Moving the needle: Havas Life tackles COVID vaccine issues

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As the Philippines ramps up its vaccination program against COVID 19, the country continues to face several key issues ranging from vaccine hesitancy to the emergence of new COVID variants. In an effort to help move from vaccine hesitancy to vaccine confidence and encourage private companies to take part in advocating vaccination among Filipinos, Havas Life recently hosted “VacciNation: Vaccines for a Healthier Nation.”

The online conversation, part of Havas’ The New Life webinar series, featured Professor Emeritus of University of the Philippines College of Medicine’s Dr. Lulu Bravo, Havas Health & You Global Chief Medical Officer Dr. Suketu Patel, and consumer healthcare expert Dave McCaughan. They each discussed the role of health care professionals in building vaccine resilience in the Philippines and the narrative around vaccination positivity

Vaccines as a public health issue

Dr. Lulu Bravo, a leading pediatrician and staunch advocate of vaccination in the country, underlined the importance of discussing vaccines as a public health concern.

“When you vaccinate an individual, you should emphasize that it is not just the person you are protecting from getting sick. You are preventing the community, their family, their loved ones from being infected.” Dr. Bravo, who leads and co-founded the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, also reminded Filipinos to not neglect protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, dengue, and polio.

She encouraged the health care sector to take the lead in the issue by building alliances and advocacy as a united voice. “We need to build resilient and sustainable immunization systems and follow-up with programs that can withstand major shocks and maintain high vaccine uptake. We need experts who would respond with empathy, equity, equality, timeliness, honesty, and confidence.”

“Vaccination is what will drive the end of this pandemic. The goal is to get as many people around the world to be vaccinated as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Suketu Patel who discussed the groundbreaking role of immunology in significantly increasing life expectancy around the world. Dr. Patel said that all vaccines are effective against the emerging COVID-19 variants, which are also more transmissible.

Creating positive vaccine conversations

All three experts agreed on the importance of framing narratives in order to encourage vaccine confidence, such as positive conversations about vaccines and talking about positive vaccination experiences that focus on facts. “We must understand people’s motivations and frame conversations in ways that matter to them,” stressed Dr. Bravo. “A lot of the factors that lead people to questioning vaccines have nothing to do with the science. We need help to spread correct information. A strong health care recommendation is a powerful predictor of vaccination.”

David McCoughan, of consultancy firm Bibliosexual, shared how analyzing online content can help the health sector and governments better understand people’s sentiments about vaccines. “When it comes to vaccine positivity, we should move from threatening language to encouraging stories. In Southeast Asia for example, we have been seeing a lot of future-proofing trends online. In the Philippines, more people have been looking up online resources such as setting up online businesses and acquiring online certificate courses. We can take advantage of this proactive behavior and create conversations about the COVID vaccine around these topics showing people how to future-proof their lives.”

Havas Media Ortega’s recent prosumer report on Health and Hygiene also underscored that when it comes to vaccines, doctors are still the primary influencers. The report also showed that 85% of prosumers are willing to get vaccinated despite initial setbacks and 64% are willing to tolerate mild to moderate side effects in exchange for effectiveness.

About Havas Life

Havas Life is in the business of Life Improvement. Combining strategic insights with medical and scientific expertise for many specialized health and wellness, we create best-in-class work and services. We provide an integrated approach to communication from medical and technical know-how to patient comms, from internal communications to trade.

Shopee Rolled Out its Vaccination Center Support Initiative with Makati City to Provide Filipinos a Comfortable Vaccination Experience

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MANILA, JULY 9, 2021 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, rolls out the Vaccination Center Support initiative starting with Makati City, and will also roll it out in other cities in Metro Manila. This initiative is part of Shopee Bayanihan that aims to encourage Filipinos to get vaccinated and provide them with a more comfortable vaccination experience. 

Shopee launched its vaccination center support initiative in Makati City last June 28 by providing  Makatizens food and health kits from Shopee and its partner brands under Shopee Mall.  Shopee also turned over ten units of Symphony Air Coolers to Makati in the presence of Mayor Abigail Binay and Makati City Administrator Atty. Claro Certeza.

The package given to Maktizens and frontliners included snacks from Del Monte, Perfetti Van Melle, Dutchmill Soy, Monde Nissin, and Rebisco; bottled water from Hope in a Bottle; and health kits from Mighty Clean. 

According to Martin Yu, Shopee Philippines’ Director, “It is of utmost importance that we get as many Filipinos vaccinated in the soonest possible time and as always, Shopee finds ways to extend assistance where we can. At Shopee, it is our goal to encourage more people to get vaccinated and we are pleased to partner with the Makati City Local Government for providing its citizens with a comfortable vaccination experience. ” 

Mayor Abigail Binay said, “We are more than happy to team up with Shopee for the Shopee Bayanihan Vaccination Center Support initiative. As more Filipinos get vaccinated for their protection, we will continue to find ways to serve the people better through partnerships with organizations like Shopee.” 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play. Check out with ShopeePay to enjoy more great deals on Shopee.

Five saktong deals for your family of four! Check out these value-for-money ways to bring joy to the whole family

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Now that many families spend more time at home and finances are tighter than before, family promos and deals are like music to the ears. With family deals, you get your value-for-money times four—plus more bonding opportunities together!

You can find good deals left and right, but here are some which are tailor-fit to surely give you and your family a great time!

Gadget and accessory bundles

It’s no secret that gadgets have brought efficiency, convenience, and even entertainment to our lives. This is why tech brands occasionally release deals which bundle the main device like a smartphone with other accessories like headphones, speakers, smartwatches, and more. Watch out for these offers because for the price of one device, you get more items which your family can use as well!

Music and entertainment subscriptions

Who doesn’t love music and entertainment? With endless music, movie, and TV show streaming services present in the digital universe, you can definitely find packages which are ideal for you and your family. A subscription would normally allow more or less four gadgets in the household, so you and your family can each enjoy your favorite content simultaneously in your own devices!

Staycation promos

As some areas of the country ease quarantine restrictions, hotels and resorts are starting to reopen with the necessary precautions and bounce back with attractive room rates and perks. Now might be a good time to treat yourself and your loved ones to a relaxing staycation while complying with the standard safety protocols.

Insurance packages

Planning for the future is always a good idea, and insurance companies offer family packages which cater to you and your family’s specific goals, whether it’s for health, education, or finances. These packages are worth a look if they can help secure those goals.

Photo credit: @startermama (IG)

 

4-pc Chickenjoy Family Box

The list won’t be complete without food, and the country’s #1 fast food chain Jollibee has got you and your family covered. Its world-renowned crispylicious, juicylicious Chickenjoy now comes in a 4-pc Family Box at a special introductory price of P249, more affordable and a great centerpiece for the dining table! It can also come with two servings of sweet-sarap Jolly Spaghetti, two large Jolly Crispy Fries, two beefy-saucy Burger Steak, or three langhap-sarap Yumburger each also at a special introductory price of P330.

“Family time is so special, which is why there are many deals out there aimed to bring out and even level up those bonding moments. But for us, there is nothing quite like gathering around and enjoying the Chickenjoy’s crispy well-seasoned skin, juicy and tender meat, and distinctly flavorful gravy together,” Jollibee Marketing AVP for Bestsellers Cathleen Capati said. “We hope that our affordable Family Box will allow more families to enjoy our best-selling product and will become part of their valuable family time.”

Have the 4pc-Chickenjoy Family Box safely delivered to your home via the Jollibee Delivery App, JollibeeDelivery.com, #87000, GrabFood, and foodpanda! Also available in Drive-Thru and Take Out.

For more info and updates on Jollibee products, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Studios on YouTube, and follow @jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

Seth Dungca’s “Pangako” breaks world record for the most music videos made for a song

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Filipino singer-composer Seth Dungca’s single “Pangako” recently spawned a whopping total of 64 music videos, handily surpassing the standing Guinness World Record for Most Music Videos Made for One Song.

The official world record is currently held by British EDM duo Coldcut for their 1998 song “Timber,” which has a total of five different music videos. Dungca’s “Pangako” easily tops that record by 59 more videos.

“Pangako” generated a plethora of music videos when Dungca’s record label Insight Music launched a film competition in partnership with UFC to crown the official music video for the song. As of July 8, 64 people have submitted official entries, which may all be viewed for free on the YouTube Insight 360.

While YouTube provides proof of the song’s record-breaking achievement, Dungca and Insight Music still need to get official verification from Guinness World Records. Insight Music President and Chief Creative Director Chris Cahilig discloses that the label is currently in the process of applying for the record, but he is confident that they’ve broken the 23-year-old feat.

“It’s clear that we beat the current record by a landslide. Obviously, 64 is decidedly greater than 5,” says Cahilig. “Every single one of these entries is also officially published on our YouTube channel. And they’re all unique, so the proof is right there.”

The process of world record validation can take up to 12 weeks, shortened by the organization’s Priority Application scheme that may take only five days.

“We hope to get this verified as soon as possible,” adds Cahilig, “because as far as we’re concerned, Seth and Pangako have earned it.”

As for the artist himself, Dungca thinks earning a Guinness World Record would be a once-in-a-lifetime achievement that he earnestly hopes will push through.

“I would never say no to having something as prestigious as a Guinness World Record,” says Dungca, “and to receive it because of all these uniquely beautiful music videos for my song fills me with an infinite amount of gratitude.”

Dungca says more than just the bragging rights of being a world record owner, seeing all the creativity from the 64 videos has made Pangako his proudest work yet.

“It’s crazy how much effort people put into making these videos. It shows that something about my song compelled them to direct these personal, moving, sometimes wacky music videos,” says Dungca. “The world record is really just a bonus. It’s already a huge win for me just seeing how music and film can come together to express real human beauty. I’m happy we got to do that with Pangako.”

Dungca believes that choosing from the submitted music videos poses a tough challenge for the selection team. “I’ve seen all 64,” says Dungca, “and let me tell you, the judges are in for a frustrating time. Each video strikes a chord in the viewer’s heart in a uniquely artistic way.”

Insight Music recently announced the Top 20 music videos that will compete for the grand prize of 50,000 pesos and the distinction of being Pangako’s official music video. The label is set to announce the winner along with the People’s Choice Award for most YouTube views on July 30.

Filipino Unique Stays Hosts earned over P24 million since start of pandemic

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With travel restrictions easing, borders reopening and an increasing desire for unique stays, Airbnb data reveals now is the time for would-be Filipino Hosts to open their homes to guests

Manila, Philippines - Airbnb’s 2021 Release showed that travelers are booking unique abodes including cabins, tiny homes, and treehouses to break up the monotony of the past year spent in lockdown. Nearly 70 percent of respondents to a recent Airbnb survey indicated they want to be able to filter for unique stays when searching for trip accommodation.

According to latest Airbnb data, searches for unique stays have increased by 94 percent in 2021 compared to the same time period in 2019, and 55 percent of Airbnb's 100 most wishlisted homes in the last year fall into unique categories.* Notably, searches for certain types of unique homes have exploded by over 10x compared to just two years ago. Searches for yurts have spiked by approximately 1700%, while searches for earth houses and barns have increased 1,285% and 1,068% respectively.

In the Philippines, Hosts have earned over P24 million welcoming guests into their unique homes since the start of the pandemic. “Many of our unique stays in the Philippines are tucked away in the outskirts of large cities, within driving distance from the metro,” shared Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. “Uncovering these one-of-a-kind stays is now a whole lot easier with our new Flexible Destinations feature, which helps guests discover incredible properties in places they may not have thought to search for. Guests can simply enter the dates they want to travel or search with flexible dates, for instance, a weekend, week or an entire month, to search and book their unique stays.”

One of Airbnb’s most popular unique stays is the Domescape glamping dome house in Nasugbu, Batangas. The Domescape is the first of its kind in the Philippines -- an intricately designed geodesic dome perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Located in Barangay Tumalim, a quiet neighborhood adjacent to a large river, the Domescape is tastefully styled with modern wood furniture and plush white beddings. It also comes complete with luxury amenities that allow guests to immerse in nature in full comfort, including an air conditioner, mini-fridge, kettle, microwave oven, and humidifier. Guests can spend the night stargazing from inside the dome, as well as enjoy private access to a natural swimming pool!

The dome is equipped with all the essentials you need for an ideal nature getaway

“Domescape was born out of our love for adventure and family,” shares Host Triccia Serafica. “It was on a family road trip in 2018 when we thought of having a second home tucked away somewhere remote, and away from our place in the city. We wanted to combine the rejuvenating experience you feel when you’re close to nature with the luxury you get when you stay in upscale accommodation.”

After the completion of the Domescape that same year, Triccia and her family began to invite friends over to stay. The following year, they began hosting on Airbnb and found great joy in sharing their second home with travelers who want to immerse in the great outdoors while spending quality time with their loved ones.

“With Domescape, we have witnessed several beautiful celebrations with our guests,” added Tricia. “Whether a marriage proposal, surprise birthday celebrations, and even pre-wedding photoshoots - we always look forward to these celebrations and are beyond happy to be a part of the moment. Hosting has allowed us to meet people from all walks of life - we’ve even hosted celebrities for their pre-wedding shoot, not to mention numerous shoots for magazines and music videos!”

Awake to picturesque views of lush greenery outside the dome

Spend the afternoon dipping in this sustainable outdoor swimming pool

For those interested in hosting with Airbnb and opening their unique homes to guests, Airbnb’s new platform upgrades have made it easier for anyone who wants to host. Find out more about how you can become an Airbnb Host here: https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes.

*Based on Airbnb internal data of unique stay searches as of April 30, 2021.