ASUS ExpertBook B5 and B5 Flip arrive in the Philippines

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ASUS Business launches the first 16-inch OLED ExpertBook Series laptop, designed to meet the needs of the growing hybrid Filipino professionals.

ASUS Philippines expands its ASUS ExpertBook Series with the all-new ExpertBook B5 (B5602C), and ExpertBook B5 Flip (B5602F) laptops. These two new ExpertBook laptops boast a large 16-inch display, 16:10 aspect ratio, and it only weighs 1.4kg despite the device’s large screen.

With the growing demand for hybrid work setup and business laptops in the Philippines, these new ExpertBook B5 series features up to 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processor, with up to Intel Arc™ A350M discrete graphics, dual-fan cooling, AI-powered conferencing technology, and dual-SSD RAID support to meet the needs of the growing modern workflow in the country.

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Grab empowers Filipinos to go All Out this Summer

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 ●       The leading superapp touts several activities both in-app and in its Summer Hangout spots

●       With over 1,000 prizes available for lucky app users, Grab is also going all out with its Summer giveaways which include vouchers, special items, flights, and a trip to Europe for four!

Summer 2023 is in full swing! And after years of missing out on the ultimate Summer experience, Grab Philippines is rallying barkadas and families to go ALL OUT and create new fun and exciting moments this year!

Whatever all-out Summer idea you have, you can make it happen with Grab. Whether you are hanging out in the city or heading to some of the country’s most amazing outdoor destinations, Grab has got you covered with its reliable suite of services, fun activations, and over a thousand exciting prizes!

Unique Gastronomic Experience with GrabFood

GrabFood has a wide selection of restaurants that offer every culinary delight that you can think of! Featuring both local and international flavors, GrabFood lets you create your own unique food exploration that is delivered right to your doorstep!

But if you really are all for that sunkissed, outdoor thrill, feel free to bond with the barkada by going to your favorite restaurants! And make the experience more seamless and convenient by skipping the in-store counter queues with GrabFood’s Self Pick-Up – a feature that allows you to select and pay for your order via the Grab app. Enjoy great deals, too, by making Self Pick-Up orders in restaurants that have the Grab All Out Summer Sticker!

Hassle-Free Summer Vacay Shopping with GrabMart

Don’t worry about the essentials needed for spontaneous summer trips for GrabMart has everything that you can possibly need – from sunscreen to slippers. GrabMart hosts a broad selection of products that are ready for on-demand delivery. These include packaged food, fresh produce, healthcare essentials, personal care items, household products, and even pet supplies. Have these essentials delivered to you instantly or at a time more convenient for you. With GrabMart, there is no more lining up at the grocery store or rushing to the mall for Summer vacay shopping.

Safe, Convenient and Reliable Mobility with GrabCar

An All Out Summer means that you have to be up and about. Do not fuss over the trip to the airport or the roadtrip from one destination to another – just travel worry-free with GrabCar. Being present in Metro Manila and major cities across the Philippines like Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo; GrabCar offers safe, reliable and convenient transportation for every Summer adventurer exploring the country.

And since you are back on the road, make sure to visit the Grab All Out Summer Hangout Spots for exclusive treats and deals. Play games and win challenges in these interactive Summer Hangout Spots. The four spots are located in Market, Market in BGC, Festive Walk Mall in Iloilo, SM Lanang Premier in Davao, and SM CDO Downtown Premier in Cagayan de Oro!

Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera Cruz shares:

“The pandemic has discouraged many of our kababayans from fully celebrating and experiencing summer. This 2023, Grab is here as your reliable partner in creating an exciting Summer experience, and as we continue to widen our geographic footprint and expand our available services in cities and communities across the country, Grab will be every Filipino’s partner towards bespoke and meaningfully curated seasonal experiences. With our on-demand delivery, fun activities, and convenient mobility service, there is no doubt you can go all out this Summer.

To make this Summer even more exciting, Grab is going all out with its prizes for daily app users! The leading super app is giving away over 1,000 prizes such as special deals, exclusive items, domestic flights, and even a Europe trip for four! Check out the Grab app now to learn more about these prizes!

Migrant Workers Wish Mother’s Day was Celebrated on Same Day Globally

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A new survey from WorldRemit, a leading digital remittances company within the Zepz Group, has found that 44 percent of migrant workers wish that Mother’s Day was celebrated on the same day around the world—pointing to the cultural difficulties faced by those who live in a different country to their mother.

Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates across the world, ranging from the second Sunday of February in Norway, to the 14th of May in the Philippines and even to the 15th of October in Malawi.

The multi-country survey was conducted in February with 3,000 participants to understand how migrants celebrate their relationship with their mothers.

Multiple Mother’s Days

Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates across the world. The most popular dates being the second Sunday in May (such as in the United States of America, Australia, and Philippines) and the fourth week of Lent in March (such as in the United Kingdom and Nigeria).

The survey found that while 95 percent of respondents celebrate Mother’s Day, nearly a quarter (23 percent) agree that it is easy to forget when Mother’s Day is celebrated in their family’s country of origin.

While the majority of respondents (44%) celebrate Mother’s Day on the day their  country of residence celebrates, over a third (35%) of respondents noted that they celebrate Mother’s Day twice a year; recognising the celebratory date in their family’s country of origin, in addition to the country they currently reside in.

44% of respondents agree that they wish that Mother’s Day was celebrated on the same day around the world.

The Impact of Mothers

Mothers and mother figures play a significant role in many people’s lives. Often, they act as a confidante, advisor, friend, and caretaker in one. When asked to describe their mother in three words, top responses from participants included “trustworthy,” “devoted,” “strong,” and “selfless.”

WorldRemit’s survey found that 97% of respondents agree that their mother has been influential in shaping them as a person. In addition, 97% of respondents agree that their mother had helped them to get to where they are in their lives currently. Finally, 96% of respondents agree that their mother supports them in their life choices.

Gifting on Mother’s Day

According to the WorldRemit survey, the most popular way to celebrate Mother’s Day is by sending a gift, which is how 72 percent of respondents would mark the day. Other popular celebrations include eating out and visiting family.

Flowers were revealed as the most popular gift choice, with 63 percent citing that they planned on giving them on Mother’s Day. On the more practical side, 57 percent of participants said that they would send their mother money instead.

This Mother’s Day, WorldRemit encourages all migrant workers across the globe to celebrate their mothers or mother figures—be it through a small gift or a written note of appreciation to say “thank you.”

Methodology

International money senders aged 18 and above voluntarily responded to a 22 question survey in February about the role of their mother in their lives and their remittance behaviors.

The survey took place on the Attest platform and resulted in 3,000 responses from people who celebrate Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States of America. Those who responded that they do not celebrate Mother’s Day were exited from the survey to create a viable participant base.

No quotas (e.g. gender, age) were set for this survey so results are not intended to be nationally representative.

About WorldRemit

We are a leading global payments company and, along with Sendwave, part of Zepz, a group powering two global remittance brands.

We disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online – making them safer, faster and lower cost. We currently operate in more than 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ over 1,200 people globally.

Sending money with WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, we offer a wide range of options, including bank transfer, cash pickup, airtime top up and mobile money.

Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog – WorldRemit’s headquarters are in London, United Kingdom, with regional offices in the United States, Poland, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Somaliland, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Belgium.

www.worldremit.com

Asialink taps UBX for digitalization of finance business

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UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, has been named the official technology partner of Asialink Finance Corp., one of the leading non-bank financial institutions in the Philippines that provides secured business loans, and personal financing and refinancing products nationwide, as it expands and improves its suite of financial services for the benefit of millions of Filipinos.

Under the agreement, UBX will support Asialink in digitally transforming its lending processes via UBX SeekCap and its payment collections, enabling it to expand the reach and operational efficiency of its already lucrative lending business.

“UBX and Asialink share the same goal of driving financial inclusion not only for individuals but also for growing businesses. Through this partnership, we will co-create various digital financial solutions that are sustainable and inclusive, promoting economic growth and recovery in the long run,” UBX Business lead for Lending Magelllan Fetalino said.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up around 99.51 percent of all businesses in the Philippines. Traditionally, these businesses have no access to financing to grow due to the stringent requirements imposed by banking institutions. The partners aim to further democratize access to this financial tool to empower small businesses to accelerate their growth and contribute even more to the economy.

The UBX and Asialink partnership will simplify the processing of business loans through a digital platform, cutting down the costs and lead approval time for loans. At present, most banks provide a minimum approval time of 30 days, with high-interest rates and burdensome requirements which are designed to discourage lenders from availing loans.

“Asialink’s vision is to be at the forefront of the financing industry, by providing inclusive financial access to MSMEs and their Communities, in the Philippines and Asia, a goal that we share with UBX. By providing accessible, fast, and convenient loans which will be powered with UBX’s technologies, we are several steps closer towards achieving our goals as strong government partners for economic growth, while making a positive impact on the lives of Filipinos both in the country and abroad,” said Eillen B. Mangubat, President and COO of Asialink Finance Corporation

In 2022, UBX doubled down on collaborations with various players in different industries such as the metaverse, insurance, the women’s sector, and even government institutions to advance its goal of including everyone.

“Our strategy is to join hands with like-minded organizations to advance our goal of inclusive finance. As the country’s leading open finance platform, we are always on the lookout to partner with companies–and recently, even government institutions–which aim to shape the future of finance and sustainability,” UBX President and CEO John Januszczak

Philippines’ healthcare mega app mWell strengthens global healthcare foothold with back-to-back international awards

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Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s (MPIC) mWell continues to blaze trails in digital healthcare globally as it was named the winner of two Gold Stevie® Awards in the Innovation in Health & Wellness and Most Innovative Startup of the Year- Business Service Industries categories in the 10th annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards. mWell is the only Philippine entry to bring home the Gold Award in these two categories. Bronze winners include Vietnam, Taiwan, and Australia.

The two Gold Stevie® Awards come at the heels of being chosen as the Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life in the 2023 Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards, held during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all 29 nations of the Asia-Pacific region.  The Stevie Awards are widely considered to be the world's premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in programs such as The International Business Awards® for 21 years. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the winners will be celebrated during a virtual (online) awards ceremony on Tuesday, 27 June. 

More than 800 nominations from organizations across the Asia-Pacific region were considered this year in categories such as Award for Excellence in Innovation in Products & Services, Award for Innovative Management, and Award for Innovation in Corporate Websites, among many others.  Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 100 executives around the world acting as judges in February and March.

“This recognition is a welcome affirmation of our work in healthcare,” says mWell Chairman and MPIC Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan. “The goal is to improve the lives of all Filipinos, and this will inspire us to keep pushing boundaries in creating innovative healthcare solutions.”

mWell CEO and President and MPIC Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla said “As the Philippines’ healthcare mega app, this award fortifies our commitment to harnessing the power of technology as we make healthcare available, accessible, and affordable for more Filipinos wherever they may be in the world. Through our innovative digital solutions, we will continue being an ally in every step of the wellness journey—not just as an app but as a fully integrated, fully digital healthcare ecosystem worthy of global recognition.”

“The 10th edition of the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards attracted many remarkable nominations,” said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller.  “The organizations that won this year have demonstrated that they are committed to being innovative, and we applaud them for their perseverance and creativity.  We look forward to celebrating many of this year’s winners during our virtual awards ceremony on 27 June.”

mWell’s achievement comes soon after being recognized as the Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life in the recently concluded 2023 Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards, held during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Recognized in the new Digital Everything category, mWell is the first in the Philippines to receive this most prestigious accolade in the mobile industry, judged by more than 200 independent judges from across the world, comprised of leading industry and subject matter experts, analysts, journalists, and academics. It celebrates companies, individuals, and governments who have driven the greatest innovation in mobile and adjacent industries.

The country’s fully integrated and fully digital healthcare platform consistently holds its spot among the top health and fitness app in Google Play Store.

The top health app for telemedicine

An accredited telemedicine partner of the Department of health, mWell has redefined telemedicine in the Philippines via a seamless, fully digital experience. Choosing a doctor, consulting on video (within 3 minutes waiting time), receiving an e-prescription and getting a medical certificate all happen in the app.

Patients may consult online 24/7 with over over 800 Primary Care doctors, specialists, and mind health experts. They can even have their medicines delivered to their doorsteps via MedExpress.  Furthermore, mWell provides a digital medical ID which empowers users to keep track of their own personal record which they can easily access. All records are stored in mWell’s secure platform.

Top global healthcare app for OFWs

mWell enables the delivery of healthcare services to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families via a partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers. Breaking barriers through digital healthcare, mWell gives over 1.8 million OFWs access to highly-trained Filipino partner-doctors —internal medicine specialists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, and more. In just a few taps, they can consult right away with Filipino-speaking doctors, 24/7 or book an appointment at their convenience.

mWell has also made the Healthsavers Plan available globally to Filipino migrant workers who sacrifice being away from families to provide food on the table and education for their children. They may easily send their families the health pass as a gift and allow them to conveniently consult with mWell partner-doctors. The Healthsavers Plan P399 comes with one consultation and free accident insurance worth P20,000.

Top name in wellness

On top of telemedicine, mWell promotes overall wellbeing through preventive healthcare features. mWell is the first and only health app in the PH which allows users to track their health for free using the mWellness Score. Developed by award-winning data scientists, it measures physical health based on daily activities – exercise, light activity, steps, sleep.  This serves as a guide to achieving a healthy physical lifestyle for long-term health. 

Specialized fitness programs, including diabetes prevention and post-partum exercise designed to assist new moms to get back in shape safely and healthily are also found on the app.   Calorie-controlled recipes created by nutritionists are also easily accessible.

mWell is the only healthcare app among the convenor organizations and supporting companies of the GoDigital Pilipinas (GDP) movement. It has truly set the standards in digital healthcare and changed lives through the power of technology. More innovative features will soon be unveiled by the country’s first fully integrated, fully digital health and wellness app.

As part of the MPIC Group, mWell is committed to working towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. It also supports the MVP Group’s Gabay Kalusugan advocacy focusing on quality and affordable healthcare.

Download the mWell PH app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and register. Follow mWell on Facebook and mwellph on Instagram for more updates.            

                       

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ABOUT mWell

mWell, is the health technology platform developed by Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation that offers telemedicine, health and wellness programs, e-commerce, among others, in an integrated, tech-based healthcare digital ecosystem. Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, the leading infrastructure investment company in the Philippines with investments in various infrastructure assets including healthcare.