Apply these Feng Shui principles to your everyday (business) life!

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Feng Shui always makes an appearance on Chinese New Year, but it’s not just some fad. It’s rooted in a deep belief shared by many cultures that affects the lives of so many people.

Whatever religion, nationality or school of thought you belong to, there’s something about Feng Shui’s most basic principles that speak to everyone. Thus, there are things that you as a business owner can learn from its fundamentals.

Globe myBusiness, the micro, small, and medium-enterprise arm of Globe Telecom has compiled several Feng Shui principles which can help you run your business smoothly every day of the year.

• Yin and Yang

This is probably the most well-known and fundamental principle in Feng Shui. It symbolizes two things: balance and continual change.

• Balance

This Chinese New Year can be your chance for a fresh start at keeping the peace between your work and personal life. Get organized: sort out your priorities, make commitments, and make a conscious effort to do your work right while being there for your loved ones as well.

• Continual Change

As an entrepreneur, all kinds of surprises and changes will hit you throughout your business journey. Thus, you need to make yourself flexible enough to bend when you need to, but stand straight when you should. Making the distinction between bad changes and good opportunities will help you know when to adapt your strategy, belief, or habits to achieve better results.

• The Five Elements

Feng Shui’s main elements are fire, water, metal, earth, and wood. They interact with each other in ways that form a chain reaction, which can be either constructive or destructive.

How does this relate to your life? Take a look at your employees. Doesn’t each of them matter in the grand scheme of things? Learn to treat your team as individuals as well as a whole. Remember that even when they’re working like parts of a well-oiled machine, each of them has concerns and needs that you, as their employer, need to be aware of. Be a good boss today!

• Nature

In Feng Shui, it’s more than just the foundation of the world we live in. It’s the source of all life. For entrepreneurs, a love for nature can mean paying attention to your production and consumption, and making sure you aren’t damaging the Earth as you make use of its resources. It can mean being sustainable, and pushing for eco-friendliness in everything you do.

But nature doesn’t include just plants, animals, trees and oceans. Preserve a supportive and humane society by being kind to others and making sure your business is working to improve people’s lives, and not just to make money.

• Chi or Energy

Chi is what the Chinese call your life force. There can be such a thing as good chi, which contributes to healthy relationships and a relaxed frame of mind. But there is also such a thing as bad chi, which attracts negative energy to you and your home.

Basically, if you put good energy out into the world, it will attract the same kind of energy back. So face each day with a smile, and treat people with respect and support. You’ll be sure to not only feel good, but see great effects as well.

• Colors

Color has always played a role in many people’s cultures. Colors have a psychological effect on people that makes them a symbol of certain things—emotions, occasions, or energy.

Discover the psychology of colors and put them to good use in your brand, your workplace, and even your home or way of dressing. You’d be surprised to know how the colors you wear can actually affect the people around you, which in turn can impact your own mood and personality.

Whether you’re a Feng Shui devotee or just someone with a little interest in the belief system, you can put these principles to good use in your life. After all, it’s about putting good energy into the world, finding balance in your life, and making others happy—and these are goals everyone has in life.

And to complement your Feng Shui practice, Globe myBusiness has a number of digital solutions – from connectivity, advertising, productivity, delivery --  to make your business work better.  Learn more by visiting https://mybusiness.globe.com.ph/.

ALL BY ALL (ABA) makes its big entry on the Philippines Market

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“ABA is the perfect solution for people who are looking for a seamless approach in using cryptocurrencies for their numerous online transactions”.  ---

You Won Il

President of ALL BY ALL 
(ABA) Philippines

ALL BY ALL (ABA) is a cryptocurrency company offering a monetary exchange platform where one can start making transactions by signing up on the ABA website or application.

The Filipino economic market is in for a spin as a new player in the cryptocurrency business has been formally launched - ALL BY ALL (ABA) Philippines spearheaded by You Won Il. The grand launch was held February 24 at Cities Events Place at Sgt. Esguerra St., Q.C.

You Won Il, President of ALL BY ALL (ABA) Philippines, introduced to members of the press, stakeholders and potential investors his cryptocurrency company, which is basically a monetary exchange platform.

All by All Founder Lee Seung Chan

To start enjoying the convenience provided by ABA, one has to simply visit their website or app, then sign up. Once the form is completed, the user will receive an electronic wallet or account which they can ‘load’ with Philippine pesos. The electronic wallet can, then, be used for cryptocurrency transactions like online trading and commercial purchases, in lieu of credit cards and traditional currencies.

Some of the advantages of using ABA is that it is faster, ensures more secure transactions globally, and has lower fees.

ALL BY ALL (ABA) Philippines grand launch was grace by investors, stakeholders, media  and celebrities.

ABA is also now preparing for its Initial Coin Offering (ICO) and is also eyeing brisk expansion in other Asian hubs like Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan.

Singer and actress Julie Anne San Jose performed at the All By All grand launch. 

Music performed by band at the All By All grand launch.

Aside from cryptocurrency, ABA will be getting into other businesses like travel and online gaming.

NÜWA at City of Dreams Manila receives 2018 Forbes Five-Star Award

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NÜWA City of Dreams Manila achieves Five-Star rating in the 2018 Forbes Travel Guide, the only new Five-Star award for hotels in Manila. Forbes Travel Guide is considered as the annual “Oscars” of the hotel industry and is known for its exacting and stringent standards. The prestigious list of award winners is comprised of the world’s best hotels and resorts.

“It is through the vision and leadership of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho and the hard work and commitment of our management and staff that NÜWA City of Dreams Manila has achieved this recognition. We’re extremely proud of our colleagues for contributing to this high standard of service each and every day and we thank our guests for their trust and confidence,” said Kevin Benning, City of Dreams Manila Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited’s luxury integrated resorts in Macau and Manila garnered a collective total of 71 stars from 2018 Forbes Travel Guide. NÜWA Macau is the only property with a total of 5 Five-Stars for its offerings in accommodation, spa and restaurants. Altira Macau is one of only two resorts worldwide with quadruple Five-Stars; and Studio City’s Star Tower and NÜWA Manila are only two of the new 27 hotels to receive the Five-Star rating among other 50 countries.

“NÜWA represents Melco’s DNA of sophistication, quality, and innovation. Being one of the select hotels in the world that’s awarded the Forbes Five-Star is a testament to our dedication to provide the highest level of luxury experience and personalized service”, adds Geoff Andres, until recently the Property President of City of Dreams Manila prior to assuming the same position in Studio City Macau early this month.

Forbes Travel Guide (formerly Mobil Travel Guide) has been the gold standard in the hotel industry since 1958. Its rating system is based on more than 900 objective standards for hotels, restaurants and spas worldwide, making it the most comprehensive and rigorous in the industry. To achieve Forbes Travel Guide Four and Five-Star status, properties must meet or exceed the bar-setting service standards, which are determined through an unannounced and undercover service evaluation conducted by Forbes Travel Guide’s expert inspectors.

NÜWA Manila’s Forbes Five-Star award comes a month after the luxury brand was launched on January 16 this year, when Melco Resorts & Entertainment rebranded Crown Towers in Manila and Macau to NÜWA. Melco’s new luxury brand NÜWA, inspired by the eponymous heroine in Chinese mythology, represents classic Asian refinement.

NÜWA, one of the three luxury hotels in City of Dreams Manila, features 254 lavishly-appointed contemporary rooms, and spacious suites and villas with personalized and dedicated butler service. Facilities include a free-form swimming pool, fitness center with state-of-the-art Precore fitness equipment; and the NUWA spa which provides a pampering experience in elegant therapy rooms and spa suites within the 654-sq.meter facility.

An elevated dining experience is also available at NÜWA, with: The Tasting Room, the newly reopened restaurant offering a Michelin-star experience with contemporary French cuisine infused with Asian influences; Crystal Dragon, known for its premium Cantonese and regional Chinese fare in a modern Oriental setting; and Breezes, a poolside restaurant and bar. The Sky Gaming Lounge, a well-appointed private space on the topmost floor is exclusively for Li Ying Hin VIPs. 

For more information on NÜWA, call 800 8080 or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com or www.nuwamanila.com.

Digitizing Financial Services in PH with Blockchain, UnionBank partners with Microsoft to pursue blockchain technology in PH

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Today, digital technology is pushing people, businesses, and governments to rethink the way they work and operate. In the banking and financial industry, fintech companies are disrupting conventional methodologies and introducing innovative products to cater to mobile and connected customers that demand state-of-the-art digital services.

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) is in the midst of a digital shift as it pursues a three-point plan. This aims to transform its operations with digital technology, put up a digital bank, and engage fintechs in catering to the local market.

As part of its endeavours, UnionBank has partnered with Microsoft to conduct blockchain trials on Azure.

“Similar to our mission to empower every person and organization to achieve more, UnionBank is committed to making lives better and enriching the lives of Filipinos through greater financial inclusion. We stand together in the belief that financial service institutions need to ramp up digital transformation efforts to engage users and transform products,” said Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director and Country General Manager of Microsoft Philippines.

Blockchain for greater financial inclusion

A recent BSP survey found that 86 percent of Filipino households remain unbanked. Blockchain can push for greater financial inclusion by allowing financial institutions to provide accessible, useful, and affordable products and services that meet client needs. Whether it’s transactions, payments, savings, credit, or insurance, these can be delivered in a responsible and sustainable way via blockchain.

Arvie de Vera, Head of Fintech at UnionBank, said: “Blockchain technology will revolutionize financial services, and more so in a context like the Philippines where financial inclusion is such a challenge.”

Blockchain is transformational technology that brings down the cost to serve the mass market. At its core, it is a form of data structure used to create a digital transaction ledger that, instead of resting with a single provider, is shared among a distributed network of computers. This promotes financial inclusion by:

Modernizing legacy banking infrastructures. With blockchain technologies, banks can increase efficiencies by addressing the settlement process across the board. Speeding payments, trading of all financial instruments, and automatically outputting regulatory information will massively disrupt the industry and shift labor into better customer service.

Securing transactions. Blockchain technology offers secure transactions through an encrypted ledger. This addresses cyber threats by establishing authenticity and tamper-proof record systems. The decentralization of the command systems in blockchains is critical to safeguarding cyber security.

Azure – a secure blockchain platform

UnionBank is currently conducting and has had successful blockchain trials on Azure.

As an open, flexible, and scalable platform, Azure supports a rapidly growing number of distributed ledger technologies that address specific business and technical requirements for security, performance, and operational processes. Microsoft’s data and AI solution provides unique off-chain data-management and analysis capabilities not offered by others. The vast Microsoft partner ecosystem extends the capabilities of UnionBank’s platforms and services in unique ways that fit specific workload and industry needs.

Azure is secure and provides a rapid, low-cost, low-risk, and fail-fast system for organizations to collaborate on by enabling them to experiment with new business processes—all backed by a cloud platform with the largest compliance portfolio in the industry.

“The Microsoft partnership has also been about sharing best practices and experiences. UnionBank is grateful to have the guidance of such a technology leader—one who has also undergone its own transformation,” de Vera said.

Revolutionizing PH banking

As a tech-savvy organization, UnionBank is embracing digital transformation through its strong culture of innovation and leadership. It is the first bank in the Philippines to pursue blockchain trials.

“It’s an exciting time. The arrival of blockchain in the Philippines is groundbreaking and can revolutionize the financial services industry and lead to greater financial inclusion in the country. As the first bank to pursue blockchain, UnionBank is making big strides in its digital transformation, and Microsoft is committed to helping them make Filipino lives better,” said Bayaborda.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (@microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Microsoft Philippines, the local subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, has been constantly bringing innovation and making its technology available to Filipino businesses and individuals since 1995. As a committed and trusted partner in nation-building, Microsoft Philippines has made it its mission to fuel growth and healthy communities, as well as transform locally-based businesses and empower them to compete in the global economy.

Medical Professionals urge Filipinos to take skin health seriously during PAPSHPI’s 12th Annual Convention

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The Philippine Association of Primary Skin Health Physicians, Inc. (PAPSHPI), an affiliate of the Philippine Medical Association, urges the public to take skin health more seriously and choose medical grade skin care products.

Skin health is often neglected and taken lightly. It is easy to dismiss skin care as an unnecessary indulgence for mere cosmetic reasons or vanity.

JW Healthcare Philippines (JWHP), the local sales subsidiary of JW Group, a leading pharmaceutical company in Korea, is one of the companies that supported the 12th Annual Convention of PAPSHPI.  In photo are PAPSHPI officers (left to right)  Sarah J. De Los Reyes, M.D.,June Paul Ayache Garcia, M.D.,Maria Carmelita G. Vergara, M.D.,Grace M. Lopez, M.D. - center (founding chairman),Marlon B. Ulit, M.D.,Joan Yabut-Dulfo, M.D. and Manrico Cruz, M.D.

PAPSHPI, which recently held their 12th Annual Convention at Novotel Manila Araneta Center, warns patients against these common pitfalls.

Through PAPSHPI President Dr. Elise Christine Tompong, Chairman Dr. Grace M. Lopez, and past presidents Dr. Maica Galvez-Vergara and Dr. JP Ayache Garcia, the association stresses the importance of skin health.

“Skin is the largest organ of our body and most people do not know that. If we can take time out to give attention and care to our heart, lungs, stomach, and other vital organs, why can’t we do the same for our skin,” says PAPSHPI.

Skin care should be regarded as preventive care, and treatment of skin diseases must start early to prevent further damage just like with any other organ. Physicians warn that “symptoms may go unnoticed or may not be given attention to for months, even years.” 

Skin cancer, for example, is not as popular as breast cancer. But, according to PAPSHPI, it is a disease that may afflict Filipinos, too.

“The realization that early treatment should have been done sets in when the problem has become severe and chronic,” says PAPSHPI.

Mass market vs medical grade

The market does not lack skin care products, which are categorized into mass market and medical grade. However, PAPSHPI advises against falling victim to mass market skin care products because these provide temporary results and come with a higher risk of undesirable side effects.

The medical group urges Filipinos to be selective in using skin care products by choosing products that have been medically tested for safety and efficacy.

PAPSHPI President Dr. Elise Christine Tompong explains that medical grade and prescription-strength skin care products are formulated to provide lasting or permanent results, and skin heath doctors can prescribe these products for specific skin concerns.

Every skin is different and therefore one product cannot suit all skin types. PAPSHPI reminds the public that it is best to ask experts such as medical doctors and professionals which products are good for your skin.

JW Healthcare Philippines (JWHP), the local sales subsidiary of JW Group, a leading pharmaceutical company in Korea, is one of the companies that supported the 12th Annual Convention of PAPSHPI.  JWHP recently launched Dermairis Korean skin care mask infused with natural ingredients and manufactured using patented CTP technologies.

About PAPSHPI

PAPSHPI spreads awareness and brings proper skin care closer to the public through weekly and annual medical missions.  

At the community level, the association holds weekly charity outpatient services at two locations in Quezon City: Birhen Maria along Mindanao Avenue and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine Social Services Department along Doña Juana Rodriguez Avenue (formerly Broadway).

Skin health services range from consultations to procedural such as electrocautery, injections, and laser. PAPSHPI also treats acne, allergies, psoriasis, fungal and viral infections, and dermal tumors, including warts, milia, and syringoma.  

“At least 50 adult and pediatric patients are seen weekly in both areas by six to 10 skin health physicians,” says PAPSHPI. “Consultation, treatment, and medicines are all free.”

PAPSHPI’s annual medical missions outside Metro Manila are usually in coordination with the local government such as the Mayor's office and the municipal health office. 

According to PAPSHPI, patients in the provinces range from agricultural and government workers to private employees and housewives. About 300 to 350 adult and pediatric patients are seen and treated by 30 to 40 skin health physicians per mission. Consultation and medicines are free. 

In addition to patient services, PAPSHPI assists physicians in giving proper skin care to the public. This is part of the association’s mission “to enable and provide medical practitioners, most especially primary skin health physicians, essential updates on diagnosis and treatments.” 

PAPSHPI also helps “tackle professional issues focusing on PhilHealth, gender sensitivity, personality development, awareness, and upliftment of social responsibilities of all medical professionals who can render services in the community.”