Samsung Philippines joins the ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR ‘FATE’ IN NEW CLARK CITY with the Galaxy S24 series

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Get the chance to win autographed ENHYPEN shirts through exciting giveaways!

Calling all ENGENEs! Make your ENHYPEN World Tour experience truly epic as Samsung Philippines is partnering with global K-pop powerhouse ENHYPEN for its latest Galaxy S24 series.

This collaboration marks the phenomenal synergy of Samsung and the Hallyu wave, bringing to life the company’s vision to be the ultimate partner of K-pop stans all over the country. From today's chart-toppers to tomorrow's rising stars, Samsung keeps the K-pop vibe alive and fuels the global fandom with the hottest artists, cutting-edge mobile experiences and exclusive events and promos that allow you to express your love for your K-pop idols and connect with fellow fans.

As the exclusive partner of the ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR ‘FATE’ IN NEW CLARK CITY on February 3, Samsung Philippines is letting ENGENEs in on the epicness with fresh concert content shot on location #withGalaxy, and an exciting booth activation on the concert grounds. Be sure to stay tuned to the Samsung PH social channels for more information.

ENGENEs in the Philippines are also in luck as Samsung is giving epic chances to win autographed ENHYPEN shirts with these exciting contests.

First, keep your eyes peeled for Samsung PH’s social media giveaway post on X and Facebook and comment using the hashtags #SamsungPHxENHYPEN, #GalaxyxENHYPEN, and #GalaxyS24 until February 3, 2024, for a chance to be one of five winners.

Alternatively, you can pre-order any of the Galaxy S24 series at the Galaxy AI Pop-up Store at C1 Park, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City from January 31 to February 6. Be sure to post a photo at the event with the hashtags #SamsungPHxENHYPEN, #GalaxyxENHYPEN, and #GalaxyS24 to get a shot at the raffle draw. 15 lucky winners will be chosen.

Galaxy S24 Series: The Ultimate Concert Phone

With the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung is setting the stage for a whole new concert experience with the ultimate concert phone, which features AI capabilities that allow you to capture and relive your epic Kpop experiences.

Anywhere on the concert grounds is a perfect view with Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Quad Tele System, with a new 5x optical zoom lens, which works with the 50MP sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x, 3x, 5x to 10x magnification thanks to Adaptive Pixel Sensor. Images also show crystal clear results at 100x with enhanced digital zoom.

Low light in stadiums? Not a problem! With upgraded Nightography capabilities, photos and videos shot on Galaxy S24 Space Zoom are brilliant in any condition, even when zoomed in. Capture more light in dim conditions with Galaxy S24 Ultra’s larger pixel size. Blur is reduced on Galaxy S24 Ultra with wider optical image stabilizer (OIS) angles and enhanced hand-shake compensation.

Fancams are more epic just like that as both front and rear cameras are equipped with Dedicated ISP Block for noise reduction, and Galaxy S24 analyzes gyro information to distinguish between the filmer’s movement and the subject’s. This allows more effective noise removal and clear videos in the dark, even from far away.

After capturing great shots of your idols, innovative Galaxy AI editing tools even enable simple edits like erase, re-compose, and remaster to make these photos even more memorable. For easier and more efficient optimizations, Edit Suggestion uses Galaxy AI to suggest perfectly suitable tweaks for each photo. Meanwhile Generative Edit can fill in parts of an image background with generative AI. You can also remove objects or people or adjust crooked photos and AI will fill in the borders and missing pixels to perfectly blend the background in its original spot.

The fun doesn’t stop at the end of the night. Relive and replay every moment with visuals that are more vibrant and captivating on the brightest Galaxy display ever. Galaxy S24 reaches 2,600nit peak brightness and delivers improved outdoor visibility with Vision Booster making viewing experience on the Galaxy S24+’s 6.7-inch and Galaxy S24’s 6.2-inch displays even better.

All this in a super stylish package perfect for your concert outfits as the Galaxy S24 series comes in Earth mineral-inspired color tone. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, which comes in Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet and Titanium Yellow, is also the first-ever Galaxy phone to feature a titanium frame and a significantly thinner body for a more comfortable grip. The Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 have four colors to choose from – Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet and Amber Yellow. All three models will come with additional colors available at the Samsung e-store.

Don't miss this epic chance to experience ENHYPEN in an all-new way with the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 series. Join in on the exciting contests and check out the amazing pre-order offers available for Galaxy S24 and S24+ at https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s24/buy and the Galaxy S24 Ultra at https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s24-ultra/buy until Feb. 6, 2024.

Stay tuned for more updates by following Samsung’s social media page: www.facebook.com/SamsungPH/.

SEEK, Jobstreet and Jobsdb unify marketplace platforms, transforming job and talent search experience

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SEEK has successfully merged its Asia Pacific (APAC) employment marketplaces – SEEK, Jobstreet and Jobsdb – which will operate under a single platform powered by SEEK’s world-class AI technology, while retaining their individual brands. This integration brings together millions of talents and employers across the APAC region to connect more of the right people with the right work.

SEEK’s unification of its employment marketplaces comes 10 years after it acquired Jobstreet and Jobsdb, following three years of development and an estimated AUD$180 million investment.

“At SEEK, everything we do revolves around our customers. One unified platform means we can now offer our product to millions of people across Asia in an entirely new way, so that our customers can find jobs and talent more easily. This puts us in a stronger position, more than ever before, to realise our ambition of helping 500 million people develop their careers with five million companies in the region,” says Peter Bithos, Chief Executive Officer, Asia, SEEK.

Revolutionizing the job market in the Philippines

Recently, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced[1] that the country’s unemployment rate is at 3.6% in November 2023. The unification efforts reinforce Jobstreet by SEEK’s mission of providing jobs to every Filipino with a more seamless and cutting-edge experience for both employers and talent.

“We are excited to facilitate more tailored job matches between employers and talent, powered by SEEK’s AI technology to continue providing jobs to every Filipino. The new Jobstreet by SEEK platform can now seamlessly match them based on specific skills, job roles, and career aspirations is crucial in the Philippines’ highly dynamic and evolving employment landscape,” says Dan Majarocon​, Managing Director, Philippines, Jobstreet by SEEK.

Delivering relevant matches and personalized experiences

The unified marketplace platform brings forth new AI-powered advancements to the Jobstreet and Jobsdb platforms in Asia, aimed at enhancing the employment experience for both employers and job seekers. For employers, the new platform deploys AI models to assess talent suitability and provide highly personalized recommendations by processing data from various sources, including resumes, job ad descriptions and the employer’s past behaviors — making hiring processes faster and more efficient.

To enhance the job-hunting process for talent, the platform now easily matches them to AI-recommended jobs they are most qualified for based on their experience and skills. With the larger dataset acquired across APAC, SEEK’s AI algorithms can provide even more precise and relevant matches between employers and talent. Ultimately, this translates into an elevated user experience and expedites the hiring process on its Jobstreet and Jobsdb platforms.

Enabling customer-centric innovation at pace

In moving to a unified marketplace platform, SEEK can now scale its use of data-driven insight, product testing and innovation at pace.

SEEK has also introduced a new natural language search feature on its Jobstreet platform in the country. This innovation allows talent to submit job queries using simple phrases or complete sentences on the platform, so they do not need to rely solely on keyword phrases (e.g. "Business analyst"). Powered by a large language model (LLM), the feature enables a search experience that is more organic and appealing to jobseekers.

This feature is set to be rolled out across the rest of SEEK's APAC markets in 2024.

To experience the new Jobstreet by SEEK platform, visit jobstreet.com.ph or download the app on Google Play Store or the App Store.

SB19’s PABLO heads in the right direction with new song “AKALA

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The sonically captivating track marks another collaboration with his real-life brother Josue of Radkidz, who also co-produced viral hits “Determinado” and “Gento”

After championing the resurgence of the rap-rock genre with the release of “Determinado” a few weeks ago, SB19’s PABLO continues to exceed expectations with another banger that doesn’t sound quite like anything he has released so far.

On “AKALA,” the P-Pop star drops a hard-hitting track that blends hip-hop sensibilities with trap beats and atmospheric production. Sonically captivating and heartfelt, PABLO surprises at nearly every turn with a song that hints at a new level of creative inspiration—songwriting and production-wise.

The track also marks another collaboration with his brother Josue of Radkidz, who is also responsible for co-producing his previously released track “Determinado,” and SB19’s viral smash “Gento.”

PABLO, on the other hand, brought improvements in structural developments and dynamics and penned the majority of the lyrics. He shares, “I added some singing parts and a hook and gave the song a resolution in terms of musical arrangement. We wanted it to be a song that’s easy to listen to and sing along to, just like how it is when friends gather and sing together.”

According to PABLO, “AKALA” was conceived during the pandemic when Josue had him listen to one of his beats with a partially written verse about finding escape in getting wasted. While both of them have different perspectives about alcohol consumption, the SB19 leader and main rapper found it intriguing and interesting enough to revisit the track and improve some parts of it.

“Even though we have different practices in terms of drinking, we agree on the idea that alcohol is not the answer to problems,” the talented multi-hyphenate explains. “I asked him if I could also write my verse in the song and tweak some parts, and he agreed. I didn’t want the song to just be about getting wasted, so I thought of a way to introduce my perspective through rearranging the letters of ‘alak’ and that’s how ‘Akala’ materialized. My mother also pitched in a line in the song and it made more sense.”

The breakout artist behind La Luna sums it all up: “Everything that I have released so far features intense and heavy instrumentation, but ‘Akala’ follows a completely different direction this time around. It has a more laid-back, dreamy vibe to it.”

PABLO’s “AKALA” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

IKEA Philippines donates P1.2M soft toy sales to Better World Smokey Mountain

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IKEA Philippines recently donated over P1.2M to Better World Smokey Mountain (BWSM), a community center managed by San Miguel Foundation, to benefit more than 1,500 families and children in Tondo, Manila.

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Proceeds will help more than 1,500 families and children in Smokey Mountain, Tondo

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The proceeds of the donation drive were from the Swedish home furnishing brand’s Better World, Better Toys campaign wherein P50 from every purchase of any soft toy will be donated to Better World Smokey Mountain. Customers chose from wide variety of irresistible cuddly companions, ranging from the KRAMIG panda bear to aquatic mammals of the BLAVINGAD collection, and space creatures and aliens from the AFTONSPARV collection.

More than 24,000 IKEA soft toys were sold in the duration of the drive from November 13 to December 16, 2023.

“We are extremely grateful for the continuous generosity of IKEA Philippines. From the ideation phase of BWSM to now furthering the cause of our centers, IKEA has been there with us not only in terms of financial support but in other aspects as well,” said Mark Rebucan, Program Associate, San Miguel Foundation

The funds shall be utilized in the implementation of additional extra-curricular activities that will allow members of all ages to hone their creative skills including dance, music, and arts. Additionally, the funds will help procure other materials needed for the establishment of another playground that will cater to babies and toddlers. Income-generating projects for its members such as livelihood programs of nanay leaders will also benefit from the donation.

In September 2023, IKEA Philippines provided and assembled home furnishings for the classrooms and library of Better World Smokey Mountain community center that serves as a learning and skills development center for 2,500 families or roughly 12,500 individuals from the historically underserved communities in Tondo.

Creating partnerships for positive impact in social communities is one of IKEA Philippines’ sustainability commitments. Currently, IKEA is also working with R2R (Rags2Riches) as their sewing service provider in IKEA Pasay City.

Find out more about the IKEA mission of building a better everyday life for the many people. Visit IKEA Pasay City or www.IKEA.ph/FY23SustainabilityReport for more details.

Cebuana Lhuillier and Jean Henri Lhuillier’s impact on uplifting Filipino lives through learning initiatives

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Cebuana Lhuillier and Jean Henri Lhuillier continue its commitment to uplifting Filipino lives through its impactful educational initiatives. With education at the forefront of their advocacy, these initiatives represent a transformative journey toward a brighter and more educated future for the Philippines.

Through its corporate social responsibility arm, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc. (CLFI) leads the charge with its Nationwide Scholarship Program, providing support to intellectually gifted yet financially constrained students. Aside from the annual scholarship grant, the program offers employment opportunities in Cebuana Lhuillier’s parent company, PJ Lhuillier Inc. (PJLI), and provides additional learning resources to its scholars and learning sessions. In collaboration with 14 academic institutions all over the country, close to 1,000 graduate scholars have emerged nationwide. This not only opens doors for the scholars but also creates a ripple effect as they contribute to uplifting others through education.

Another of its initiatives is the Alternative Learning Program, which addresses the needs of out-of-school youth and adult learners across the Philippines. These ALS community learning centers (ALS-CLCs) empower individuals to complete basic education, transforming them into competent and productive members of society. Since it was established in 2013, 155 ALS-CLCs have been built across 70 provinces, reaching almost 60,000 ALS learners.

Jean Henri Lhuillier 

“I have always been a staunch advocate for education. At Cebuana Lhuillier, it is our firm belief that the journey of learning holds the key to transformative change, shaping destinies and creating a profound impact on individuals. Through our initiatives and programs, we strive to improve lives and contribute to the growth of a country built on the foundations of knowledge and empowerment,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

A shining example of success is Atty. Pia Faustino, a Ka-Cebuana who has been with the company for over 20 years now. Faustino was a CLFI scholar during her undergraduate years. Upon completing her degree, she received a job offer as the Administrative Assistant in the Legal Services Group (LSG) of PJLI. It was within this role that she discovered her passion for law, and with the unwavering support of her colleagues and bosses, she decided to pursue further studies.

Embracing the challenge, Faustino embarked on her remarkable journey through law school and in 2023, her dedication and hard work culminated in passing the Bar, earning her esteemed title of a lawyer.

“I’m very grateful to the Lhuillier family and all LSG Group Heads. Everyone has been so supportive, even my colleagues. Just last year, I passed the bar. Law school was not a walk in the park, I had my ups and downs, but I was determined to finish it and to pass the bar. Now, just fresh from passing the bar, I still crave learning and opportunities. I hope and pray to become a good lawyer,” said Faustino.

Faustino's trajectory from scholarship recipient to accomplished lawyer exemplifies the transformative power of educational support and the opportunities for growth that Cebuana Lhuillier and Jean Henri Lhuillier provides.

As Cebuana Lhuillier and Jean Henri Lhuillier continue to spearhead impactful initiatives, the vision for educational empowerment echoes far beyond the programs themselves. It resonates in the lives changed, the communities uplifted, and the promise of a brighter future for the Filipino people.