Philippine Pavilion honors Mt. Banahaw’s influence on the Filipino cultural landscape

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The Philippine Pavilion held its vernissage at the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia and opened its doors to the public on April 20, 2024, at the Artiglierie, Arsenale, Venice, Italy, with the theme “Sa kabila ng tabing lamang sa panahong ito / Waiting just behind the curtain of this age.”

(L-R) Consul General Elmer Cato, Philippine Consulate General in Milan, Italy;  Ambassador Nathaniel Imperial Philippine Embassy in Rome, Italy;  Mark Salvatus, Participating Artist; Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda;  Chairman Victorino “Ino” Manalo, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Commissioner of the Philippine Pavilion;  Carlos Quijon, Jr., Curator of the Philippine Pavilion; Honorary Consul Giorgia Di Biasi;  Patrick Flores, Curator of the Tie a String Around the World in 2015, which marked the comeback of the Philippines after 51-year hiatus

The visionary behind the Philippines’ participation in the Venice Biennale, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, led the vernissage together with Carlos Quijon Jr, the curator; artist Mark Salvatus; Chairman Victorino Manalo of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Commissioner of the Philippine Pavilion; Consul General Elmer Cato of the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, Italy; and Ambassador Neal Imperial of the Philippine Embassy in Rome, Italy.

In her opening remarks during the vernissage, Legarda underscored that the exhibition explores the cultural and spiritual significance of Mount Banahaw—a protected natural and sacred site in the Philippines, in shaping Filipino consciousness and cultural landscape as it delves into the intricate relationship between mysticism and modernity, exploring the themes of tradition, faith, and resilience.

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda

“Enshrined by Republic Act 9847 as a Protected Area in 2009, Mount Banahaw stands as a sanctuary for both nature and culture, nurturing diverse ecosystems and serving as a beacon for spiritual seekers and pilgrims alike. Its slopes bear witness to the ebb and flow of history, as religious and political movements have found sanctuary amidst its peaks and verdant valleys,” Legarda said.

“As we unveil the Philippine Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition at la Biennale di Venezia, we pay homage to the enduring legacy of Mount Banahaw and its profound influence on the Filipino cultural landscape,” Legarda added.

The four-term Senator, recognized as the Dangal ng Haraya awardee – Patron of Arts and Culture, emphasized how Salvatus’s evocative artwork and Quijon’s perceptive curation encourage us to explore the intricate relationship between nature, spirituality, and art. She urged everyone to ponder on the artworks, reflect on our interconnectedness with nature, and celebrate Mount Banahaw’s enduring spirit and the boundless creativity of the Filipino people.

“As we marvel at the pulchritude and complexity of the artworks on display, let us also reflect on the broader implications of our interconnectedness with the natural world. Mount Banahaw reminds us that we are not mere spectators but we are also active participants in the web of life, entrusted with the stewardship of our planet and the preservation of its sacred landscapes,” Legarda said.

“Art reflects who we are as a people. Art reflects our soul. Culture is the string, the element that binds us as a nation. No matter how diverse and divided we are,” Legarda concluded.

Aside from the exhibition in the Philippine Pavilion, Legarda proudly invites visitors to visit the main exhibition, “Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere,” curated by Adriano Pedrosa and featuring the works of five Filipino artists: Pacita Abad, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Nena Saguil, Joshua Serafin, and Maria Taniguchi.

The Philippine Pavilion, a joint project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, is open to the public from April 20 to November 24, 2024 at the Artiglierie, Arsenale, Venice, Italy.

The Journey of Diskarte Pinoy TV with LBC at the Helm

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When Ellen and Arnel Sagle started their entrepreneurial journey, they were armed with nothing but a vision and P14,000. At the time, they had no idea that their venture, Diskarte Pinoy TV, would become a go-to online resource for power and garden tools.

She recalls that the major turning point for them was when a childhood friend and fellow entrepreneur, Karen Diaz, encouraged Arnel Sagle to take the plunge and start a business. They pooled their resources and that became the groundwork for Diskarte Pinoy’s future success.

"We began with modest means, but our dreams were anything but small. We were driven by the belief that hard work and dedication could turn our vision into reality," shares Ellen Sagle, Co-Founder of Diskarte Pinoy. “Karen’s encouragement and partnership talaga yung malaking bagay.”

Her early belief in the Sagles’ vision and her financial contribution laid the groundwork for eventual growth of their business. They dipped their toe in the world of online selling, starting with an ukay-ukay shop before transitioning into surplus power tools.

Growth and Reliability

It wasn’t long before they saw their product range expand from auctioned surplus goods to brand new power tools. And as their wares began to include big ticket items, they started to recognize the need for more reliable partners who could help them ship their goods.

“It was a customer, actually, who first raised the idea of shipping with LBC. And if we could find him and thank him now, we would,” Arnel reminisced.

With that single shipment, Diskarte Pinoy realized what a huge difference a reliable and trusted logistics partner could offer their business. At that point, they knew, if they wanted to grow their business and expand their reach, they needed LBC on their side.

The Perfect Ally

LBC emerged as the perfect ally, offering not just courier services but a partnership that understood and catered to the unique needs of an online business.

LBC’s tailored solutions, including the Asenso Hub platform, provided Diskarte Pinoy TV with discounts and logistical advantages that significantly impacted their bottom line and customer satisfaction.

The Asenso Hub service, in particular, was a game-changer for the Sagles. With it, they received up to 50% discounts on shipping rates, which not only boosted their profit margins but also allowed them to offer more competitive pricing to their customers.

“LBC transformed the way we did business. Their reliability, nationwide network, and services like Asenso Hub, which gave us significant advantages against our competition helped bring us to where we are now," Ellen explained. “This partnership allowed Diskarte Pinoy TV to streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction, and expand our market reach.”

This level of support from a courier company is almost unheard of in e-commerce, but LBC continues to demonstrate how instrumental they can be for local businesses who want to understand the complexities of online retailing.

The Angel Behind It All

Among all their serendipitous partnerships and alliances, there’s one that the Sagle’s credit for starting it all; the one that they consider their true angel.

“Without Karen, we never would have had the courage to start the ukay-ukay or surplus business, which means we wouldn’t have had a chance to start Diskarte Pinoy; we wouldn’t have met the first customer who wanted us to ship through LBC; and we wouldn’t have had a chance to expand our reach by working with them,” Arnel said.

As Diskarte Pinoy TV looks to the future, the foundation laid by their early supporters and the ongoing partnership with LBC continue to be central to their growth strategy. The journey of Ellen and Arnel Sagle from a small startup to a successful online shows how strategic partnerships and support networks can make a huge difference, no matter how modest your start is.

Let LBC Propel Your Business Further. Find out how your business can achieve success with the help of LBC. Sign up now!

For more information, visit https://www.lbcexpress.com/article/the-journey-of-diskarte-pinoy-tv

Top 35 Best Workplaces TM in Philippines List Revealed Showing 'Great is Possible' Amidst Evolving Workforce Landscape

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The global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work®, revealed its 5th annual Best WorkplacesTM List in the Philippines during an industry-leading awards ceremony at Grand Hyatt Manila last March 19 demonstrating their mission of making every workplace a great place to work For AllTM. 

The Best Workplaces were ranked in three different categories – honoring 10 small (companies with 30 to 99 employees), 15 medium (companies with 100 to 999 employees), and 10 large (companies with 1,000 or more employees).  

Synchrony Global Services Philippines, a subsidiary company that manages Synchrony’s call center operations and select back office support, once again emerged at the top of the Large category. Accenture also remained in the second spot, and TaskUs placed third.

DHL Express Philippines, a global leader in the logistics industry, clinched a back-to-back win in the medium category. Coming in at second is Cisco, with Hilton rounding out the top three.

Kollab, a provider of cloud-first solutions and services, climbed to the top of the small category. ECo Global Consulting, Inc. remained in the second spot, while Limitless Connect clinched the third place.

DHL Express Philippines and Synchrony Global Services Philippines were also the first companies in the Philippines to be honored with a Great Place To Work Legend title, in recognition of their achievement in being part of the Best Workplaces in the Philippines list for five consecutive years.

An incredible 99% of DHL Express Philippines employees surveyed indicated that they believe they are treated as full members of the company, regardless of their position – demonstrating a true commitment to people first, purpose-driven workplace culture. 

Now in its fifth year of recognizing the Best Workplace in the Philippines, Great Place To Work remains steadfast in its commitment to promote a high-trust workplace culture in the midst of unique challenges posed by an ever-evolving working environment, as encapsulated by this year’s theme: Great is Possible.

“Just as greatness was achieved through trust, respect, and camaraderie during the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect to witness even greater possibilities as we continue to build and nurture purpose-driven and people-first organizations,” said Antoniette Mendoza-Talosig, Managing Partner at Great Place To Work Philippines. “This starts with leaders paving the way in creating and institutionalizing what it takes to have a high-trust workplace culture—a leadership anchored in integrity, active engagement in effective two-way communication, and collaborative synergy with their people regardless of gender, age, or position in their organization.”

Mendoza-Talosig also described this year’s Best Workplaces in the Philippines as beacons of hope in the midst of the challenges faced by companies during the past year—among them the rapid pace of adoption of AI technologies in the workplace, establishing harmony among multi-generational teams, and undergoing changes in response to the evolving business landscapes.

Five years on, the Best Workplaces Badge from Great Place To Work remains the gold standard and a globally recognized accolade indicating an exceptional workplace culture. This year’s list of Best Workplaces in the Philippines was curated from responses from over 600,000 employee voices across 200 different Certified organizations in the Philippines using the Great Place To Work Model, alongside the data gathered from Emprising, its proprietary survey reporting platform.

True to its commitment to highlight the importance of trust in the workplace, Great Place To Work has gone beyond recognizing the Best Workplaces annually and is now actively participating in thriving industries in the country. Most recently, Great Place To Work has published its inaugural Best Workplaces in the IT-Business Processing Management sector and has collaborated with the academe and various industry associations. It is also looking to recognize organizations that create high-trust workplace cultures for members of society with unique needs.

Soon, Great Place To Work will also launch consulting services to help organizations proactively address their employees’ feedback on their workplace culture. “We aim to work more actively with business leaders and HR in shaping their workplace cultures, establishing accountability among leaders, and engaging in their long-term cultural journeys that guarantee business results. By doing so, we believe we can advance further in our mission of making every place a great place to work for all Filipinos,” Mendoza-Talosig explained.

She expressed hope that this year’s Best Workplaces in the Philippines will also be recognized on a bigger stage. “It will be our country’s pride to one day see a local company recognized as a purpose-driven and people-first organization in the global landscape.”

About Great Place To Work®

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Our mission is to help every place become a great place to work for all. We give leaders and organizations the recognition and tools to create a consistently and overwhelmingly positive employee experience, fostering cultures that are proven to drive business, improve lives, and better society. Our recognition is the most coveted and respected in the world for elevating employer brands to attract the right people. Our proprietary methodology and platform enables organizations to truly capture, analyze, and understand the experience of all employees.

Our groundbreaking research empowers organizations to build cultures that retain talent and unlock the potential of every employee. Our coaches, content, and community connect the boldest leaders, ideas, and innovations in employee experience. Since 1992, our Certification™, Best Workplaces™ Lists, and global benchmarks have become the industry standard, built on data from more than 100 million employees in 150 countries around the world.

Best Workplaces™ in the Philippines 2024

Small Category (10 to 99 employees)

1. Kollab

2. ECo Global Consulting, Inc.

3. Limitless Connect

4. Logix BPO

5. Zenutna Holdings Corporation

6. Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc.

7. J4RVIS

8. Interconnected Business Process, Inc.

9. Fulcrum Solutions

10. Air Accounting

Medium Category (100 to 999 employees)

1. DHL Express*

2. Cisco

3. Hilton

4. Atlassian

5. Via Appia Philippines, Inc.

6. 3M GSC Philippines

7. Hilti Philippines, Inc.

8. Balsam International Unlimited Company Philippine ROHQ

9. General Motors Philippines

10. Lingaro (Philippines), Inc.

11. Amadeus Marketing Philippines, Inc.

12. SCJ Philippines

13. Aurecon

14. Genesys Cloud Services Cayman LTD - Philippines Branch

15. Thumbtack Philippines

Large Category (1000 and above employees)

1. Synchrony Global Services, Inc.*

2. Accenture

3. TaskUs

4. Lexmark Research and Development Corporation

5. Teleperformance

6. Capital One Philippines

7. DXC Technology Philippines

8. CGI Philippines, Inc.

9. [24]7.ai Philippines

10. Tech Mahindra Limited Philippines

* Recipient of Great Place To Work® Legend™ title

Be creative with vivo V30 Pro's ZEISS Style Portrait

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Owning a smartphone endowed with exceptional camera prowess not only enhances social media presence but also empowers one to capture life's moments with unmatched quality and clarity.

Global smartphone brand, vivo, launched the much-talked-about V30 Series in March 2024. The collaboration with ZEISS for the vivo V30 Pro brought forth a wave of attention, thanks to its remarkable camera capabilities.

Aside from having a ZEISS triple main camera on the rear, the vivo V30 Pro also boasts a diverse array of popular ZEISS lenses. These provide users with a versatile range of creative options for their portraits.

Six ZEISS Style Portraits to choose from

From the distinctive rendering of the Biotar lens to the immersive cinematic experience offered by the Cinematic and Cine-flare lenses, and the crisp clarity of the Sonnar, Distagon, and Planar lenses, the possibilities for expression are limitless.

1.                ZEISS Biotar Style Bokeh

It has a distinctive swirly bokeh. The lens reproduces the unique effect characteristic of ZEISS optics, with its exceptional visual representation result that embodies the ZEISS style.

2.                ZEISS Cinematic Style Bokeh

Elevate photography with film-style portraits, boasting an aspect ratio of 2.39:1, accompanied by oval flares and a mesmerizing blue trail effect, particularly enchanting when capturing scenes illuminated by street lights at night.

3.                ZEISS Cine-flare Portrait

Capture cinematic flair even against intense backlighting, as this lens recreates the mesmerizing flare often seen in movies. Powered by advanced algorithms, it guarantees natural and crystal-clear portraits, ensuring your subjects stand out in every shot, regardless of lighting conditions.

4.                ZEISS Sonnar Style Bokeh

With a creamy blur that casts a romantic ambiance over the backdrop, the Sonnar style transforms the scene into a captivating setting, ideal for capturing enchanting street portraits.

5.                ZEISS Distagon Style Bokeh

With its distinctive hexagonal bokeh in the background, the Distagon lens adds a unique touch to compositions, radiating remarkable aesthetics that are ideal for artistic visual representation.

6.                ZEISS Planar Style Bokeh

The smooth and sharp bokeh characteristic of the Planar style lends an elegant and professional aesthetic to photographs, offering a new level of visual appeal.

Take your creativity to the next level with the timeless charm of the vivo V30 Pro with ZEISS's restored bokeh, flare, and glare effects, allowing users to effortlessly capture artistic and atmospheric portraits.

For optimal results, pair these ZEISS Style Portrait effects with point light sources to unlock the full potential of the lenses.

The vivo V30 Pro with 12GB RAM and 512GB ROM is available for only Php 34,999 at vivo concept stores and kiosks nationwide, as well as through e-commerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada.

Discover the full range of features and options offered by the vivo V30 Series by visiting vivo's official website.

vivo Y100 officially arrives to Philippines this April 27

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Global smartphone brand, vivo, has officially announced the arrival of its latest addition to the Y Series lineup - the vivo Y100. Packed with cutting-edge features, this device boasts the fastest charging capability ever seen in the Y Series.

Scheduled for release on April 27, 2024, the vivo Y100 comes equipped with an 80W charger featuring a Super Charge Pump, ensuring lightning-fast charging times. Complementing this impressive charging speed is a sizable 5000mAh battery, providing users with long-lasting power to keep up with their busy lifestyles.

Photography enthusiasts will be delighted to discover vivo Y100's exceptional imaging system. The device features a versatile camera setup, including a 50MP main camera, a 2MP bokeh, and an 8MP selfie camera, allowing users to capture stunning photos and videos with ease.

In terms of performance, the vivo Y100 doesn't disappoint. Boasting 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which can be expanded up to 1TB, this smartphone offers ample space for storing your favorite apps, photos, videos, and more.

Available in two stylish colors - the eye-catching photochromic Breeze Green and the timeless Crystal Black - the vivo Y100 is sure to turn heads wherever you go.

For those eager to get their hands on the vivo Y100 ahead of its official release date, the smartphone is currently available for purchase on Shopee for Php 13,499. Be sure to mark your calendars for April 27, 2024, when the official price will be announced.

Stay updated on the latest news and updates about vivo Y100 by visiting the official vivo website and following the brand on social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.