be any more grateful to be working with the best of Philippine theater,” says Karylle who plays Julie Jordan, a sweet yet naïve millworker. “I’m trying my best to keep up with them and it’s a great feeling because I’m learning a lot. My mind is expanding, and every inch of my body is excited and living in this beautiful moment. It’s been a personal rediscovery for me, too.”

“It has been an exhilarating experience, being reunited with theater friends and working with REP for the first time. We can’t wait to see what we have been preparing for the past months. It has been an out-of-the-box experience, and it feels like home at the same time,” shares Gian who plays Billy Bigelow, a swaggering and charismatic carnival barker. “There is simply nothing like live theater.”

A masterwork by the legendary theater-writing duo of Richard Rodgers (Music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (Book and Lyrics), CAROUSEL’s original 1945 production won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical, and was hailed by Time Magazine as the greatest musical of the 20th century. Its revivals picked up Tony, Olivier, and Drama Desk Awards, a testament to this R&H classic’s timeless and universal appeal.

CAROUSEL isn’t only a love story between Billy and Julie, it is also a moving tale that underlines the transcendent power of love and hope in changing the course of one’s destiny. It features some of musical theater classics like If I Loved You, June is Bustin’ Out All Over, and You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Toff de Venecia, who has a contemporary, self-aware, and socially conscious vision for REP’s comeback musical, has nothing but praises for the two leads and the rest of the ensemble who have all been dedicated in bringing the show to life in a way that feels right for today’s theatergoers.

“Gian and Karylle are both thinking actors. They keep me on my toes,” he exclaims. “We are discovering new things every day, and their viewpoints and commitment to their craft and the kind of story we want to tell bring a lot of gold and brilliance to the production.”

Now on its fifth decade of bringing acclaimed classics and original productions to Filipino theatergoers, REP has been consciously moving towards progressive, dynamic, and culturally relevant narratives—something that CAROUSEL is expected to concretize and kickstart.

The leads have also weighed in on this challenge and its impact on how they portray their characters. “You’re thinking it’s such a happy musical but if you dig deeper and read the lines, you’ll see that Julie is suffering so much. We are already in a mindset that what Julie is going through is something that’s happening in real life,” Karylle explains.

“Billy was such a troubled soul, but aren’t we all troubled souls at some point in our lives? But since we’re all different from each other, we also have different ways of coping with life’s challenges,” Gian emphasizes. 

Theater stalwarts Loy Martinez, Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, Noel Rayos, Mia Bolaños, Roxy Aldiosa, Red Nuestro, Cara Barredo, Steven Hotchkiss, Paula Paguio, Roby Malubay, Gia Gequinto, Julio Laforteza, Kyla Rivera-Soong, and Czar Decena round out the ensemble.

Catch REP’s CAROUSEL from November 26 to December 18 at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. Tickets will be available through the CCP Box Office and TicketWorld. Ticket prices are ₱3,000 for Rows 1 and 2, ₱2,500 for Row 3, ₱2,000 for Row 4, ₱1,500 for Row 5, and ₱1,000 for Row 6.

For updates, like and follow @repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram and check out https://repertoryphilippines.ph. Companies, educators and school representatives who are interested in the show can email sales@repphil.org.

#GirlsCan make a difference as World Vision culminates initiative for young Filipina

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As the world celebrated the International Day of the Girl last October 11, World Vision Philippines successfully mounted its #GirlsCan campaign which highlighted the need to support and empower girls for a brighter future. The advocacy was able to gain over 700 sponsorships since its launch last August, with the help of various celebrities, partners and sponsors.

Multi-awarded actress and World Vision Ambassador Jasmine Curtis-Smith, together with Miss Universe Philippines 2020 candidate and fashion entrepreneur Ericka Evangelista and content creators Janina Vela and Lyqa Maravilla led in voicing out that empowered girls, empower girls.

The Women Business Council of the Philippines (WomenBiz) along with the other partners – Globe Kmmunity, Ever Bilena, Hello Glow, Lazada, Shoppee, Club of Marikina North Rotary, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Hera and Plus Network, made it big for the campaign. Adarna House pledged part of their sales to aid programs for girl empowerment.

Papemelroti paved the way for International Day of the Girl by offering an exclusive and personalized #GirlsCan articulated paper dolls as freebie when you visit their stores! You can collect the rest of the dolls each time you donate Php1,000 to World Vision’s #GirlsCan campaign.

Today, various issues surrounding girls in the country remain and violence against children is one of the major concerns, in fact there is an increase of 264% cases in online sexual exploitation. In education, over 2 million girls drop out from school while more adolescent girls get pregnant and give birth every day.

“Despite the many advances that we have achieved over the years in promoting the rights of children, unfortunately, there are a lot of issues still affecting girls around the world. The harsh realities faced by girls underpin the necessity for us citizens to advance their rights,” said Ms. Vanessa Retuerma, World Vision Director for Strategy Management, Impact and Learning.

While poverty remains to be the leading cause of these alarming problems, there are always ways on how to empower girls to break free. Just imagine what #GirlsCan do if we give them a better future ahead. They can be an influence for good and they can change lives.

To know how you can support #GirlsCan, visit https://t.co/RAUn2HPxP7 or follow World Vision’s official social media pages /worldvisionph on Facebook, @worldvisionphl on Instagram, and @worldvisionph on Twitter.

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About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.