COMCO recognized in MarCom awards in USA, ICCO Global Awards in UK, and Campaign Asia-Pacific Awards in HK

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COMCO Southeast Asia, the New PR and Smart Social agency of global award-winning and powerhouse communications group COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, and its partner brand Century Tuna, the leading canned tuna product in the Philippines, continue to garner recognition from various international award-giving organizations including MarCom Awards in USA, International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) Global Awards in the United Kingdom and Campaign Asia-Pacific Awards in Hong Kong.

Campaign Asia-Pacific Awards 2023

COMCO Southeast Asia is shortlisted for PR Agency of the Year in the Philippines in the prestigious and most-coveted Campaign Asia-Pacific Awards 2023, an annual ceremony participated by media, advertising, creative, digital, PR, independent, and specialist agencies from across the Asia Pacific region and the United Kingdom. The Campaign Asia-Pacific Awards' PR Agency of the Year is given to agencies and consultancies that champion and inspire leadership, excellence in management, and outstanding business performance in PR consultancy.

The voice of the media, marketing, and advertising community, Campaign Asia-Pacific delves into compelling information in the communication market globally. Campaign Asia-Pacific also focuses on the ideas, works, and personalities that shape the communications and events industry.

Celebrating outstanding achievements and milestones, COMCO Southeast Asia championed meaningful storytelling through igniting brand love, social change, talent growth, and inter-regional collaboration. With its strategy to invest in creating specialist units to create an integrated multi-channel campaign and strengthen its team care program and workplace community culture, COMCO SEA championed strategic integrated communications under the leadership of its Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder Ferdinand L. Bondoy.

COMCO SEA forges towards the fast-changing PR landscape by offering New PR – a strategy-based, content-driven, and channel-agnostic way of doing PR, and Smart Social – a holistic, authentic, and integrated approach in the maximization of digital and social channels.

MarCom Awards 2023

Meanwhile, COMCO Southeast Asia together with its brand partner Century Tuna marks another feat as the globally acclaimed MarCom Awards 2023 in USA confers the Platinum Award for Strategic Communications for the “Saving Our Seas” initiative.

The MarCom Awards underscores excellence in marketing and communication by recognizing the creativity, hard work, and generosity of professionals in the industry. This award-giving body acknowledges companies and agencies that also champion service to the community. Administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), the MarCom Awards receive about 6,500 entries annually. The AMCP is composed of marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, digital, and web professionals worldwide.

Anchored on the goal to protect the marine biodiversity in the Philippines, Century Tuna launched the “Saving Our Seas” Initiative to address the threat of the growing problem of plastic pollution. The Saving Our Seas initiative also became an avenue to empower Filipinos to join the battle against plastic waste and reinforce the idea of Plastic Circular Economy. COMCO Southeast Asia is the official PR and Communications partner of Century Tuna, for its "Saving Our Seas" initiative.

Aside from the Platinum recognition by MarCom Awards 2023, the “Saving Our Seas” initiative was shortlisted for Best Purpose Campaign at the ICCO Global Awards 2023 making Century Tuna and COMCO Southeast Asia the lone brand and PR agency from the Philippines to be shortlisted in the aforementioned award-giving body.

With the annual awards programme that recognizes the excellence and effectiveness of public relations around the world, the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) is an avenue for the best PR consultancies around the world to promote quality, address ethical issues, harmonize professional PR consultancy practice, and share knowledge.

“We are extremely honored that our works have been noticed by these internationally acclaimed award-giving bodies. We really look up to these organizations and with our works being recognized across the world, we know that together with our brand partners, we are able to reach communities, not only in the Philippines but on a global scale through Meaningful Storytelling,” said COMCO Mundo’s Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder Mr. Ferdinand Bondoy.

The awarding ceremony for the ICCO Global Awards will be held on November 29 at The Waldorf Hotel in London, United Kingdom while the Awards Presentation Event for Campaign Asia Agency of the Year Award for Asia-Pacific will be held on December 7 at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia in Singapore.

To learn more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: fb.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter. Stay updated with COMCO Mundo by visiting www.comcomundo.com or following fb.com/comcomundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo on LinkedIn, and @comcomundo on Instagram.

Republic Cement Wins Presidential Awards for Environmental Preservation Excellence and Best Mining Forest

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BAGUIO CITY – Republic Cement & Building Materials (RCBM) once again won big at the recently held 69th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) last November 17, 2023 at the CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center, Camp John Hay, Baguio City.

Representatives from Republic Cement receive Presidential Awards for Environmental Performance and Best Mining Forest at the recently concluded 69th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC).

The Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) in cooperation and partnership with Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) and Mines & Geosciences Bureau (MGB) recognized RCBM for its achievements and best practices in Quarry Operations, Safety, and excellence in Mining Forestry and quarry rehabilitation.

Republic Cement is proud to have received the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) for Quarry Operations for its Batangas and Teresa plant, the highest honor awarded in the industry, while its Bulacan plant received the Platinum Award in the same category. The PMIEA recognizes companies who are distinguished for superior performance in health and safety, environmental management, reforestation, and social development and management.

Republic Cement Bulacan plant was also recognized with the Best Mining Forest – Non-Metallic Category while its Teresa Plant received the 3rd Runner-up commendation in the same category. Its Batangas Plant was also recognized as a runner up for Safest Quarry Operations.

“While this serves as a testament to our best practices, more importantly, it is a recognition of our commitment to the shared growth we endeavor for with our communities and the environments we operate within,” shared RCBM President Lloyd Vicente. “We look forward to rising to the challenge of doing even more moving forward to push the responsible management of environmental and natural resources even further,” he added.

Republic Cement thanks PMSEA and government partners DENR and MGB for the prestigious awards and also extends its’ congratulations to other industry peers and awardees.

Through this recognition, Republic Cement’s continues its unceasing commitment to the safe and sustainable operation of our quarries, the continued growth and development of its partner communities; and the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the environment towards building a greener, Stronger Republic.

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About Republic Cement

Republic Cement is a leading local cement manufacturing and distribution company in the Philippines with a nationwide footprint. Together with its subsidiaries, it focuses on being the trusted solutions partner for building a greener, stronger Republic. It is backed by the global expertise of CRH, a leading building materials company headquartered in Ireland, and Aboitiz, a diversified Filipino business conglomerate recognized as one of the best-managed companies in Asia. For more information, visit www.republiccement.com

Harvard and Stanford-founded insurtech startup Hive Health transforms healthcare access for SMEs with HMO acquisition

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Hive Health, a digital health insurance startup founded at Harvard and Stanford Universities in 2021, has made a significant leap forward in transforming healthcare access for Filipinos with its acquisition of Health Plan Philippines, Inc. (HPPI), one of the pioneering Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) service providers in the country.

"We have just begun the hard work of making healthcare radically more accessible. The goal is for all Filipinos to feel secure that their health is taken care of, and to give employers a sustainable way to take part in making that happen," stated Camille Ang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hive Health. “Hive Health’s journey to date, especially with the acquisition of HPPI, marks a significant milestone, not just for our company but also for the Philippine startup landscape. It underscores the potential of startups like Hive Health to shrink the change and make an impact on intractable problems.”

With this strategic initiative, Hive Health will be able to share its technology and data-driven innovations with HPPI’s existing members. Moreover, it will be able to integrate HPPI’s nationwide provider network and institutional knowledge built across 37 years with its core capabilities to further redefine the patient experience across virtual and in-person care.

“Hive Health has been a valued partner of HPPI given our shared missions. I have seen how the team is able to deliver changes to improve the patient experience much faster than I would have expected, and how they genuinely care about making healthcare accessible to more Filipinos. We are excited for the journey ahead as Hive Health and HPPI join forces," shared Natasha  Reyes, CEO of HPPI.

Hive Health, as a full-stack digital health insurer, offers hassle-free, comprehensive HMO health plans for SMEs and startups, encompassing outpatient, inpatient, emergency, and dental care through an extensive nationwide network of 1,700 hospitals and clinics, and over 60,000 doctors across the country.

“We started Hive Health with the mission to make healthcare more accessible in the Philippines and in many other developing countries where social safety nets are capped. Our goal is to leverage tech and data to make quality healthcare more affordable and easier to use, especially for the underserved SME segment,” said Jiawen Tang, President and Co-Founder of Hive Health.

Hive Health's digital platform empowers patients to manage their own care and their dependents' care effortlessly—enabling tasks such as requesting letters of approval within minutes to allow patients to skip the long lines in hospitals, viewing plan benefits, finding nearby providers, scheduling annual physical exams, and accessing medical records — all from their phone or computer. Additionally, members enjoy fast out-of-network reimbursements within 3-5 days and exclusive wellness perks.

“We’re also proud of our one-of-a-kind vertically integrated telehealth and care coordination model that bridges virtual and in-person care. Patients can book on-demand video teleconsultations with our team of Hive doctors, who use our in-house electronic medical records system to enable patients to get more accurate diagnoses and access the right care whenever they need it,” Tang explained.  

The company is also dedicated to promoting inclusivity for minorities such as LGBTQIA+ and domestic partners while offering essential benefits like mental health, medicine, preventive care, and maternity care.

Furthermore, for small business owners and HR managers who have limited bandwidth to go through cumbersome paperwork, Hive Health’s HR dashboard simplifies onboarding and offboarding, streamlines invoicing, and empowers business owners and HR to encourage employee engagement and wellness.

Challenging journey ignites healthcare revolution

Born from personal experiences and the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hive Health's founders, Ang and Tang, were motivated to address the gaps in healthcare accessibility and affordability in the Philippines. In particular, the limited coverage and frustrating processes of existing health plans inspired the duo to pioneer transformative changes in the healthcare landscape.

During the pandemic, both Ang and Tang were simultaneously pursuing dual MBA and MPA in International Development degrees at Harvard and Stanford.

“We learned that over 1.5M Filipinos are forced into poverty each year due to health shocks, while a surprising <10% of the population have access to health plans beyond PhilHealth. For those that are lucky to have an employer-sponsored health plan, the average out-of-pocket spend is at 56%, and Filipinos find it quite difficult to use one’s health plan,” shared Ang, who grew up in the Philippines.

Having earned accolades from esteemed institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, including the grand prize at the Harvard New Venture Competition that propelled Grab's launch in 2011, and gaining support from leading global venture capital firms including YCombinator, the premier tech accelerator in Silicon Valley, the duo embarked on bringing their thesis coupled with personal challenges into action in 2021.

Hive’s impact is already being felt by SMEs across the country. InvestEd CEO Carmina Bayombong notes how Hive Health’s patient-first approach is truly differentiated. “Our employees are super happy. They tell me that they never want to go back to these brick and mortar HMOs. I myself experienced this—I first tried to line up for a Letter of Authorization (LOA) in the hospital but decided to test Hive’s in-app LOA feature while in line. I was so shocked that it came even before it was my turn in line, while other HMOs take 3 days. I ended up saving both time and money.”

With a steadfast commitment to making quality healthcare accessible to all, Hive Health is on a mission to ensure that all Filipino employees receive the best possible care, starting with their groundbreaking health plans.

 

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ABOUT HIVE HEALTH

Hive Health is a digital health platform that offers hassle-free HMO plans tailor-made for small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines.

For business owners and HR professionals who want to provide the best for their team, Hive Health provides a hassle-free experience through our all-in-one digital platform. With inclusive dependent policies and comprehensive benefits typically not offered to smaller teams, such as mental health sessions, maternity care, and medicine coverage, we ensure that all employees and their loved ones get the best care possible.

Founded at Harvard and Stanford and backed by top global investors such as Y Combinator, Beenext, and Gentree Fund, this award-winning startup is revolutionizing access to quality, affordable healthcare for millions of Filipinos, one SME at a time.

To learn more, visit our website: ourhivehealth.com 

 

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ABOUT THE FOUNDERS

Camille Ang, CEO and Co-Founder

Camille Ang is the CEO and Co-Founder at Hive Health. Prior to Hive Health, she has worked across various roles in public-private partnership (PPP). As a Private Equity Executive at Macquarie, the world’s largest infrastructure fund manager with ~$US$573 billion assets under management, she has managed large global and local insurance funds, and played critical roles in the acquisition and management of companies in the Philippines and across South East Asia.

She has also extensively worked on PPP policies and projects with the government of the Philippines, McKinsey & Company, and the Rwandan Development Board. During her stint with the Philippine

Department of Transportation and Communications, she led pioneering PPP deals for the government including the Mactan-Cebu International Airport - the 1st airport PPP in the Philippines which received  international awards. In addition, Camille has worked in the technology space in Africa, particularly through Knife Capital, a leading venture capital firm in South Africa.

Camille has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MPA-International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School. She graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with a B.S. in Management Engineering.

Jiawen Tang, President and Co-Founder

Jiawen Tang is the President and Co-Founder at Hive Health. Prior to Hive Health, she led data science and digital development initiatives with the IMF, World Bank, and UN, and spearheaded economic development projects with TechnoServe Swaziland, a global nonprofit that takes a business approach to reduce poverty. Previously, as an Engagement Manager at Oliver Wyman based in New York, she led transformational strategy & operations projects across consumer, financial services and eCommerce, including developing the go-to-market payments product strategy for a global marketplace player with multi-billion dollar revenue impact. In partnership with the IMF, she is a published co-author of first-of-its-kind research on real-time macro forecasts of economic activity in Africa for COVID-19 using machine learning techniques & innovative open-source data.

Jiawen has an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and an MPA-International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School. She graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University with a B.A. in Economics-Political Science.

Mang Inasal Creators' Circle wins in 2023 Dragons of Asia

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Mang Inasal, the Philippines' Grill Expert, was named Black Dragon winner in the 2023 Dragons of Asia for its Mang Inasal Creators’ Circle (MICC).

MICC, a first-of-its-kind, brand-managed influencer community composed of nano-influencers to mega-influencers from different parts of the country, was among the award recipients under the Best Brand Building/Awareness Campaign category.

“MICC is one of the biggest post-pandemic milestones for Mang Inasal as we bring the brand closer to the communities we serve,” said Mang Inasal President Mike V. Castro. "We thank all MICC members for their contribution in bringing all the great Mang Inasal updates to their followers. This Black Dragon win is a validation of the effectiveness of their efforts."

Created in March 2022, MICC is comprised of digital content creators across the Philippines. Among the members of MICC are top mommy influencers like by Mommy Diaries PH and Mommy Hieds as well as known TikTokerists, including Simon Javier and George Tobias.

For 23 years, the Dragons of Asia have been recognizing the very best in results-driven marketing communications developed and executed by agencies and clients, across Asia.

The Black Dragon from Dragons of Asia is the latest addition to the string of accolades that Mang Inasal has garnered this year. Mang Inasal won a Gold Stevie Award from the 2023 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, a Marketing Excellence Silver Award, a Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, and a PANAta Award from the Philippine Association of National Advertisers.

Want more Mang Inasal exclusives NOW? Visit www.manginasal.com for the latest news, https://manginasaldelivery.com.ph for delivery deals, and follow Mang Inasal on social media for more Ihaw-Sarap and Unli-Saya updates!

Snag a FREE Gift Box worth Php 2,499 with HONOR Amazing Holideals Promo

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Looking for a perfect gift this Holiday Season? HONOR got this! Enjoy up to Php 1,000 discount on select HONOR gadgets with FREE Gift Box worth Php 2,499 when you buy starting now until December 31, 2023 in any HONOR Experience and Partner Stores or online via Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop!

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Ready your shopping carts for HONOR’s amazing deals up to Php 1,000 savings and a FREE HONOR Gift Box worth Php 2,499 until December 31!

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“We are once again treating HONOR fans with our Amazing Holideals promo until the end of December. You don’t need to look further because we got exciting freebies that comes with every purchase of HONOR gadget,” said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines.

Timeless Holiday Gifts with HONOR

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Gifts Galore with HONOR

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For more exciting updates and announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/