Getting to know the third major telco player in the PH: Top 5 things you should know about DITO

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DITO Telecommunity answers questions every consumer may have on next-gen technology, phone compatibility, coverage areas and more! 

After DITO Telecommunity’s successful launch in key areas in Visayas and Mindanao, initial users have been raving about the speed and reliability of the country’s newest telco player. 

Last April 16, DITO announced its availability in 21 more cities, including certain areas in Luzon that heightened every Filipino’s anticipation to experience the difference that DITO can offer. 

Currently, subscribers can try DITO's 25GB High-Speed Data for PHP 199 valid for 30-days. Aside from fast and reliable data services, they can also enjoy unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls and texts, unlimited texts and 300 mins calls to other mobile networks plus features such as call waiting, call forwarding and video over LTE. 

As we all await the NCR launch of DITO Telecommunity, here are some things you should know about the network’s products and services that may be useful for those who are planning to subscribe to DITO:

• Next-gen technology explained. We always hear the phrase “next-generation technology” but what does it really mean for everyday internet users? The use of next-generation technology in telecommunications can be summarized in two words: Breakthrough connectivity. Next gen technology paves the way for clearer, faster, and optimized connections which drive performance that goes beyond mobile devices. At DITO, users are assured that they are subscribing to innovative and reliable data services which are built on world-class digital infrastructures and technology. 

• What is VoLTE? Short for Voice over LTE; VoLTE is one of the next-generation mobile technologies available to DITO users. Simply put, VoLTE means that your telco provider lets you make voice calls using the faster and more efficient LTE network instead of the usual 2G and 3G networks. Remember the olden days when your data connection stops every time you receive a phone call? You will experience none of that with VoLTE! Through VoLTE, you can enjoy better quality on your phone calls thanks to its ability to use more bandwidth. 

• What does interconnectivity mean? As mandated by Republic Act 7925, interconnection among telco providers is required to provide universal accessibility to Filipinos and to ensure fair and healthy competition. For DITO subscribers, this means that you can also make voice calls and send text messages to other mobile networks!

• Which phones are DITO-ready? As DITO ushers in a new era in telecommunications with next-generation technology, it is important to pair your DITO SIM with a DITO-compatible mobile phone to ensure that you get to experience the best that this next-gen technology has to offer. And you don't have to worry about price! There is a wide variety of phones that will fit any budget, from low-end to mid-range up to high-end that are all DITO-ready! Check out the full list here for more information. 

In case your current phone is not yet on the list, you can check back again on this site since DITO is continuously testing different phone brands and models to enable more users to access the high-speed, reliable data that DITO offers. 

You may notice that some phones which are not yet on the official list can still get to access the DITO network, but this is only due to the ongoing qualifying and testing. It is still advisable to wait for your specific phone model to be included in the list of compatible phones to ensure a seamless and quality user experience.

• Which areas are DITO-covered? DITO coverage Is commercially available in key cities in Visayas, Mindanao, Central Luzon, and South Luzon. You can check out DITO’s Official Facebook Page here for an updated list of DITO-covered areas. Keep your eyes peeled for exciting announcements in the coming days as DITO will unveil more locations and new products!

Be updated on the latest DITO news and information by checking www.dito.ph or following DITO's official social media pages:

• Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/DITOphofficial

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ditophofficial/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ditophofficial

Get Ready for Cecon Vitamin C Day: Here Are Five Things You Need to Need to Know About Vitamin C

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Over a year into the new normal, Filipinos continue to adapt to the various changes due to the current pandemic situation. For most, one of the biggest concerns is to keep their family protected against harmful illnesses, viruses, and even stress.

Despite this growing concern, a huge percentage of Filipinos still lack the daily recommended nutritional intake to fortify their immunity. In 2020, 87.3% of Filipino working adults were reported to be getting an inadequate amount of Ascorbic acid, more commonly known as Vitamin C.[1]

Ensuring right levels of Vitamin C is more important than ever, as vitamin deficiency is often associated with poor immunity and a higher risk of getting infected by illnesses and serious diseases like pneumonia.[2]

To address this, Abbott launches the very first Ascorbic Acid Cecon Vitamin C day on May 2, 2021. Abbott joins forces with leading influencers in the Philippines, such as super mom Bianca Gonzales, to help shed light over the importance of regular vitamin C intake for overall health and immunity.

But what makes Vitamin C so essential? Here are a couple of facts you probably do not know about Vitamin C:

1. Vitamin C can be found in foods aside from oranges

Admit it, when you hear Vitamin C, the first thing that comes to mind are oranges. Though the citrus family has long been the poster kids of anything related to Vitamin C, higher concentration of the vitamin can actually be found in other food sources.

For instance, one green chili pepper can provide 55% more vitamin C compared to a medium-sized orange.[3] Other great sources of Vitamin C include guavas, broccoli, kale, and herbs like parsley and thyme.

2. It fights off memory loss as you age

As we get older, it is more challenging for various nerve cells to protect themselves against free radicals, or damage-causing atoms. When free radicals get out of control, cells get damaged faster than they can be repaired.

The good news is that Vitamin C is such a powerful antioxidant that regular intake can help protect our nerve cells and improve cognitive functions even as we age.[4]

3. Vitamin C can aid in weight loss

Did you know that taking an adequate amount of Vitamin C can help in managing body fat? A study done by nutrition specialists reported that the amount of vitamin C in the blood stream is directly related to fat oxidation.[5]

Of course, best results are achieved with a healthy regular Vitamin C habit combined with a balanced diet and an active lifestyle.

4. It accelerates healing

Before antibiotics, Vitamin C was the go-to in terms of curing various diseases. Due to its ability to regenerate collagen in bones, joints and the face, Vitamin C speeds up wound healing as well.[6]

With its role in collagen regeneration, Vitamin C can also reduce skin aging as well as ease arthritis.

5. Humans cannot store Vitamin C

While extremely essential, the human body does not have the ability to produce Vitamin C. The nutrient cannot be stored either and instead gets flushed out of our system within 24 hours.[7]

This makes eating more fruits and vegetables as well as building a habit of taking Vitamin C daily even more important.

Abbott’s Medical Director in the Philippines, Dr. Joel Lao, also stressed the importance of supplementing a healthy diet and active lifestyle with the intake of Vitamin C: “With the increased health risks around Filipinos need to be more aware of the role a daily intake of Vitamin C can have in supporting overall immunity. As an effective antioxidant, a good supplement to retain other nutrients in the body[8] [9], Vitamin C should be an essential part of our daily routine. Cecon Vitamin C Day is a great opportunity to underscore that, along with the importance of having a healthy diet and lifestyle.”

“Abbott’s driving force is to support people live their lives to the fullest. With Cecon’s wide range of products, it is now more convenient for families to maximize their immunity potential through Vitamin C. Whatever your age or lifestyle, there is a Cecon product that can play a role in enhancing one’s overall well-being to help people keep doing what they love and live a full, healthy life,” Dr. Lao added.

Ascorbic acid (Cecon) is a chewable, non-acidic Vitamin C and has a full range of products that address the Vitamin C need of each family member: Ascorbic acid (Cecon 500mg) for adults, Ascorbic acid (Cecon Junior 100mg) for kids, and Multivitamins+Zinc (Cecon Plus) for the added protection needed by adults.

 

To know more about Cecon Vitamin C Day on May 2, tune in to Bianca’s Instagram @iamsuperbianca for announcements and exciting giveaways.

Ascorbic acid (Cecon) is available online via Lazada and Shopee.

 

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[1] Angeles-Agdeppa, I. (2020, March 2). Food Sources and Nutrient Intakes of Filipino Working Adults. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32268583/

[2] Carr, A. (2017, November 3). Vitamin C and Immune Function. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29099763/

[3] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-c-foods#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6

[4] Perrig W.J. (1997, June 4) The relation between antioxidants and memory performance in the old and very old

[5] https://news.asu.edu/content/vitamin-c-depletion-has-links-lower-fat-oxidation-not-weight-loss

[6] https://www.woundsource.com/blog/vitamin-c-do-daily-mega-doses-accelerate-wound-healing

[7] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219352#why-we-need-it

[8] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219352#other-benefits

[9] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002404.htm

Free Landers membership and renewal for medical frontliners

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The country’s medical frontliners are not just battling the pandemic. They are also parents, siblings, and friends, who also have other obligations that they need to fulfill including shopping for food and other essentials.

As a gesture of support and gratitude to medical frontliners, Landers Superstore is giving them a special treat:In its latest promo “Our Heroes Treat” Landers gives the medical frontliners –doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and others in the field – the opportunity to sign up for membership and renewal for free!

The promo is open to all medical frontliners who would like to apply for membership and to those with existing memberships that will expire on December 31, 2021. They must present all of the following proof at Landers branches: valid ID, valid PRC-ID, valid company/hospital ID, and old Landers membership card for those who will be renewing.

A representative of the medical frontliner may avail of the free membership card, provided that he/she presents any of the three valid IDs of the frontliner, the representative’s valid ID, and authorization letter from the health worker.

Landers members enjoy a host of exciting benefits including exclusive access to a wide selection of local and imported items, great super deals and savings throughout the year, free haircut at its in-house barbershop, low-priced medicines at its own pharmacy, super fuel deals at Landers-Caltex gas stations and many more!

The promo is only for premium primary membership and will run up to April 30, 2021. The free membership and renewal offer is available at Landers Superstores Otis, Alabang West, Arcovia City, Balintawak, and Cebu.

Big Brands Share How Shopee Helps their Business Grow Online

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With the pandemic causing significant changes in consumer shopping behavior, brands ramp up their marketing efforts by expanding their presence on e-commerce platforms like Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. With the surge of online shoppers fueling the need for digital transformation, three brands share how they remain top-of-mind while establishing themselves as a strong player in the digital space through the support of Shopee’s ecosystem.

Unilever

Unilever has continued to optimize its marketing strategy based on what’s most relevant to shoppers and what will help address their present needs. Through Shopee, the brand provided Filipino shoppers with safe access to a wide range of personal care, home care, and food essentials. Timely feedback from shoppers is now easier to enrich their online shopping experience while also maximizing the full suite of in-app solutions within the Shopee platform, such as search, affiliate marketing, and livestreams. With these strategies, Unilever recorded a 23x uplift in orders and achieved a 15x increase in shop views during its Beauty that Cares Super Brand Day campaign in August 2020.

This growth even transcended into their ‘Malasakit for all’ mission to help communities and partners during the pandemic, with Unilever contributing to the first Shopee Bayanihan Frontliner package in 2020 to step up support for Filipino frontliners.

Jackie Manago Nepomuceno, Digital Commerce Marketing at Unilever Philippines, said, “We see Shopee as a strategic partner in driving a streamlined shopping experience for the omnichannel shopper. We partner closely with retailers, such as Shopee, in making our brands and products available for purchase. Through strong collaboration, we can design a unique, relevant, and seamless shopping experience with new and existing shoppers.”

INSPI

Clothing brand INSPI launched an official Shopee store to reach a wider target market and interact more with their shoppers. Using Shopee’s informative seller center and interactive in-app features such as Shopee Live and Shopee Feed, INSPI can now broadcast new and best-selling products to over 625,000 followers on their Shopee account. They also used these features to show the best deals during big campaigns. At its Super Brand Day last October, the brand recorded 13x more orders compared to an average day.

Kathryn Joyce Navalta, Senior Account Officer at INSPI, said, “Our partnership with Shopee has boosted our brand’s growth, despite the ongoing pandemic. Shopee’s innovative in-app features helped us reach more shoppers and better engage with them regularly. We will continue to work with Shopee to provide our shoppers with the best shopping experience.”

OPPO

Leading global smart device company, OPPO, considers its partnership with Shopee as a chance to capture countless opportunities in the e-commerce industry by taking full advantage of the platform’s ecosystem. They are now able to reach a whole new audience in a very engaging way through Shopee’s in-app marketing tools such as live streams, chats, and Shopee Feed. OPPO has experienced great success on the platform, as seen during Shopee’s Super Brand Day last September 2020 where the brand recorded a 17x increase in sales.

Jenny Liu, Operations Director at OPPO Philippines, said, “Our partnership with Shopee allows us to keep growing and satisfying our customers even with targeted efforts. We know the importance of gaining the full trust of our shoppers, and will keep refining our online store on Shopee to provide the best services and products.”

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said,

“We are glad to see our brand partners like Unilever, OPPO, and INSPI achieve significant growth since joining our platform. We leave no stone unturned in finding innovative ways to support our partners’ growth, and this is how we commit to supporting our partner brands through their e-commerce journey."

And in line with providing customers more ways to access brands easily, the Shopee 5.5 Brands Festival is happening until May 5. Shoppers can expect discounts up to 90% off, flash deals up to 50% off, free shipping with no minimum spend, and 50% cashback from crowd favorites such as OPPO, Vivo, Realme, Colgate, Abbott, L’Oreal Paris, Enfagrow, Procter & Gamble, Olay, Unilever, Nestle, Colourette Cosmetics, and Maybelline.

Shoppers can also look forward to exclusive perks from ShopeePay. Get all-day free shipping vouchers and 55% cashback, both with no minimum spend. Buy ₱10 worth of data for ₱1, ₱5 load for only ₱1, and ₱10 load for only ₱5 with ShopeePay. Pay bills on Shopee and get up to 25% cashback, capped at 150 coins.

For more information on the Shopee 5.5 Brands Festival, visit https://shopee.ph/m/5-5-2. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Honoring modern-day heroes in celebration of Labor Day 2021: PayMaya opens gov’t payments, financial services for OFWs and Filipinos abroad

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Digital financial services leader PayMaya is making it even easier for overseas Filipinos to pay for government fees and for their family's utility bills through the PayMaya e-wallet app.

In time for Labor Day on May 1, PayMaya opened this service for Filipinos overseas so they can now use their Philippine mobile SIM on roaming to register for a PayMaya account, allowing them to perform transactions such as paying government dues or utility bills, as well as sending money to other PayMaya users, even while abroad. 

“Our vision of Digital Finance for All Filipinos includes our hardworking countrymen abroad, our modern-day heroes,” said Orlando Vea, Founder and CEO of PayMaya. “Having a PayMaya account wherever you are in the world can empower Filipinos overseas and help them stay connected with their loved ones in the Philippines.” 

According to 2020 data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are an estimated 2.2 million Filipinos who are currently working abroad, with millions more who have already migrated and can still benefit from a strong fintech platform that can help them and their families who are still in the Philippines.

Expanding financial inclusion for Filipinos worldwide 

Paying for government fees such as taxes and social insurance contributions while abroad is among the top concerns of Filipinos overseas. For example, those who are currently abroad can easily use their PayMaya accounts to conveniently pay their individual Social Security System (SSS) contributions using the SSS mobile app, as well as nominate their PayMaya accounts to receive loan proceeds and other disbursements from the agency. 

“Since 2019, this partnership between the Social Security System (SSS) and PayMaya has opened doors for many overseas-based Filipinos to easily and speedily remit contributions and receive disbursements to the pension fund--made all the more crucial during these trying times when mobility is limited to help curb the spread of  COVID-19. This new offering from PayMaya will allow even more Filipinos to derive benefits and take advantage of the services offered by SSS, from practically anywhere in the world,” said Aurora C. Ignacio, SSS President and CEO.

Aside from the SSS, PayMaya users abroad can also transact with other government agencies such as the PAG-IBIG Fund, Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and over 60 other agencies and local government units that accept PayMaya as a payment option. 

PayMaya recently piloted the service in Singapore with positive feedback from Filipinos in the city-state, especially since many lack credit cards and other financial instruments that allow them to easily conduct financial transactions back home. 

On top of government payments, overseas Filipinos can also pay their or their families’ bills through the more than 500 active billers available in the PayMaya app. On top of this, they can also send money to other PayMaya users in the Philippines or to any of the more than 37,000 Smart Padala centers nationwide once they have added money to their accounts. 

To start using PayMaya abroad, all they have to do is download the PayMaya app on their phones (https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133) and register using their Philippine mobile SIM with international roaming activated, their address in the Philippines, as well as a valid Philippine ID such as Passport, Driver’s License, UMID, SSS ID with Digitized photo, PRC License and Postal ID. Once done, they can Add Money to their account through VISA, Mastercard, or JCB debit or credit cards, or through PayMaya’s international remittance partners such as Western Union and Moneygram.  

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country including "everyday" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants as well as government agencies and units.   

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides over 28 million Filipinos with access to financial services. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 200,000 digital touchpoints nationwide.

It's Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 37,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to digital services. To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.