BDO Foundation rehabs 6 health centers

Tweet

After reaching a major milestone last year with the rehabilitation of 100 rural health units, BDO Foundation continues to help improve health facilities across the country. The corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank recently completed the rehabilitation of six rural health units as part of its contribution to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal no. 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of all people of all ages.

As part of continuing efforts to help improve the healthcare delivery system in the Philippines, BDO Foundation rehabilitated six rural health units in Iloilo, Isabela, and Western Samar with the support of officers from BDO and BDO Network Bank branches.

Despite constraints caused by the pandemic, the foundation renovated the Municipal Health Office of Aurora in Isabela, Calbiga Rural Health Unit and Birthing Facility in Western Samar, and Rural Health Unit Dapa in Siargao, Surigao del Norte. In Iloilo, it renovated Dueñas Municipal Health Office, Barotac Viejo Municipal Health Office, and Birthing Facility, and Mina Municipal Health Center.

According to Dueñas municipal health officer Dr. Rodney Labis, “Understanding the financial capacity of our local government unit, I knew that our only chance to renovate Dueñas Municipal Health Office would be through BDO Foundation. Learning that the foundation will rehabilitate our building made me hopeful. Our staff was also excited because they have seen the foundation’s work in other rural health units in Iloilo.”

“The rehabilitation of our rural health unit not only made our building presentable, but it also motivated our health workers to deliver services effectively to all Dueñasanons especially during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the doctor added.

BDO Foundation improved the layout and interior design of the six health centers, their lobby and waiting areas, offices, clinics, consultation rooms, treatment rooms, and facilities. The foundation installed new furniture and fixtures to help health workers accommodate more patients. It also constructed play areas where children can read books or play with toys. In Mina Municipal Health Center and Rural Health Unit Dapa, available space enabled BDO Foundation to build waiting areas for the comfortable use of senior citizens.

With these improvements in place, the doctors, nurses, and midwives of the rural health units in Aurora, Barotac Viejo, Calbiga, Dapa, Dueñas, and Mina are now better equipped to provide primary healthcare services to thousands of constituents. BDO Foundation’s corporate citizenship initiatives in the aforementioned municipalities are expected to help improve the health and well-being of more than 197,000 people from 198 barangays.

Shopee Rolls Out Co-Streaming Feature to Level Up Interaction for Filipino Shoppers on Shopee Live

Tweet

With more people turning to online platforms for their needs, brands and sellers are turning to entertainment features such as live streams to give consumers an engaging and fun shopping experience. Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, provides shoppers a more interactive online buying experience through the new co-streaming feature on Shopee Live, which allows live stream hosts to co-stream with one of their viewers for a more interactive experience.

Shopee Live streamers highlight key features, customer engagement strategies, and preparations for the 3.3 - 4.4 Mega Shopping Sale, Shopee’s first mega sale of the year

Hear from our two live streamers on how they are maximizing Shopee Live for this 3.3 - 4.4 Mega Shopping Sale:

Miccolo Solis, Shopee seller, and influencer, shared that he uses the poll feature the most. “It helps me engage with viewers. I can check their opinion on certain topics, especially about the products,” said Solis. Polls also allow him to inquire about his customers’ specific requests, budget range, and preferred styles. In addition, Solis also hosts games on Shopee Live to keep his viewers interested.

For fellow influencer Quinito Villarosa, it’s the latest ‘Mine’ feature that gives him feedback on what content customers want to see next, or what items they want to see featured or reviewed. To maintain a strong relationship with viewers, Villarosa connects with them even after the live stream ends. “I do a lot of ‘OffLive’ engagement. I still interact with them after the live streams, usually inside the many group chats we have on Facebook Messenger and even Instagram,” said Villarosa.

Solis is excited to utilize the new Shopee Live Co-streaming feature as it gives him the opportunity to interact directly with viewers, making the live stream session more fun, enjoyable, and engaging. Villarosa, on the other hand, is already prepping for his next live stream. “I’m already asking my viewers what they want to see during my live stream so I can order it ahead of time. Being able to hold the items personally makes for a more interactive live stream experience,” he said.

With in-app features like Shopee Live, Shopee continues to improve the platform to make e-commerce more accessible and engaging for everyone. Solis and Villarosa encouraged other influencers to take advantage of Shopee Live and its many features as well. “Just do it, it always starts with one step. Make it a habit and always enjoy the live videos. Watch other live streamers, observe what they are doing, and apply best practices to your own live stream,” said Solis.

Villarosa added that doing live streams is an opportunity to widen their networks. “Every day I wake up feeling blessed with this opportunity. I literally meet new people each time I open the Shopee app and prepare for another run of live streaming.”

Shopee 3.3 - 4.4 Mega Shopping Sale

The Shopee 3.3 - 4.4 Mega Shopping Sale, which runs until April 4, 2021, will feature up to 70% off on authentic brands such as Havaianas Philippines, Huggies Philippines, Realme, P&G Beauty, Pampers, Nestlé, Garnier, Enfagrow, Unilever Beauty, Vivo, and Xiaomi, on Shopee Mall.

For more information on the best deals during the 3.3 - 4.4 Mega Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/m/3-3.

Don't forget to shop, buy load, and pay bills with ShopeePay to enjoy discounts and rewards. Top up at least ₱300 on March 2 for a chance to win ₱20,000! Check out https://shopee.ph/m/shopeepay-3-3-top-up-promo for more details.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

SB19 encourages Gen Z to unleash their awesome with the SAMSUNG Galaxy A12 and A02s

Tweet

As true digital natives who grew up experiencing the world through the internet, Generation Z brims with creativity[1] that they showcase on social media. Samsung and P-pop sensation SB19 are helping talented Gen Z unleash their awesome online with the new Galaxy A12 and A02s.

Together, Samsung and SB19 collaborate and show how the boys enjoy the latest smartphones as minis. These minis are cute animated characters based on each member of the boy group. The video also encourages Gen Z to be confident in their passions and share their talents online through the Galaxy A-series.

The boys of SB19 know the power of social media. Their big break came when a dance practice for their song “Go Up” went viral.^[2] Since then, Pablo, Stell, Josh, Ken, and Justin are consistently at the top spot on Twitter’s trending lists.^[3] They are a mainstay on the Billboard Social 50 chart,^[4] which ranks the boy group as one of the most-engaged-with musicians on social media.

The video showcases the smartphones’ cool features, such as the Galaxy A12’s 48MP Main Camera, the 5MP Ultra-Wide Angle lens, and the 2MP Macro camera. It also highlights the Galaxy A12 and A02s’ 6.5-inch Infinity-V Display with HD+ technology and long-lasting 5,000mAh battery life.

“Whenever I see inspiring content, it makes me want to unleash my awesome because I know how far I can go and I know just what it takes to get there. With the Galaxy A12 and A02s, I can be a star,” the video goes.

The Galaxy A12’s 4/128GB memory variant comes with a PHP 7,990 SRP, while the 6/128GB version is at PHP 9,990 SRP. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A02s comes in 4GB of memory and 64GB at PHP 6,990 SRP. Extended until March 14, purchase the Galaxy A12 or Galaxy A02s through flexible payment options.^[5] The new Galaxy A-series can also be purchased from any Home Credit partner stores nationwide via 0% interest for 6 months.

Watch how SB19 unleashes their awesome here.

---

^[1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/18/generation-z-may-most-creative-yet-study-says/5589601002/

^[2] https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/entertainment/Music/2020/2/19/sb19-profile.html

^[3] https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/entertainment/Music/2020/2/19/sb19-profile.html

^[4] https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8550040/sb19-social-50-next-big-sound-chart-filipino-boy-band-profile

^[5] Per DTI Fair Trade No. FTEB-114220 Series of 2021.

5 ways to become a healthier couple

Tweet

Falling in love is one of the best feelings. It’s just comforting to know that you have your better half to confide in during the ups and downs of life, especially after last year. But, when you enter a new relationship, you might not just gain a partner, but also a few extra pounds. Yes, it's called "love pounds" and not to worry, it’s pretty common. Researchers have said that couples gain weight because they’re getting more comfortable in the relationship.

While this is a sign of a happy union, this may also be the effect of poor health choices, such as disregarding personal wellness routines and continuing poor eating habits. AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurers offering a wide range of health plans, offers some tips on how to get your healthy habits back on track with your partner.

Set a goal. Everything starts with talking it out with your partner and setting your goals. Do you want to shed some weight? Try a new eating plan? Together you can discuss the habits you want to change, such as buying less junk food or setting a regular time for your workout. Whatever it is, make sure that you’re both happy with the decisions and that they will drive you towards living healthier every day.

Cook at home together. Eating better plays a huge part in improving your health, and preparing your own food at home can help with that. For one, you get to control what you eat so you’re sure that everything is fresh and nutritious. You also get to plan your meals and personalize your diet to your liking. Moreover, it’s a lot cheaper than eating out and you get to spend some time with your partner in the kitchen. It’s a win-win!

Join fitness programs together. How about trying something different for your date nights? Instead of the usual romantic dinner, you can break a sweat and burn some calories by joining those online exercise classes you’ve been meaning to try –whether it be Zumba, yoga, or boxing. Many fitness studios now offer virtual sessions you can do from the safety of your own home. No more excuses!

Support each other. It will be easier to stick to your fitness regimen if you support each other. Build a healthy and supportive lifestyle by going jogging together, tracking each other's progress, and encouraging each other to make healthy choices. Aside from the physical benefits, another beautiful thing about trying to be healthy together is you get to forge a stronger bond.

Get health insurance. During these challenging times, it should also be part of your couple goals to stay protected against any health risks. Critical illnesses can hit anyone, anytime – even the most physically fit and active individuals. So apart from the tips listed above, you should also prepare for life's uncertainties. One way to do this is by considering health insurance, such as AXA’s Health Start Lite. 

No need to go outside to process an application for this as it’s available via https://www.axa.com.ph/healthstartlite/. With just a few clicks, you can get protection against critical illnesses, namely cancer, stroke, and heart attack with up to P2 million coverage and for as low as P535 a month. If you have kids, Health Start Lite also comes with life insurance coverage that can benefit your loved ones.

Stay protected and be a healthier couple together with these tips from AXA Philippines!

Mi 11 arrives in Philippines with studio-grade camera features and pro performance

Tweet

Global technology leader Xiaomi announced the release of Mi 11 in the Philippines during a local online livestream held recently.

The latest flagship in its popular Mi smartphone lineup is truly a premium device, debuting with some groundbreaking improvements over its predecessor, including a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888 chipset, 108MP triple rear camera, cinematic audio, and 50W wireless charging. From March 13, Mi 11 will be available for purchase at an amazing price of PHP 36,990 for the 8GB + 256GB variant. At the same time, Xiaomi launched two new ecosystem products in the Philippines: Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10 and Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes- AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition.

● Available for pre-order in the Philippines starting March 5 for PHP 36,990 (8GB + 256GB)

● Xiaomi also announced two new ecosystem products – Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10 and Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition

“The Mi 11 is our interpretation of a perfect premium flagship smartphone. It continues the Mi series legacy of packing revolutionary features in a device with exceptional design and quality. We are excited that Mi 11 has set an important milestone for mobile photography and videography, to bring users a true ‘Movie Magic’ experience. The Mi 11 is definitely one of the key highlight releases within Xiaomi’s product universe this year, and we continue to challenge ourselves to deliver even more innovative products in the near future,” says Mr. K. M. Leong, Regional Head of Southeast Asia, Xiaomi.

Unleash your creative potential with a 108MP triple camera and a slew of advanced AI movie modes.

With remarkable new features for photography and videography, Mi 11 boasts the world’s highest resolution 108MP wide-angle camera sensor for its primary shooter, a 13MP ultra-wide angle camera and 5MP telemacro. On the front, a 20MP punch-hole front camera minimizes bezels on the home screen while still ensuring users look their best when snapping a selfie or video chatting with friends. Mi 11 also comes with improved night mode capabilities and offers photo night mode on three of its cameras: primary, ultra-wide, and front. Mi 11’s cutting-edge video night mode technology completely redefines industry standards with its RAW-level noise reduction for brighter night shooting.

Mi 11 features six one-click AI cinema features that make artsy shooting a breeze, from Parallel World to Freeze Frame Video and the Magic Zoom mode for real film buffs. On top of that, Mi 11 now offers studio-level shooting control with its HDR10+ recording and new Pro Time-lapse mode, capable of adjusting shutter speed, ISO, aperture and EV to handle even the most challenging lighting situations. Studio-level control also extends to editing with advanced AI features, including AI Erase 2.0 which allows users to remove unwanted objects or lines from images with one simple click.

See and hear every detail with striking 120Hz 6.81’’ AMOLED DotDisplay and SOUND BY Harman Kardon

Mi 11 features a premium 120Hz 6.81” AMOLED DotDisplay, offering one of the best screens on the market that has received an A+ rating as well as a best display award from DisplayMate. Xiaomi’s most advanced display shines with its WQHD+ ultra-high resolution, and 10-bit color technology allows for clearer and smoother color transitions. Mi 11 comes with Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™ which safeguards against costly damage from falls and drops, and embraces an advanced dual anti-glare frosted finish that catches light, not fingerprints.

Simplicity meets convenience with its Super Resolution technology, which upgrades low resolution videos to WQHD+ quality without the worry of increased data consumption. Furthermore, Mi 11 delivers supreme cinematic audio, touting Harmon Kardon professionally tuned dual speakers.

Stay one step ahead with the world’s most advanced performance

Mi 11 was the first phone to feature the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888, redefining flagship performance with the world’s most advanced mobile platform. The Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888 completely redefines premium processing standards with its Adreno™ 660 GPU, 6th generation Qualcomm® AI engine and X60 modem – blending AI technology with lightning fast 5G connectivity.

Featuring cutting-edge 5nm process technology, Mi 11 is faster, more powerful and more efficient than its predecessor. The device not only supports 2K/120fps/HDR gaming, but also sports an octa-core design, and ultra-large core Arm Cortex-X1 which ramps up performance dramatically. All that while its 3,200MHz LPDDR5 ensures incredible data transfer speed that has increased from 5,500Mbps to 6,400Mbps.

Equipped with the latest LiquidCool heat dissipation system, the device effortlessly deals with extreme gaming and other high-capacity operations while staying cool. At the same time, its 4600mAh (typ), the staggering triple combination of 55W wired, 50W wireless and 10W reverse charging and the compact but powerful 55W GaN charger included in the box, ensure that Mi 11 stays powered up for any adventure life throws your way.

Price and availability

Mi 11 comes in 8GB+256GB variant with enhanced LPDDR5 3200MHz RAM + UFS 3.1 storage. It will retail at PHP 36,990 starting from March 13, and will be available at Xiaomi official stores on Lazada and Shopee, and offline at Authorized Mi Stores and other official retailers in Philippines. Mi 11 will come in two color options: Midnight Gray and Horizon Blue.

Pre-order of the device starts on March 5 with the Open Sale starting on March 13. Customers who pre-order the Mi 11 on participating stores from March 5 will stand a chance of receiving a free Mi Desktop Monitor worth PHP 5,990 while those who order on Mi Stores during the Open Sale will get a free Mi Smart Speaker worth PHP 1,990. Mi 11 owners can avail of After Sales Premium Service worth Php 15,000 covering 2 years extended warranty and a 1-time free screen replacement within 1 year for their new Mi 11.

List of participating stores available here: Pre-order, Open Sales.

Introducing two new ecosystem products to the Xiaomi lineup – Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10 and Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition

Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10

The all-new Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10 is a powerful cleaning machine that features the newest digital motor that spins at 125,000rmp, creating a max of 150 air watts suction power (25% more than the previous generation) with HEPA filter with 99.97% whole filtration rate. It comes equipped with a real-time TFT screen – to display real-time status of modes, battery charging, language and defaults – for a smoother, clearer and accurate display for your cleaning experience. In addition, the Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10 also features a wall-mounted dock charging with detachable battery (up to 65 minutes on eco mode), smart torque, and 0.6L detachable dustbin.

Starting from February 26, Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10 will be priced at PHP 10,990 and available at Authorized Mi Stores and other official retailers in the Philippines. Early birds who purchase on February 26 at Authorized Mi Stores will get a Mi Automatic Foaming Soap Dispenser worth PHP 750 and a Mi x Simpleway Foaming Hand Soap worth PHP 250.

Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition

Urbanites now have a more convenient and fashionable way to get around town that’s sure to grab attention: Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition. The brand-new edition combines design elements from leading automobile companies with Xiaomi’s advanced scooter engineering, delivering on reliability, style and convenience without compromise. Riders can express their unique personalities with Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition’s striking teal accents and distinctive AMB branding near the rear wheel.

Boasting best-in-class performance, the all-new scooter can travel at a max speed of 25km/hr, and lasts up to 45km on a single charge. While design dominates, safety is at its core as the model features a reliable double braking system, pneumatic shock-absorbing inflatable tires, and built-in display for seamless monitoring. When users get where they’re going, they can simply fold it up and conveniently store it out of the way.

Starting from February 26, the Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition will be available for only PHP 34,990 at Xiaomi official stores in Lazada and Shopee and offline at Authorized Mi Stores and other official retailers in the Philippines. Early birds who order on that day at Authorized Mi Stores get gifts like a Mi Portable Electric Air Compressor worth PHP 1,899.00, a Medium Mi Commuter Helmet worth PHP 1,200 or a Mi City Sling Bag worth PHP 699.

Product images available here: Mi 11, Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10, Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2.

Product one-pagers available here: Mi 11, Mi Vacuum Cleaner G10, Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2.